Switzerland: Officer, Immunization

Background

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, with 190 member National Societies. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, our work is guided by seven fundamental principles; humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC or “the Federation”) is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network. The Federation is a membership organisation established by and comprised of its member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Along with National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Federation is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” It works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises. The Federation is served by a Secretariat based in Geneva, with regional and country offices throughout the world. The Secretariat is led by the IFRC Secretary General and provides the central capacity of the International Federation to serve, connect, and represent National Societies. The Secretariat’s focus includes providing support to the IFRC governance mechanisms; setting norms and standards; providing guidance; ensuring consistency, coordination, and accountability for performance; knowledge sharing; promoting collaboration within and respect for the RCRC Movement; and expanding engagement with partners. The Secretariat’s headquarters is organized in three main business groups: (i) Partnerships, including Movement and Membership; (ii) Programmes and Operations; and (iii) Management Services. The Programme Services Division is in turn organised in three Departments, each of them led by a Director. The Health and Care Department consists of 3 teams, of which Health in Complex Settings is one. The Officer, Immunization serves as a member of the Health in Complex Settings team reporting to the Senior Officer, Immunization. The Officer, Immunization supports the IFRC's programmatic vision for immunization activities within the Health in Complex Settings Team and its translation into programmatic interventions. All work is undertaken in close collaboration with Regional Offices, Cluster, Country offices by providing technical advice, support and coordination to the Federation's programmes in the areas covered by the Health in Complex Settings Team.

Job Purpose

1. To be the principle focal point of all reporting and compliance requirements for donor and technical partners of IFRC’s Global Immunization Programme.
2. To provide specific technical support and guidance to IFRC’s Global Immunization Program within the Health in Complex Settings team.
3. Work with the Senior Officer, Immunization to support the development of immunisation capacity in the Federation and support National Society immunisation programmes with a focus on countries in complex settings.
4. Work with the Senior Officer, Immunization to support the coordination and compilation of the evidence-base to improve, integrate and scale up NS immunisation interventions in priority countries.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Support National Societies in order to improve performance when addressing immunization issues in Complex Settings

• Support the Senior Officer, Immunization and National Societies to develop immunization specific project proposals.
• Support the Senior Officer, Immunization to develop and manage the IFRC’s Global Immunization programmes budgets.
• Be the principle point of contact within the IFRC Global Immunization team for all reporting and compliance issues to partner agencies which include; CDC, GAVI, GSK, Pfizer, UNICEF and other partner agencies.
• In collaboration with partner agencies, IFRC regional and country level colleagues, operationalize the Federation involvement in the polio endgame strategy in priority countries including Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan.

• Contribute to providing specific technical support to ensure National Societies can effectively

• Support demand creation and social mobilization for routine immunization

• Improve the quality of supplemental immunization campaigns for measles, polio and other diseases

• Provide direct immunization service delivery in settings where government programs do not exist and security assessment indicate the NS can safely provide support.

• Compile and share evidence of what works, where and for whom, in strengthening immunisation systems and campaigns, with an emphasis on innovation and scalable eHealth solutions.

• Support the development and adaptation or update immunisation guidelines, tools, trainings and minimum standard frameworks for National Societies.

• Work with knowledge management and communications colleagues to share information, lessons learned and best practices.

• Support the mapping of global programming, progress and best practices and priority needs of National Societies especially in Complex Settings and ensure professional dialogue with and relevant support to technical staff and maintain a functioning network of delegates, NS staff and professionals in the Health in Complex Settings sector.

Enable RCRC to be a global leading player in the Health in Complex Settings sector

• Contribute to and support the work of RCRC at relevant international fora, in publications, conferences and meeting and ensure that relevant advocacy themes are well presented and to the positioning of RCRC as a global leader in immunization in Complex Settings.
• Contribute to cross-divisional, field and national societies input in the development of global policies, strategies, guidelines and tools as well as the integration of these standards into the work of RCRC to ensure sound and sustainable Health in Complex Settings programmes.
• Contribute to and support immunization activities as a significant means of contributing towards achievement of the health related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other relevant global health development targets.
• Provide technical assistance to RCRC NS to improve social mobilization and demand creation for routine immunization and to improve the quality of supplemental immunization activities.
• Work closely, with other members of the Health in Complex Settings Team, with the Communications and Partnerships Teams contributing to ensuring appropriate visibility, resource mobilization and public awareness of the work of IFRC/RCRC.

Support of Immunization during emergencies

• Support the Senior Officer, Immunization to build NS capacity to assist government program for early detection and response to outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases including measles, cholera, ebola, and meningitis
• Support the Senior Officer, Immunization to ensure NS has capacity to conduct social mobilization and demand creation for routine immunization and supplemental immunization campaigns in complex settings
• Support CSO platforms to address the equity gap in immunization in priority countries.
• Support NS capacity to provide immunization services in settings where the national program is unable.

Contribute to Delivering quality in operations

• Under the direction of the Senior Officer, Immunization, ensure that tools, guidelines and projects in the team are based on evidence, applicable international standards and follow a resilience based health approach.
• Ensure that operational questions and challenges are addressed by operational research in partnership with different research institutions and other partners
• Ensure that behavioural change components and training are following good standards and are aligned to department wide approaches

Contribute to an effective, high quality IFRC team

• Be accountable to the Senior Officer, Immunization by providing progress reports on results against objectives and risk analysis.
  
• Be flexible in your work definition according to needs and targets and improve team efficiencies and effectiveness within available resources.
  
• Be a pro-active team member fostering a customer service-oriented culture that values proactivity, continuous improvement, innovation, high performance and cost effectiveness.
  
• Foster a co-creative environment with colleagues in the Secretariat, Regions and the National Societies and open and co-operative view to the actors in the relevant external environment.
  
• Support the Senior Officer, Immunization in strengthening financial standards in the team by contributing to: ensure regular reports on use of funds within the Global Immunization Programme are provided; and ensure budget needs are met and reported upon in a timely and efficient manner.
  

Education

• Advanced university degree (master's or equivalent) in Health or equivalent professional experience (Preferred)
• Relevant post graduate degree in public health (Preferred)

Experience

• At least 3 years working experience in the humanitarian or development sector, with a focus on Health in Complex Settings (Required)
  
• Demonstrated professional credibility in the sector and experience working in an international or cross-cultural environment (Required)
• Experience working in a RC/RC National Society and/or Federation/ICRC (Preferred)

Knowledge, skills and languages

• Knowledge of addressing Health in Complex Settings and public health and experience in practically applying this knowledge into policy, programmes and positioning, preferably in emergencies (Preferred)
  
• Programme and project management (Required)
  
• Results oriented and demand driven individual, entrepreneurial, ability to lead in unprecedented and/or ambiguous situations. (Required)
  
• Demonstrated leadership and management skills, including the ability to lead within a matrix management structure and utilise talent and experience of team members in a productive way.
  
• Outstanding networking, representational, communication and negotiation skills. An ability to be proactive and persuasive. (Required)
  
• Demonstrated track record in innovating, contributing to a learning culture, sharing knowledge and new approaches to engaging partners. (Required)
  
• Proven good judgment and ability to work with complete integrity and confidentiality
  
• High degree of discretion, tact and sensitivity in dealing with internal and external clients and stakeholders at all levels. (Required)
  
• Ability to work within a multi-cultural, multilingual, multidisciplinary environment. (Required)
  
• Fluently spoken and written English (Required)
  
• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic) (Preferred)
  Competencies and values

Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability
Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust

Comments

The Federation is an equal opportunity employer.

Please apply on the organisation's website: Click Here