Program Officer

PATH is an international, nonprofit organization that creates sustainable, culturally relevant solutions, enabling communities worldwide to break longstanding cycles of poor health. PATH’s mission is to improve the health of people around the word by advancing technologies, strengthening systems, and encouraging health behaviors.

PATH’s Vaccine Access and Delivery Global Program supports the integration of vaccines for public health impact and disease control in developing countries by focusing on activities that facilitate vaccine introduction and widespread use, such as determining disease burden, conducting clinical trials, establishing the health economics of vaccine use, raising awareness of disease burden and the impact of vaccination, increasing the availability of technologies through licensing and commercialization, and advocating for appropriate policies. In addition, the Program implements activities that improve the accessibility of high-quality immunization services, including training, supervision, health information systems, immunization safety, logistics and communication.

Vaccine Access and Delivery Global Program is currently recruiting for a Program Officer, Strategic Vaccine Supply (SVS), for the Accelerated Vaccine Introduction (AVI) Initiative. The primary goal of this effort is to support the accelerated introduction of vaccines against rotavirus and pneumoccocal disease into the routine immunization practices of GAVI-eligible countries. This project will work in close partnership with a variety of stakeholders, including GAVI, WHO, UNICEF, universities, vaccine manufacturers, other NGOs, as well as directly with countries themselves, to develop and implement the necessary strategies, policies, protocols, and infrastructure to accelerate introduction and uptake of these lifesaving vaccines. 

The Strategic Vaccine Supply Program Officers will support the generation of strategic demand and supply forecasts for rotavirus, pneumococcal, and other GAVI portfolio vaccines in developing countries, using a broad range of inputs including market research, dynamic modeling, and product landscape scanning. The Program Officer will be a member of a strategically focused team with a common goal to support and trigger evidence-based decisions to increase effectiveness and efficiency of introduction activities of the AVI project. The SVS Team provides high-quality, consistent, timely and transparent strategic demand  and supply forecasts for the GAVI portfolio of vaccines, ensuring seamless interface with UNICEF procurement plans and providing a single point of contact for  strategic forecasting information. This position is expected to work in a team environment to meet timelines and address any challenges arising during fulfilling the scope of work.

Proposed activities include: 

1. Work in close partnership with GAVI, UNICEF, WHO and partner institutions to develop consensus-based strategic demand and supply forecasts and contribute to policy development.
2. Research and identify the drivers of demand for new vaccines in developing country markets relevant to improving the quality of the strategic demand forecasting process. 
3. Collaborate with partners to ensure a strategic approach to accelerated vaccine introduction is developed, specifically with regards to ensuring sufficient supply, highlighting risks and opportunities.
4. Interface with multinational vaccine manufacturers, developing country vaccine manufacturers and biotechnology firms to understand product development timelines, manufacturing capacity, and supply constraints.
5. Develop and maintain complex forecast models for vaccines market and products, incorporating input from different functions that portray future market dynamics and highlight the areas of variability.
6. Make presentations and represent the AVI project at meetings relevant to this area of work. 
7. Publish and present information regarding the innovative approaches and results arising from this project.

Required Experience:

• Excellent technical and organizational skills, including attention to detail, ability to meet deadlines and anticipate future challenges in order to establish appropriate course of action for self and others.
• Proven success driving action while working in a multi-party, consensus-driven environment.
• Proven effectiveness in communicating strategic market planning approaches and results to a variety of audiences and stakeholders through multiple channels.
• Team-focused with the expertise to interact with diverse colleagues and facilitate strong working relationships between partners; adept at working closely with others over geographical distance.
• Knowledgeable about challenges and constraints to strategic market planning in the context of developing countries.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English; diplomacy in communicating with a broad and diverse audience.
• Excellent writing and editing skills for a variety of media. 
• Willingness to travel up to 25% time annually.

Advanced degree (Master’s level or above) in business, finance, economics or other relevant field, plus a minimum of seven years of progressive experience in strategic market analysis and planning in an industrial, consulting and/or academic setting; or an equivalent combination of education and experience required.

To Apply: Please visit our employment website, http://www.path.org/employment, click on the career site link, search for 4916, and apply online. PATH is dedicated to diversity and is an equal opportunity employer.