Please note: This role is based in Patna, Bihar

The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to our mission of saving lives and reducing the burden of disease in low-and middle-income countries. We work at the invitation of governments to support them and the private sector to create and sustain high-quality health systems.

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Programme Overview:

India’s Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) is one of the largest public immunization programmes in the world. It caters to 27 million infants and 30 million pregnant women. The programme provides access to vaccines against 11 Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPDs) at the national level and against one VPD at the sub-national level.

Under the strong leadership of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) and state governments, the immunization ecosystem has demonstrated a proactive commitment to achieving universal immunization coverage in the country in recent years. This includes health system strengthening efforts towards the introduction of new vaccines, rolling out of data systems, digitization of vaccine cold chain and inventory management, and health worker capacity building. MoHFW plans to scale up a digitized beneficiary management system (UWIN) for Routine Immunization, introduce new vaccines in the UIP, and reduce Zero-dose children.

Project Background:

WJCF’s immunization program supports the MoHFW’s UIP at the national level and in the focus states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. The programme also supports national and state governments on broader operational aspects such as planning, capacity building and systems improvements for immunization service delivery.

In Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, the programme provides catalytic support for achieving and sustaining 90% FIC. The programme focuses on setting up effective program management & review mechanisms, identifying pressing challenges as well as best practices in RI, enhancing impact of well performing interventions, developing & deploying effective solutions to pressing challenges and undertaking multi-year planning for long term immunization systems strengthening.

Position Summary

WJCF is seeking a highly motivated individual with exceptional credentials and demonstrated program planning and coordination abilities for the Program Officer, Routine Immunization role. Reporting to the Manager, Routine Immunization in Bihar, the Program Officer will provide continuous strategic and technical support to the Immunization team, in alignment with the workplan. He/she will support the team in planning and implementing interventions to strengthen routine immunization programme through activities such as design of data collection tools, RI data collection and analysis, synthesis of research data and information from govt. letters and presentations, developing training materials, and documentation of best practices. This role requires independence, coordination with cross-functional teams, flexibility, and a strong commitment to excellence.

Responsibilities:

• Provide support to the Program Manager to ensure smooth and successful program development and implementation.
• Development and scale up of new data systems/platforms and service tracking mechanisms, as required to support evidence-based decision making.
• Provide support to the M&E team in building strong tracking mechanism for project activities’ implementation monitoring and facilitate monitoring, evaluation, and analysis for continuous program adaptation and improvement.
• Play a key role in strengthening of Government of Bihar led immunization review meetings in select districts and blocks in Bihar on a continuous basis
• the Build and implement scale up plan for identified Immunization coverage improvement initiatives/activities in close collaboration with the field team and state RI Cell
• Conduct internal reviews for the field team on monthly basis, identify each district’s strength and weaknesses, and provide handholding to the field team to achieve maximum efficiency.
• Meet the district leadership once every quarter in all implementing geographies.
• Work closely with the state RI cell to identify key training needs for different levels of immunization functionaries, design targeted training content, define the training calendar and deliver trainings effectively and assist in development of training collaterals and in organizing trainings for activities/interventions to scaled up across the state.
• Capacitate all DEOs across the State on analytical tools created by CHAI, enabling accurate and timely insights on immunization indicators, strengthening data-driven decision-making in both focus and non-focus districts by program managers.
• Enable cross-learning amongst districts and blocks on program performance review mechanisms by identifying and disseminating best practices
• Assist the state and districts in augmenting Cold Chain Space in the districts. In addition, optimization for timely sessions in marginalized areas for existing CCPs
• Undertake primary and secondary research and create data-based insights to provide credible evidence for formulating coverage improvement strategies and ensure the documentation of activities/outcomes to create replicable models and policy advocacy documents.
• Perform any other tasks assigned by the Program Manager and or Senior Program Manager and or Program Director.

Qualifications:

• Master’s/Bachelor’s degree in public health, statistics, operations research, or allied areas.
• 5+ years of relevant work experience in Public Health, Public Policy/Administration, or allied areas with field experience.
• Proven expertise in a result driven environment, in the public and/or private sector.
• Strong process management skills, high level of organization, and good attention to detail proven through experience in independently driving the planning and execution of projects including activity planning, implementation, and monitoring.
• Proven track record working in challenging multi-stakeholder environments. Ability to navigate complex government processes and influence decision-making in a professional and collaborative manner.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, including proficiency at Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint & Word, and an ability to create written documents.
• Fluency in English and Hindi.

Preferred:

• Significant government stakeholder management experience would be a strong positive.
• Development or Public sector field experience.
• Proficiency in statistical software for robust data analysis.
• Prior experience in leading and publishing qualitative and quantitative research.
• Strong understanding of public health/immunization/vaccines, and/or cold chain context.