Technical Officer Vaccine Safety at World Health Organization

Description Of Duties
The incumbent is assigned the following responsibilities which are performed according to the needs and agenda of the sub-region:

• Provide expert advice on development of national vaccine safety workplans and monitor their implementation, including formulation of milestones to evaluate performance of vaccine regulation activities.
• Provide support on vaccine pharmacovigilance activities implementation in each country: setting up functional AEFI review committees, development national AEFI surveillance guidelines and plans, implementation of AEFI investigation and causality assessment, quality management systems (QMS) and standard operating procedures.
• Facilitate and support countries capacity building on Vaccine safety and Regulation in close collaboration with VPD, QSS/IVB/HQ, countries and other WHO entities and partners.
• Support countries in serious AEFI cases investigations and causality assessments as and when desired in close cooperation with other VPD staff and other clusters as appropriate.
• Assist countries in designing AEFI prevention and management components for mass vaccination campaigns with injectable vaccines including training materials.
• Monitor AEFI data of each country and provide guidance on updating and uploading data on, DHIS2, Vigiflow and eJRF.
• Collaborate with other programmes to promote and support the adoption of innovations, particularly in the optimization and digitalization on vaccine safety in the Sub region.
• Developing/collaborating on the development and maintenance of up-to-date sub national databases for vaccine safety bodies and activities as part of the development on new/improved tools and strategies;
• Perform any other activities as required by the IST/VPD Team Leader and VPD team lead.

Required Qualifications
Education

• Essential: Master’s Degree in medicine or pharmaceutical sciences or related field.
• Desirable: Post graduate degree in public health or epidemiology.

Experience

• Essential: At least seven (7) years of experience in public health service delivery with demonstrated experience in vaccine safety related activities. At least three (3) years of experience in working in immunization programmes and in working with national regulatory authorities and pharmacovigilance centers at international level.

Desirable

• Experience with WHO or UN agencies, International NGOs
• Experience in developing countries
• Proven experience to work with deadlines and manage budgets, in collaboration with a diverse range of stakeholders

Skills

• Demonstrated track record in knowledge of immunization programmes complemented by an in- depth knowledge of vaccine pharmacovigilance. Exposure in provision of technical assistance to countries towards improving regional/national capacity in the area of vaccine-preventable diseases with particular emphasis to immunization safety, vaccine pharmacovigilance and vaccine regulatory policy and procedures within the domain of ensuring overall vaccine quality and safety. Excellent communication and presentation skills with ability to write in a clear and concise manner. Ability to provide technical advice and guidance to multiple stakeholders and partners taking into account the political and resource-limited contexts. Track record in resource mobilization as well as diplomacy, tact and courtesy. Strong interpersonal skills with ability to promote consensus, communicate progress and results, and/or take remedial action in a proactive manner, while ensuring effective work practices and ethics.

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Creating a motivating and empowering environment
• Promoting innovation and Organizational learning

Use of Language Skills

• Essential: Expert knowledge of English or French.
• Desirable: Working knowledge of other UN official languages.