Overview
The Regional Advisor, Research, Vaccines and Medical Countermeasures is responsible for providing strategic guidance on research and development, access to medical countermeasures, and vaccination interventions during emergencies. The role facilitates collaboration and leads research initiatives for high threat pathogens.
Key Responsibilities
- Provides technical leadership, coordination, and managerial support within the unit.
- Develops and proposes technical health policies and strategies.
- Oversees a unit of technical teams and facilitates team synergies.
- Manages the programme area, including financial resources and work planning.
- Leads and conducts research on best practices and disseminates information.
- Manages monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of key performance indicators.
- Serves as a technical reference among peers, UN Agencies, and stakeholders.
- Represents the programme area at various meetings.
- Contributes to the design and implementation of the Preparedness Flagship initiative.
- Supervises the implementation of the Pandemic Influenza partnership.
- Leads AFRO support for vaccination in emergency contexts.
- Liaises with teams to conduct and strengthen event-based surveillance for VPD outbreaks.
- Supports teams in applications and access to vaccines.
- Collaborates with IVD and Polio teams on vaccine preventable diseases in emergency settings.
- Coordinates the work of Research officers.
- Represents AFRO in the MCM pillar of HEP core capabilities and MCM network.
Required Experience
A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in immunization programmes, health emergencies, and research. Demonstrated experience in managing human and financial resources. Demonstrated experience in working at the international level and good working knowledge of the African region. Experience with UN Agencies or international NGOs would be an added advantage.
Qualifications
An advanced university degree in medicine, or related field, and Master’s level qualifications in public health, epidemiology, infectious diseases, or emergency/disaster management. Post graduate studies or specialized training related to public health. A PhD in one of the above-mentioned fields.
