Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is a public-private partnership committed to saving children’s lives and protecting people’s health by increasing equitable use of vaccines in lower-income countries. The Vaccine Alliance brings together implementing country and donor governments, the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other private sector partners. Gavi uses innovative finance mechanisms, including co-financing by recipient countries, to secure sustainable funding and adequate supply of quality vaccines. Since 2000, Gavi has contributed to the immunisation of more than 981 million children and the prevention of more than 16 million future deaths.

THE ROLE

The Country Support units, situated in the Country Programmes department, works to achieve effective implementation of Gavi’s portfolio of support aimed at increasing immunisation coverage and equity, as well as financial sustainability in Gavi-eligible countries. This work is conducted in close collaboration with Gavi Alliance partners, country stakeholders, other development partners and the rest of the Gavi Secretariat.

The Core Countries segment is one of the three segments in Country Support and is currently organised into three sub-teams focused on geographical regions. The Regional Head is responsible for managing a Geneva-based team of Senior Country Managers (SCMs) and Programme Managers (PMs), who play a critical role in ensuring Gavi resources are put to use wisely to achieve immunisation outcomes. The Regional Head for Rest of the World covers mostly countries in South- East Asia, Asia Pacific and Central Asia. SCMs conduct or oversee the various steps of portfolio management including the grant making process, manage programmatic and fiduciary risk and key relationships, proactively identify and work to address implementation problems, and closely monitor Gavi-funded programmes.

The Regional Head’s role is to ensure:
• Effective portfolio management focused on achieving strategic objectives;
• Successful risk management and mitigation;
• Excellent progress on grant implementation and laser focused on achievement of results;
• Fruitful collaboration with country stakeholders, partners and Secretariat colleagues;
• Well-functioning, high-performing regional team.

He/she must be a seasoned manager able to mentor and be a thought partner to his/her team members. The Regional Head is expected to actively participate in key organisation-wide and cross-cutting initiatives related to policies, strategies, processes, and/or guidelines relevant to the effective delivery of Gavi’s mission. He/she is a member of the Core Countries Management Team, consisting of the Core Countries Director and two other Regional Heads.

Key functions and deliverables:
• Increased immunisation coverage and equity in Gavi-eligible countries;
• High-quality, timely analysis and strategic advice in relation to the team’s grant portfolio;
• Highly performing regional team, with consistent, effective, efficient working practices and appropriate tailoring to country specificities;
• Timely, quality completion of the various steps of the grant making process, and high quality of key grant management documents (including grant renewal requests submitted to the Independent Review Committee and High-Level Review Panel);
• Proactive identification and resolution/mitigation of issues and risks related to the management and use of Gavi investments in countries;
• Excellent relationships with key counterparts in governments, across the Gavi Alliance and with other development partners particularly at regional level;
• Support to Covid-19 vaccine delivery and related support through COVAX.

Grant management leadership and support:
• Provide guidance and leadership to SCMs/PMs on management of Gavi grants; act as a sounding board; identify and highlight strategic opportunities to advance partnership, coverage and equity, integration, sustainability, etc.;
• Enable, contribute to and oversee progress on key performance indicators to reach Gavi’s strategic objectives;
• Conduct oversight and quality assurance, with a particular focus on risk management; elevate key issues; initiate preventative and remedial actions; lead in bringing solutions to situations of significant complexity (e.g., political instability, crisis, large country portfolio, special partnerships etc.);
• Monitor and enable proper implementation of operational guidelines, Gavi policies and procedures by the team;
• Provide back-up support on any country when needed, particularly in fragile and complex situations.

People management:
• Provide onboarding, ongoing support, coaching and mentoring to team members;
• Manage performance of team members; conduct recruitment as needed; coordinate the team’s work; ensure a productive, collaborative working environment within regional team and Country Support; model Gavi values and behaviours;
• Stakeholder coordination and management:
o Coordinate and strengthen collaboration with regional and country partners across assigned region, including regional working groups;
o Support management of partners’ technical assistance;
o Manage relationships with key donors;
o Foster an enabling environment at all levels (global, regional, country);
o Represent Gavi at regional/other fora.
• Analysis and policy:
o Conduct in-depth programmatic and performance analysis, identifying and managing risks;
o Contribute to the development of Gavi policies and operational policies, procedures and tools; provide policy advice and analysis.

Continuous improvement:
• Co-develop and ensure uptake of sound practices for grant management, strategic information management, risk assessment, sharing of knowledge and lessons, etc.; instil a culture of continuous improvement and Gavi values.

Note: The essential functions listed in this section are not exhaustive of the job responsibilities; other duties may be assigned consistently with the department needs.

• Minimum 10 years of professional experience working in public health or development at international levels; experience in health systems or development financing a clear asset;
• Minimum 7 years of grant management experience including process management either from a donor or implementer perspective is a must have;
• Minimum 5-7 years of in-country working experience in similar field in Gavi eligible countries, specifically in East and Southern Africa region is desirable;
• Experience with risk management and quality assurance preferably at the portfolio level is a must have;
• Minimum 7 years demonstrated experience in building and leading high-performing teams;
• Demonstrated experience managing a large team and 10+ direct reports (consultants and staff) is required;
• People and performance management experience in similar settings;
• Proven experience working in/with developing countries on a wide range of technical issues related to health sector/immunisation;
• Experience with high level political engagement and managing and influencing key stakeholders in partner countries;
• Proven experience in bilateral and multilateral environments.

• Proven management skills, including teamwork and people/team leadership and people development;
• Proven skills to effectively oversee grant management from end to end;
• Experience in monitoring and evaluation of grants and programmes;
• Prioritisation, planning, analysis, problem-solving and sound judgment;
• Strategic facilitation, negotiation, influencing, political acumen;
• Health or international development/economics/finance technical skills;
• Representation, advocacy, diplomacy, tact and discretion;
• Interpersonal, communication, writing and presentational skills;
• Drive, proactiveness, action and results orientation, continuous improvement;
• Ability to work successfully in an international, multi-cultural, multi-partner environment, with significant travel.

• Written and spoken fluency in English essential;
• Fluency in French highly desired/ an excellent advantage.

• Advanced university degree in public health, health economics, development, business administration (with experience in international development) or other relevant qualification.

Internal contacts:
• All teams across the Gavi Secretariat.

External contacts:
• Developing country governments;
• Gavi Alliance partners;
• UN, multilateral and bilateral donor agencies and civil society.

If you wish to apply, please provide a cover letter and resume through our Careers webpage and apply by clicking on “Regional Head, Core Countries segment (East and Southern Africa)”. Deadline for applications is 30 June 2023.

Please note that as a vaccine organisation and in order to provide duty of care towards its employees, Gavi is requiring its new employees to confirm that they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as a condition for pursuing employment with us. You can find out more by visiting this link.

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In support of Gavi’s commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion, we hire globally and welcome applications regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, national origin, family status, sex, gender identity or expression, physical characteristics, race, religion, spirituality or sexual orientation. Gavi has zero tolerance towards sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse as well as any form of discrimination or harassment. Everyone at Gavi is expected to conduct themselves with integrity and respect towards each other. Gavi is committed to creating a work environment that is safe and professional, therefore all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference checks. Read more here.

Gavi brings together the public and private sectors to save lives and protect people’s health by increasing equitable and sustainable use of vaccines against 18 infectious diseases. You will be joining an organisation at the centre of the international COVID-19 response, at the most critical time in global health in a lifetime. You will work in a culturally diverse environment with over 70 nationalities. You will collaborate with partners such as WHO, UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Bank – and from business, civil society and government. And you will work in the first global health organisation to receive equal gender salary certification. Your unique experience, skills and talents can help us achieve our vision of leaving no one behind without the life-saving power of vaccines.