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.

Gavi’s strategy for the 2021-25 period (‘Gavi 5.0’, recently updated into ‘Gavi 5.1’ for 2023-25) focuses on increasing equity of immunisation programmes by reaching marginalised children in the world’s poorest countries with the objective to save millions of lives. The new strategy also includes a focus on ensuring continued success of immunisation programmes in former Gavi-eligible countries, and on providing access to Covid-19 vaccines to address the health and economic impacts of the largest pandemic in a century.

The Funding Design and Review Team contributes to the implementation of the Gavi 5.1 strategy by ensuring Gavi’s resources are best positioned to achieve its strategic objectives. The team has three key areas of focus within the grant management cycle: (i) funding design and communication, (ii) access to funding, (iii) portfolio performance review.

THE ROLE

This role leads the team’s work on access to funding for all support provided by Gavi and is responsible for radically evolving the model of Gavi’s application review processes, including the role and functioning of the Independent Review Committee (IRC).

Application review and enabling environment:
• In charge of developing and implementing robust application review processes which reflect a differentiated risk appetite by support type, country segment and grant value;
• Lead design and implementation of a streamlined overall process and establish clear goalposts and simplified processes, with clear roles and responsibilities for the IRC and Gavi Secretariat;
• Lead engagement with the Country Programmes Delivery (CPD) department on eligibility for funding support, definition of review pathways and compliance with Gavi funding requirements;
• Redesign and strengthen IRC meeting protocols and introduce enhanced country engagement in different review pathways;
• Ensure clear, consistent and differentiated review guidance is developed, understood and consistently quality controlled;
• Lead collaboration with other relevant Gavi teams to enhance workflow automation and data management tools.

IRC membership:
• In charge of developing a high-performance culture for IRC members, including enabling tools to facilitate feedback;
• Ensure IRC membership base is fit-for-purpose and adequately deployed, including leading recruitment of any new members;
• Lead development of IRC culture to ensure IRC leadership in strategic grant design and learning, e.g., by developing and implementing innovative training curriculums for IRC members;
• Support IRC leadership to lead high-quality reviews and further IRC leadership engagement with Gavi governance bodies (e.g. Gavi Board).

Results and impact:
• Regularly share and discuss key cross-cutting lessons from the IRC reviews with relevant Alliance stakeholders and the Gavi Board to facilitate a learning culture, incorporation into Gavi strategies and policies, and ensure key areas are actioned;
• Ensure closed-loop feedback on implementation of IRC recommendations, including impact on quality of grant design, implementation and results.

Management:
• Manage and guide a team of high-performing individuals to ensure the effective design and implementation of access to funding pathways and compliance with Gavi eligibility requirements.

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 12 years of professional experience in design, review and management of global public health programmes;
• Minimum 8 years direct line management responsibility for complex teams (for example: multi-function, differing mandates, multi-levels) with both a strategic and operational focus;
• Proven and demonstrable track record over time of change management expertise, including leading the improvement of organisational performance and strengthening management systems;
• Experience managing complex partnerships highly desirable;
• Minimum 5 years of direct immunisation or other health programme management experience required, including experience in grant writing; thereof at least 2 years work experience in global public health in lower income countries required;
• Experience working and engaging senior leaders (C-level), with top tier management consulting firm experience an advantage;
• Experience in policy and strategy design in global public health an asset.

• Structured strategic thinking with strong knowledge of Global Health and development;
• Exceptional people skills including relationship development with mid-level management; ability to influence outside of formal hierarchical structures;
• Excellent analytical and project management skills;
• Excellent writing, presentation and communication skills;
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish working relationships with multiple teams;
• Ability to work independently, under pressure, demonstrating initiative and flexibility.

• Fluency in English is required;
• French is an asset.

• University degree in business administration, public health, medicine, public policy, law, economics or international development required;
• Advanced university degree in public health, medicine or related discipline strongly desired.
• Professional certification in project management would be advantageous.

• Collaboration with all country-facing teams in Gavi Secretariat;
• Frequent interactions with Managing Director and Director-level management in Gavi Secretariat;
• Head, Funding Design and Review;
• Director, Strategy, Funding and Performance;
• Gavi Alliance partners, including UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, Gates Foundation and civil society;
• Collaboration with relevant focal points in implementing countries (EPI managers, other technical partners);
• Gavi governance bodies, including the Gavi Board and Programme and Policy Committee.

If you wish to apply, please provide a cover letter and resume through our Careers webpage and apply by clicking on “Senior Specialist, Access to Funding”. Deadline for applications is 28 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.