Malaria Vaccine Technical Assistance Lead at PATH

PATH is currently recruiting for a Country Lead for our Malaria Vaccine Project (MalVac TA) in Nigeria.  MalVac TA is a multi-country initiative supporting countries as they prepare for and implement malaria vaccine introduction. This senior-level position reports to the Technical Director for MalVac TA, who provides multi-country project oversight, and is responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, and leading regional and global activities. There is also a matrix reporting line to the PATH Country Representative for Nigeria who oversees all PATH operations in the Country.

Responsibilities:

• Manage the strategy, planning and execution of project work, including ensuring that the work streams are on track, playing a key leadership role to ensure efficient management of donor resources, and ensuring completion of milestones.
• Represent the project to key partners, including government, donors, NGOs, and other stakeholders in regular meetings and provide briefings on project progress.
• Ensure close Government engagement and ownership of the project; align PATH’s activities with government strategies and priorities and ensure internal alignment with related PATH projects including MNTD and immunizations.
• Coordinate project implementation with the relevant Government programs (MOH, EPI program, Malaria Elimination Program, etc.), implementing partners, UN agencies, donors, and other stakeholders to understand critical issues impacting implementation success across the project and design appropriate PATH support.
• Coordinate the development of annual country workplans across different funding streams to support the malaria vaccine introduction.
• Responsible and accountable for malaria vaccine technical assistance resources approved for use in the country periodically.
• Develop and deliver technical presentations related to the project to stakeholder audiences.
• Facilitate technical meetings and workshops, particularly those involving senior level stakeholders.
• Coordinate a team that includes a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Lead, Communications Lead, Program Assistant, and other technical staff.
• Establish the project work plan and assign roles and responsibilities to ensure activities achieve targeted deadlines and due dates.
• Represent the project as needed in international forums, conferences, and committees.
• Participate in regular Core Team meetings which includes other Country Leads, and other project staff.

Key Competencies:

• Strong technical skills and knowledge on vaccines and immunization, immunization delivery systems (e.g., planning, service delivery, data systems, cold chain, supply/logistics etc.), malaria case management, surveillance control and elimination strategies.
• Knowledge of new vaccine introduction process and evaluation metrics on success of an immunization program and integration into routine immunization and malaria control strategy
• Knowledge of malaria control programs, their development, evaluation procedures, and related policies.
• Strong interpersonal skills with extensive experience in fostering collaborative efforts and demonstrated ability to build effective teams and partnerships (internally and externally)
• Experience in managing teams to lead the implementation of donor funded technical assistance.
• Strong networks with the MOH with the ability to gather intelligence and effectively inform and support decision making at Ministry level.
• Management and supervision
• Vaccine program planning and evaluation
• Malaria control program development and management
• Strong written communication and presentation skills, in English
• Fluency in French would be a plus.

Required skills and experience:

• Advanced degree in medicine, epidemiology, or public health with 5-10 years’ experience in vaccine delivery or relevant malaria control program leadership. Bachelors degree will extensive experience of over 10 years.
• Extensive experience working with MOH’s EPI program and/or Malaria Elimination Program
• Experience with new vaccine introduction is strongly preferred.
• Ability to engage MOH with key stakeholders in other West African countries.
• A collaborator with the capacity to multi-task
• Proficiency in English required.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed.