Programme Manager, Middle Income Countries (temp)

Job Description

Position title: Programme Manager, Middle Income Countries (temp)

Position type: 7 months Temporary position (Parental Leave Cover)

Location: Geneva

Purpose of the position: A key contributor to the Middle Income Country approach through support to Senior Country Managers in developing and maintaining relationships, and handling continuous engagement with a portfolio of MICs eligible countries.

Department: Country Programmes Delivery

Team: Middle Income Countries (MICs)

Reports to: Head, Middle Income Countries

Career step level: 3

THE ROLE

Gavi’s Middle Income Countries (MICs) Approach seeks to prevent and mitigate backsliding in vaccine coverage in former Gavi eligible countries, and to drive the sustainable introductions of key missing vaccines in both former and select never-Gavi eligible middle-income countries. The MICs Approach seeks to achieve explicit outcomes, reflecting its clear focus on results. A Theory of Change sets out a path to achieving these outcomes and a comprehensive measurement framework will monitor progress and help understand the impact of investments. A learning agenda accompanies the MICs Approach, helping to inform its implementation and enabling any needed course correction. This primary purpose of the Programme Manager role is to work closely with Senior Country Managers to maintain and nurture effective relationships with the assigned countries through the provision of timely, accurate information, being responsive to participant requests and supportive in assisting participants to understand and work within the MICs approach.

Key deliverables include support to country applications, the drafting of correspondence, preparation of briefing materials and the gathering of critical country intelligence. The Programme Manager also plays an important role in supporting the MICs Learning Agenda. The maintenance of excellent communication records and documentation is a core requirement.

MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support Senior Country Managers in the coordination and execution of engagement with assigned countries and key country stakeholder in the implementation of the MICs approach;
• Respond to queries and foster productive collaboration; manage relationships; develop drafts of the necessary materials for these engagements (letters, slides, documents, briefing notes), ensuring that content is accurate and reflects MICs approach processes and policies;
• Working alongside Senior Country Managers facilitate the various steps of the process to support countryapplications for MICs support with targeted interventions to prevent back-sliding in routine immunisation and new vaccine support (as relevant for each eligible country); closely monitor and report on progress;
• Support excellent communication flows and work closely with other Gavi teams such as Legal, Finance, Resource Mobilisation, Country Support to ensure effective communication and engagement with theassigned countries and alignment with Gavi’s broader country engagement;
• Contribute to the MICs learning agenda working with colleagues and partners to gather, collate, synthesise and analyse learnings; and
• Maintain excellent records of country and partner communications and contacts for visibility.

Specifically, the candidate will be expected to deliver on the following:

• Support day-to-day problem solving to ensure that programme implementation is effective and in line with the signed grant agreements;
• Prepare presentation decks for monthly meetings with countries in the candidate’s portfolio;
• Support countries to prepare and submit applications for vaccine catalytic financing;
• Support the SCM to prepare for missions, including preparing the itinerary and securing meetings with relevant stakeholders; and
• Contribute to the MICs learning agenda working with colleagues and countries to gather, collate, synthesise and analyse learnings.

Note: The essential functions listed in this section are not exhaustive of the job responsibilities; other duties may be assigned consistently with the department needs

QUALIFICATIONS

ACADEMIC

• University degree in public health, health economics, development, business administration (with experience in international development) or related field, or other relevant qualification.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience working in public health or international development; experience in public financing, immunisation programmes or health systems;
• Grant-, project- and/or programme management experience required, including in situations of considerable complexity and political sensitivity;
• Experience working in middle income countries on technical issues or working with countries from aregional/HQ level; and
• Experience in bilateral and multilateral aid environments is desirable.

SKILLS/COMPETENCIES

• Health or international development technical skills; current knowledge of immunisation or health development issues is required;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English with demonstrated ability to synthesise complexissues into effective oral and written briefs is required; A track record in producing high quality work on a variety of issues with short deadlines and make effective, timely decisions is required;
• Demonstrated ability to work across teams, and utilise talent and expertise of team members in a productiveway is required;
• High degree of discretion, tact and sensitivity in dealing with internal and external clients and stakeholders at all level is required;
• Project management skills demonstrated with complex (e.g., multi-sectorial, multi-stakeholder) projects is desirable;
• Ability to adapt and work within a multicultural, multilingual, multidisciplinary environment is desirable;
• Fluency in Excel and PowerPoint is desirable.

LANGUAGES

• Written and spoken fluency in English and Spanish is mandatory;
• Fluency in other languages of Gavi-supported countries an asset.

CONTACTS

• Gavi Secretariat;
• Gavi Alliance partners, including UNICEF, WHO, civil society, and academic institutions;
• Implementing country governments;
• Gavi donors.

If you wish to apply, please provide a cover letter and resume through our Careers webpage and apply by clicking on “Programme Manager, Middle Income Countries (MICs) (temp)”. Deadline for applications is 4 March 2025.

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In support of Gavi’s commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion, we hire globally and welcome applications regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, national origin, family status, sex, gender identity or expression, physical characteristics, race, religion, spirituality or sexual orientation. Gavi has zero tolerance towards sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse as well as any form of discrimination or harassment. Everyone at Gavi is expected to conduct themselves with integrity and respect towards each other. Gavi is committed to creating a work environment that is safe and professional, therefore all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference checks. Read more here.

Gavi brings together the public and private sectors to save lives and protect people’s health by increasing equitable and sustainable use of vaccines against 18 infectious diseases. You will be joining an organisation at the centre of the international COVID-19 response, at the most critical time in global health in a lifetime. You will work in a culturally diverse environment with over 70 nationalities. You will collaborate with partners such as WHO, UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Bank – and from business, civil society and government. And you will work in the first global health organisation to receive equal gender salary certification. Your unique experience, skills and talents can help us achieve our vision of leaving no one behind without the life-saving power of vaccines.

About the Organization

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is a public-private partnership committed to saving children's lives and protecting people's health by increasing equitable use of vaccines in lower-income countries. The Vaccine Alliance brings together implementing country and donor governments, the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other private sector partners. Gavi uses innovative finance mechanisms, including co-financing by recipient countries, to secure sustainable funding and adequate supply of quality vaccines. Since 2000, Gavi has contributed to the immunisation of more than one billion children and the prevention of more than 18.8 million future deaths.