Senior Manager - Maternal RSV Vaccine Country Readiness Project at World Vision Kenya

Job Description:

• The Senior Manager is the technical and delivery lead for the Maternal Immunization Country Readiness Project in Kenya, preparing the country to introduce a maternal RSV vaccine through routine antenatal care (ANC) and immunization services. Working with the Ministry of Health (NVIP, RMNCAH), county health teams and partners, the Senior Manager provides technical leadership and policy influence and ensures the workplan is delivered on time, on budget and to donor standards across the project outcomes: policy and planning, health worker readiness, ANC platforms and demand, and monitoring, data and learning. Based in Operations, the role works collaboratively with Policy, Advocacy and Health Units, supported by the WVUS Senior Technical Advisor.

Project Strategic Management, Compliance and Donor Reporting

• Provide technical and strategic direction for, and lead delivery of, the approved work plan and budget across all project outcomes, ensuring timely, ensuring timely, on-budget and on-target implementation
• Lead project start-up, including the project kick-off workshop and onboarding and capacity building of project staff
• Support procurement of required project goods, services and consultancies.
• With the Senior Grants Finance Officer and Accounts Payable, develop monthly activity and procurement schedules, track budget burn rate and review financial reports to ensure compliance with Pfizer Foundation and World Vision requirements
• Prepare and submit accurate narrative and financial reports to WVUS & other relevant stakeholders and coordinate regular calls and monitoring visits by WVUS and technical support staff
• Provide technical and people leadership, technically guide field teams for county level activities.
• Maintain a project risk register and ensure compliance with World Vision and donor policies, including safeguarding, and anti-fraud; escalate any risk, liability or fraud immediately to the supervisor
• Contribute to resource mobilisation for follow-on maternal immunization work, in collaboration with RAM and technical specialists
• Provide spiritual leadership and model a high standard of personal Christian ministry and integrity, supporting the spiritual development of the team.

Policy, Regulatory and Planning Readiness

• In liaison with relevant government technical officers, convene national and subnational stakeholders (MoH, NVIP, KENITAG, Inter-agency Coordinating Committee, EPI and RMNCAH Technical Working Groups, regulatory authorities, counties and partners) to review, adapt and validate policies, guidelines and regulatory pathways for maternal RSV vaccine introduction
• Lead selection of pilot counties using Td coverage in pregnancy as a tracer indicator, ensuring both stronger and weaker maternal immunization settings are included
• Oversee the review of evidence and tools from previous maternal immunization initiatives (e.g. PATH Study, MIRI, MIRNA, MIRNA-RSV) and translate the findings into a practical package of readiness actions for Kenya
• In collaboration with the DMEAL department support the ethical approval/IRB application and oversee the Behavioural Science Consultant in designing the SBC formative research protocol, tools and assessment team training
• Oversee formative research, facility readiness (infrastructure, cold chain, staffing, reporting, workflow, data systems) and health workforce training needs assessments, and share findings with the MoH through dissemination and validation workshops and a post-formative MoH meeting
• Support the MoH (NVIP) in annual work planning for maternal immunization and facilitate a joint national and county planning workshop to develop a costed, phased maternal RSV vaccine introduction roadmap
• Strengthen coordination between MNCH and immunization programs, including roles, governance structures and accountability frameworks for ANC-based vaccine delivery
• Establish and sustain working relationships with government, development partners, CSOs, FBOs and academic institutions, and represent World Vision at national and county forums on maternal immunization

Health Worker Readiness, ANC Service Delivery and Community Demand Creation

• Oversee the co-development, adaptation, pilot-testing and dissemination of competency-based training packages, job aids and SOPs on maternal RSV vaccine safety, administration, AEFI management and risk communication
• Establish integrated ANC-immunization workflows covering screening, counselling, vaccine administration and documentation within routine ANC services
• Plan and lead quarterly joint supportive supervision and mentorship with NVIP and County Health Management Teams
• Work with NVIP and counties to build capacity for cold chain equipment maintenance, optimise cold chain and last-mile logistics, and strengthen human resource planning and deployment for integrated ANC-immunization services
• Oversee development and dissemination of context-specific communication materials and job aids, and engagement of community health promoters and local leaders to build awareness and acceptance of maternal vaccines
• Oversee mobile clinic services for remote and underserved communities in pilot sites, and the design and pilot of Group ANC in selected health facilities.

Monitoring, Data Systems, Research and Learning

• Adapt and integrate maternal RSV vaccine indicators, data collection tools and reporting into national HMIS/DHIS2 platforms
• Update AEFI reporting tools and strengthen AEFI detection, reporting and response, including provider training and supervision
• Institutionalise routine data review meetings at facility, sub-county and national levels to support data-driven decisions
• Develop and implement a learning agenda, document lessons, best practices, operational challenges and execute necessary publications and knowledge sharing
• Oversee the baseline, endline and data integration surveys, ensuring ethical standards and data quality
• Lead the development of manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication, and organise the final dissemination workshop with the MoH, CHMTs/DHMTs and NVIP/EPI to present results, tools and readiness status.
• Ensure comprehensive knowledge management and filing of all important project documents.

Required Professional Experience

• Minimum 8 years' experience in public health programme management, including at least 3 years at managerial level, in maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH), immunization or primary health care programs.
• Demonstrated experience working with Kenya's Ministry of Health at national and county levels (e.g. NVIP/KEPI, RMNCAH, County Health Management Teams) and a sound understanding of Kenya's devolved health system, ANC and routine immunization service delivery.
• Good understanding of vaccine introduction processes, including policy and regulatory pathways, NITAG (KENITAG) processes, cold chain and logistics, and AEFI surveillance. Familiarity with maternal immunization or RSV vaccines is a plus.
• Proven experience in stakeholder convening, policy engagement and coordination with government, UN agencies, NGOs, development partners, CSOs and faith-based organisations.
• Experience in health systems strengthening and health worker capacity building, including competency-based training, job aids and supportive supervision.
• Experience in social and behaviour change (SBC) and community engagement, including working with community health promoters and local leaders.
• Experience in monitoring, evaluation and learning, including HMIS/DHIS2, formative research, research ethics (IRB) processes, managing consultants and contributing to peer-reviewed publications.
• Demonstrated ability to manage donor-funded grants, including budgets, financial oversight and donor reporting, and to manage resources efficiently and effectively.
• Proven ability to lead and supervise teams and to work in a matrix environment in a complex international development organisation.
• Must be a committed Christian who is able to stand above denominational and cultural diversity challenges.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, team player, and proficient in English and Kiswahili.

Required Education

• A minimum of a bachelor's degree in Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, Health Sciences or another related field.
• Good computer skills in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and virtual collaboration tools.

Preferred Knowledge and Qualifications

• Master's degree in Public Health, Health Policy, Epidemiology or a related field.
• Experience with new vaccine introductions (e.g. HPV, malaria, COVID-19) and with implementation research or operational research in immunization or MNCH.
• Project management certification (e.g. PMP, PRINCE2) and strong budgetary and financial management skills.