Uganda: Immunization Manager - Ugandan National

Organisation Description:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is an international non-governmental organization founded in 1933. The IRC works in 28 countries providing relief, protection and resettlement assistance to refugees and displaced population. IRC was registered in Uganda in mid 1998 and implements rehabilitation activities in the sectors of Child and Youth Protection and development, Health, Economic recovery and Development and women protection and empowerment as well as contributing to the response to the Southern Sudanese Refugee situation. IRC Uganda has a head office in Kampala, field offices in Kitgum, Karamoja and in Kiyrandongo.

Evidence-based interventions to reduce child morbidity and mortality represent a main area of focus for the IRC health team; this includes immunization programming. Over the last two decades, improvements in vaccine technology, cold chain equipment and global financing have resulted in substantial improvements in immunization coverage. But the job is unfinished: vaccine coverage in developing countries remains stuck at less than 80%. This means that one in five children in the developing world – over 22 million children each year – faces an increased chance of death or a crippling disability simply because they did not receive basic childhood immunizations.

It has become clear that the tools used by governments, organizations and others to reach children are insufficient to achieve complete immunization coverage. The IRC is currently working with the ministries of health in Ethiopia and Uganda to close this gap ensuring that every child receives the life-saving vaccines to which they have the basic right. We are in the process of testing and scaling-up a set of tools that will empower health workers, especially those working in the most remote and difficult areas, to identify and promptly serve unvaccinated children.

Scope

This position will oversee the implementation of the ‘Fifth Child’ Immunization Project in Uganda and will work directly with the rest of the Uganda Health Team as well as with IRC’s impact evaluation partners: the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Innovations for Poverty Action Uganda. The intervention being evaluated, across Kitgum, Lamwo and Agago districts is an mHealth tool that will help health care workers trace and follow-up children under 1 who have not been fully immunized. The scope of work includes the direct management of at least 2 project staff, supervision of project implementation and coordination and representation to partner agencies and the MoH.

This position will work closely with the Health Manager in Kitgum, and be technically supported by, the Health Unit’s Immunization Research Specialist and Immunization Technical Advisor as well as the Uganda Health Technical Advisor.

Major Responsibilities:

Support the implementation, monitoring, data analysis, budget management and monitoring of all expenditures at the field level and reporting of the ‘Fifth Child’ project. Specific tasks include:

Project and research management

• Serve as the main focal point for the Fifth Child project in the field site for LSHTM and IPA and facilitate the logistics of data collection in collaboration with the Field Coordinator


• Supervision of all immunization project staff (both at the office level and through routine joint field visits)


• Provide active guidance and oversight for all project implementation, project expenditures and routine project monitoring activities, (working in close collaboration with the Kitgum based Health Manager to ensure coherency between the Pfizer immunization/family planning and GPAF Maternal and Child Health projects)


• In collaboration with CommCare Senior Officer, outline routine and CommCare data analysis plan and analyze data and make programmatic adaptations as needed, in consultation with the Health Coordinator and Immunization Team


• Facilitate routine project update meetings with District Health Team officials, include updates on evaluation progress in collaboration with research partners when available

· Provide project reports in the correct format and per the deadline specified

• Routine communication with Health Unit Immunization Team

Representation

• Routine engagement of key stakeholders (UN agencies, MoH, academia, technical working groups, other NGOs etc…) at the field level and national level when necessary


• Representation of IRC and active participation at key fora including district level technical working group meetings, Fifth Child partner meetings and national level coordination meetings as necessary

Capacity building

• Create or revise any training materials needed for the project


• Mentorship and training of project and MOH staff as the need may arise

Documentation and learning

• Document learning and actions throughout process


• Submit success studies on the project at least once a quarter

Job Qualifications:

Education: Advanced Masters degree in relevant field, MPH preferred. Strong quantitative and qualitative research training and expertise.

Work Experience:

· Minimum of 5 years’ experience with the direct implementation of primary health care projects is required, immunization programs preferred, including demonstrated experience managing complex projects, including grant management and budgeting, with multiple direct reports.

· Minimum of 2 years of research experience in the health sector is required.

· Experience implementing and developing mHealth (or mobile technology) tools in field settings is preferred.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Exhibits strong leadership qualities built on years of experience managing complex project teams.


• Able to professionally represent the IRC with research partners, donors and MoH officials.


• Demonstrated understanding of quantitative and qualitative data collection methodologies.


• Able to provide solid staff supportive supervision as well as mentorship and coaching for quality improvement.


• Possesses technical excellence with Microsoft Word and Excel


• Demonstrated ability to work well within a cross-cultural team


• Exhibits enthusiasm, attitude, and work ethic aligned with IRC


• Demonstrates adaptability and ability to be a fast learner


• Very strong verbal and written communication skills


• Knowledge of the structures and systems of the Expanded Program for Immunization in Uganda


• Understanding of northern Ugandan context preferred


• Language skills: English; knowledge of Luo preferred