Health Specialist (Cold Chain) at the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Full Time

Job Title: Health Specialist (Cold Chain)

Job no: 561686
Location: Abuja
Level: P-4
Categories: Health
Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment

Description
How can you make a difference?

• Under the general guidance and supervision of the Health Manager, Immunization, the Health Specialist (cold chain) is responsible for supporting and leading the management, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of the immunization cold chain and immunization supply chain management programme within the country programme.
• S/He provides technical guidance and operational support throughout the programming process to facilitate the achievement of concrete and sustainable results, according to plans, allocation, reresults-based-managementpproaches and methodology (RBM), organizational Strategic Plans and goals, standards of performance, and accountability framework.
• The portfolio is focused on identifying and scaling up innovative, transformative approaches to optimize immunization supply chain, including using e-tools, efficiency analysis, and other strategies to support the Government to revamp the Nigerian immunization supply chain.
• On-going initiatives include the scale-up of e-LMIS and analytical tools such as Thrive 360; the re-organization of the national immunization supply chain around the 3-Hubs model; and analysis of the environmental impact of the supply chain.
• The Health Specialist (cold chain) must be a passionate, seasoned health professional with leadership and strategic skills to rally others around the vision of a revamped immunization supply chain system.

Summary of Key Functions / Accountabilities
Programme development and planning:

• Plan and provide technical support and guidance for the preparation, design and updating of the situation analysis to establish a comprehensive and updated strategic plan for development, design and management of immunization cold chain and supply chain related programmes.
• Consult and collaborate with colleagues and partners to provide technical and operational support on programme planning, management and implementation, and to ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of programmes/projects with other UNICEF sectors throughout all stages of programming processes.

Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results:

• Lead and guide the Federal and States Health authorities to the preparation of the Situation Analysis for immunization cold chain and supply chain management programme development.
• Support preparation of iSCM programme work plans/rehabilitation plan/maintenance plan as required.
• Provide technical support to the EPI managers of national immunization programme and State managers to conduct capacity building of the EPI managers responsible for cold chain equipment rehabilitation, expansion, maintenance and logistics management.
• Guide and lead to conduct cold chain inventory updating, cold chain gap analysis of capacity needs, effective vaccine management (EVM) and supply chain analysis and management at national and state levels.
•  Conduct capacities on preventive and repair of cold chain equipment, (WIC, ILR, Freezer, solar refrigerators/ SDD, RTMD and voltage stabilizers). Provide technical support for the installation and commissioning of new CCE, its spare parts at each level.
• Provide technical support to the national immunization programme and NLWG to maintain an updated cold chain inventory and spare parts up to the last mile of the supply chain.
• Strategic leadership in expansion of the iSC system in Nigeria through availability of functioning cold chain equipment in 3 hubs and all levels of the immunization supply chain.

Advisory services and technical support:

• Collaborate and consult with key government officials, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on policies, strategies, best practices, and approaches on related issues to support immunization cold chain system development planning, management, implementation, and delivery of results.
• Participate in strategic programme discussions and planning to provide technical advice and to contribute to policy discussions and agenda setting to promote health and development issues especially in the areas of gender, emergency preparedness, maternal and neonatal health, and child survival and development.
• Participate in emergency preparedness initiatives for programme development and contingency planning and/or to respond to emergencies in country or where designated.
• Help to manage allocation and disbursement of programme funds, ensuring that funds are properly coordinated, monitored and liquidated.
• Takes appropriate actions to optimize use of programme funds. Ensure programme efficiency and delivery through transparent approach to programme planning, monitoring and evaluation.

Advocacy, networking and partnership building:

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with health sector government counterparts, national stakeholders, as well as global partners, allies, donors, and academia.
• Through active networking, advocacy and effective communication, build capacity and exchange knowledge and expertise to facilitate the achievement of the iSC and cold chain system strengthening and programme goals.
• Prepare communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances, and support fund raising for health programmes (iSC and cold chain rehabilitation, expansion and maintenance). Prepare donor reports and updates for the partners, government and within organization.

Programme monitoring and evaluation:

• Undertakes field visits to monitor and assess iSCM & cold chain programme implementation and decides on required corrective action.
• Carry out a rigorous and transparent approach to evaluation and participate in the major programme evaluation exercises in consultation with the Representative, the Operations Officer, the Evaluation Officer and others to improve efficiency and quality of programme delivery.
• Participate in annual sector review meetings with government counterparts and ensure the timely preparation of annual programme status reports.

For every Child, you demonstrate:

• UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are:

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

Remuneration
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

Application Closing Date
17th May, 2023. (West Central Africa Standard Time)

Important Information and Notice

• UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.
• UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
• Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history.
• Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.
• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
• UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions.
• Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF.
• UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
• Open to non- Nigerians only