The Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) is recruiting a Vaccination Specialist in Ukraine

 Aim of the job

• The Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) seeks an experienced Vaccination Specialist for the five-year Pact-led and USAID funded Public Health System Recovery and Resilience (PHS R&R) Project. Starting from October 2023, PHS R&R will be in its second year of implementation.

The primary goal of PHS R&R is to strengthen the Government of Ukraine (GoU)’s capacity to prevent, detect and respond to public health threats, sustain critical public health services during a crisis, and protect the health of all Ukrainians including vulnerable and marginalized groups.

The Vaccination Specialist will support the implementation of a wide range of activities of the PHS R&R Project aimed to strengthen the COVID-19 response and routine immunization at the national, regional and local levels in close partnership with health and non-health actors, representatives of governmental and nongovernmental organizations, public sector and other stakeholders. The Vaccination Specialist will contribute to improving preparedness, resilience and response of public health and health care organizations against COVID-19 and other vaccine-preventable diseases, and to sustaining essential health care services during the health crisis.

1.     Main Tasks

• Support implementation of the Project activities related to COVID-19 vaccination and routine immunization in coordination with the identified stakeholders at different levels of the public health system of Ukraine.
• Support organization of trainings and capacity-building activities to enhance the knowledge and skills in the area of immunization program staff, including by contributing to the development of the training materials
• Contribute to the development of concept notes, technical reports, and other papers related to immunization programs
• Support partnership-building and coordination efforts with the stakeholders at the national (Ministry of Health of Ukraine, Centre for Public Health) and the regional (Regional Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (RCDCP), Regional Health Departments (RHD)) levels
• Collaborate with stakeholders to strengthen RCDCPs, including vaccine supply chains, cold chain systems, and logistics management for efficient vaccine delivery and child health services
• Carry out research and stay updated on emerging trends, research, and innovations in the immunization area, including as it concerns global immunization policies, guidelines, and best practices, to contribute relevant knowledge to program design and implementation and to assist RCDCPs’ in implementing the best practices
• Participate in national and regional meetings as well as technical working groups to strengthen strategies and capability for surveillance, testing, contact tracing, and vaccination related to COVID-19 and other vaccine-preventable diseases as performed by responsible institutions
• Liaise, whenever agreed, with international experts on specific technical tasks, and to arrange international trainings/study visits
• Support surveys, report writing, translation and proof-reading
• Contribute to work planning and reporting within the Project
• Perform other tasks as requested by the project management. 

2.     Basic Requirements

• Education: Master’s degree or higher from an accredited university in medicine, public health, epidemiology or a related field is required. A specialization in immunization or vaccine-preventable diseases is highly desirable.
• Experience: At least 3 years of experience developing, implementing, and/or monitoring health programs, with experience in public health emergencies, vaccination programs, and/or response to epidemics preferable. Experience in technical assistance or advisory roles related to immunization and collaboration with RCDCPs is advantageous.
• Technical Expertise: In-depth knowledge of immunization policies, strategies, and best practices, including vaccine introduction, coverage monitoring, and vaccine safety is required. Knowledge of the international best practices and the immunization initiatives will be an advantage.
• Collaboration and Communication: Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present technical information in a clear and concise manner. Demonstrated skills in problem solving and consensus building.
• The candidate must be demonstrably proficient in (oral, writing and reading) Ukrainian and have at least Intermediate level of English (ability to read and understand technical texts, communicate basic conclusions and updates to the international experts).
• The candidate shall be able to travel across Ukraine to visit RCDCPs, and attend conferences, workshops, and meetings as required.

3.     Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in working with MOH, CPH, RCDCPs, or other institutions in public health / healthcare field.

Office Location: Kyiv, Ukraine.

Full or Part-Time: Full-Time

To apply, please send a cover letter and CV to [email protected] indicating the position. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.