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

Gavi pursues an ambitious mission in poor and fragile countries, operates in a dynamic and often uncertain context, and is set up as an Alliance of partners with a lean Secretariat without in-country presence. It is therefore naturally exposed to many risks that could potentially affect its ability to achieve its mission and strategic objectives. It also needs to consciously take calculated risks to achieve impact. Robust risk management is vital for Gavi to confidently take the risks required to achieve its mission, safeguard investments and secure sustainable impact. By systematically understanding, acknowledging, and anticipating what might happen (before it does happen) and proactively monitoring and managing Gavi’s exposures to potential future events, risk management helps Gavi to optimise its impact and appropriately balance risk and reward.

Since 2015, when the Risk function was first established, Gavi has made tremendous progress in enhancing its risk management approach to be a value-adding proactive management tool (instead of being reporting and compliance oriented). Today it is appreciated by Board members, donors and management with the risk lens driving strategic discussions both at Board-level and across the organisation. For more information on Gavi’s risk management approach please go to: https://www.gavi.org/our-alliance/strategy/risk-management
Gavi is committed to build on this excellent foundation and further strengthen risk management and Gavi’s Risk function going forward, given the increased uncertainty, complexity, funding, and change facing Gavi. It is critical that Gavi’s risk management framework continues to stay up to date by adequately identifying, measuring, monitoring and managing evolving risks to Gavi’s strategy, operations and programmes, as well as specific financial, reputational, operational and programmatic risks associated with the COVAX Facility.

The Senior Risk Manager position is a full-time role based in Geneva, Switzerland. It provides a great opportunity to help lead Senior Management’s strategic thinking on mission-critical risks and to work across all key areas of Gavi’s strategy and operations – and contribute to saving millions of children’s’ lives each year. Working closely with the Chief of Risk Officer as part of a team within a dynamic organisation, the role will provide ample opportunity to take initiative and shape the future direction of Gavi’s evolving risk management approach, helping Gavi to better understand and proactively manage its key risks.

Main duties and responsibilities include:
• Maintain and continue to enhance a robust enterprise-wide risk management framework for Gavi’s strategy, operations, and country programmes;
• Help to drive change across the Alliance by instilling a risk-aware culture and enable scale-up and integration of risk management practices in strategic and operational planning and decision-making;
• Assist in the preparation and facilitation of Risk Committee meetings by supporting risk owners with deep dives on key risks, including by data analysis and research, and drive strategic thinking on implications and trade-offs;
• Coordinate the integration of risk insights in team priorities, performance and budget discussions;
• Act as risk management liaison for Gavi and engage actively in workstreams and discussions to identify new risks, provide constructive check and challenge, and advise on risk-related issues and questions as they arise;
• Engage actively with internal risk-related functions (e.g. Legal, Finance, Audit), external risk management advisors (e.g. investment banks, insurance industry), and other relevant stakeholders (e.g. Alliance partners) as required to ensure cross-cutting and end-to-end risk management;
• Prepare actionable and insightful risk reporting for internal reviews and reporting to Gavi Board and Committees as required;
• Assist in discussions on Gavi’s current risk management capabilities and Three Lines model, identifying potential improvement areas across teams as well as in the overall model used.

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 in (enterprise-level) risk management, strategy, or related fields;
• Experience in strategy or risk consulting and international development is an asset.

• Excellent analytical and systems thinking and demonstrated problem-solving skills;
• Knowledge of various risk management standards and frameworks (e.g., ISO 31000, COSO, etc.);
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills;
• Intercultural proficiency;
• Precision, attention to detail, and ability to work effectively with large quantities of information;
• Interdisciplinary mindset with a broad interest in various fields and eagerness to learn;
• Pragmatic hands-on management style and the ability to reduce complexity and deliver results;
• Ability to work autonomously, under pressure, demonstrating initiative and flexibility;
• Team player able to establish working relationships with many teams in a multicultural environment;
• Excellent writing skills and attention for detail;
• Competence with digital tools and ability to work quickly and accurately with them;
• Willingness to work in a fast-paced, ambiguous and constantly changing environment.

• Written and spoken fluency in English;
• French and other languages are an asset.

• University degree in business or public administration, science or engineering, global health or development, or related fields;
• Further qualifications in enterprise, operational or financial risk management are an asset.

• Collaboration with all teams in Gavi Secretariat;
• Frequent interactions with Chief Risk Officer;
• Regular exposure to Senior Management, including CEO and CRO;
• As required interactions with Alliance partners and Gavi Board constituencies.

If you wish to apply, please provide a cover letter and resume through our Careers webpage and apply by clicking on “Senior Manager, Risk”. Deadline for applications is 20th July 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.