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

Senior Country Managers play a pivotal role in Gavi’s mission to ensure that children in the world’s poorest countries are vaccinated against deadly diseases such as hepatitis B, diarrhoea, pneumococcal disease, measles and meningitis A. They work at the forefront of Gavi’s collaboration with governments and partners that has allowed 6 million lives to be saved since 2000 through immunisation of an additional 440 million children.

The hands-on work of Gavi’s Senior Country Managers is fast-paced, demanding and rewarding. Together with governments and partners, they enable the introduction of new, effective vaccines in many places that previously couldn’t afford them.

They work towards the global eradication of polio and the deployment of the cutting-edge cervical cancer-preventing vaccine. They may also contribute, once these become available, to the roll-out of an Ebola vaccine and the introduction of long-awaited vaccines against malaria and dengue fever.

Senior Country Managers typically focus on several countries within their assigned geographical region, and divide their time between Gavi’s Geneva headquarters and field visits. They ensure countries deploy Gavi’s vaccine and direct financial support effectively and transparently. They manage risks and help solve problems that hold back programme implementation. And they monitor the performance of Gavi-funded programmes.

To this effect, Senior Country Managers build and manage relationships with a wide range of representatives from governments, United Nations and donor agencies, and NGOs. Chief among these are Gavi’s alliance partners, which include the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the World Bank. Senior Country Managers are also supported in their work by colleagues from various teams within the Gavi Secretariat.

Key functions and deliverables:

• Increased immunisation coverage and equity in assigned countries;
• On-time, quality completion of the grant management process steps, and high quality of grant management documents;
• Key information relevant to grant management gathered in effective and timely way, and appropriately shared and used;
• Quality, timely analysis and recommendations in relation to assigned and regional team grant portfolio;
• Proactive identification, reporting and resolution/mitigation of issues and risks related to management and use of Gavi investments in assigned countries;
• Excellent relationships and productive collaboration with country stakeholders and partners, and good understanding by them of Gavi policies, initiatives, decisions, etc;
• Significant contributions to advancing Gavi stewardship-based grant management approach and implementation;
• High-performing, mutually-supportive regional team.

Manage the grant portfolio for the assigned countries with a view to enhancing implementation progress, immunisation coverage and equity, and programmatic and financial sustainability. Specifically:

• Grant management: Conduct or facilitate the various steps of the Gavi grant management process for the assigned-country grants, including required due diligence; make decisions on approach and steer process to achieve grant progress and outcomes; proactively identify and work to address implementation constraints; closely monitor and report on progress;
• Risk management: Continuously assess risks that affect grants and implementation for assigned countries; formulate and implement actions to mitigate risks; report, consult on or elevate key issues;
• Stakeholder management: Liaise with key internal and external stakeholders to ensure progress, respond to queries and foster productive collaboration; manage relationships; rally partner support to deliver technical assistance, oversight and risk management; ensure coordination of grant support from all sources; represent Gavi Secretariat at various fora;
• Analysis: Gather, share and ensure use of key information; carry out analyses relating to country context, grants and portfolio; provide briefing information, operational feedback, recommendations, policy advice; contribute to development of Gavi operational policies, procedures and tools;
• Continuous improvement: Contribute to development, implementation, and improvement of sound practices for stewardship-based grant management, strategic information gathering, risk assessment, knowledge sharing, etc.; support and share practices/lessons with colleagues.

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 of 8 years of professional experience working in public health or international development; experience in immunisation programmes or health systems an asset;
• Solid experience working in / with developing countries on technical issues required;
• Significant grant-, project- and/or programme-management experience required, including in situations of considerable complexity and political sensitivity;
• Experience in bilateral and multilateral aid environments an asset.

• Health or international development technical skills; current knowledge of immunisation or health development issues an asset;
• Advanced project management skills demonstrated with complex (e.g., multi-sectorial, multi-stakeholder) projects;
• Financial management skills, including knowledge of project financing and financial processes and ability to prepare, justify, manage budgets and monitor expenditures;
• Analysis, problem-solving, prioritisation, planning and risk-management skills; sound judgment;
• Strategic facilitation, negotiation, political acumen; representation, advocacy, diplomacy, tact and discretion;
• Interpersonal, teamwork and capacity-building skills;
• Oral 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 and basic to fluent Russian OR;
• Written and spoken fluency in English and French OR;
• Written and spoken fluency in English and Portuguese.

• University degree in public health, health economics, development, business administration (with experience in international development) or related field, or other relevant qualification. Masters highly preferred.

• Gavi Secretariat;
• Developing country governments;
• Gavi’s alliance partners;
• UN;
• Multilateral & bilateral donor agencies;
• Civil society organisations.

If you wish to apply, please provide a cover letter and resume through our Careers webpage and apply by clicking on “Senior Country Manager, Country Support, Core Countries, multiple positions”. Deadline for applications is 29 August 2023.

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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.