Position title: Senior Manager, Humanitarian Buffer Implementation – COVAX (Temporary)
Location: Geneva
Purpose of the position: Operationalisation and implementation of the Humanitarian Buffer
Department: Office of the COVAX Facility
Team: COVAX Design & Operationalisation
Reports to: Lead, Design & Operationalisation
N° of positions supervised (if applicable): N/A
Career step level: 4
Duration: ASAP until December 2022
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 822 million children and the prevention of more than 14 million future deaths.
The COVAX Facility (“COVAX”) provides a global solution to the equitable distribution of vaccines to the 190 participating countries and economies. The COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC) is an innovative financing instrument that supports the participation of the 92 low and lower-middle income economies in COVAX. Self-financing participants (SFPs) have entered COVAX either as Optional (having the possibility to opt-out of a particular vaccine) or Committed Purchasers. Guided by the WHO fair allocation framework, COVAX will equitably distribute doses to help protect the most at-risk groups. Gavi is working with Alliance partners UNICEF and WHO to ensure that the infrastructure is in place, and the technical support available, for COVID-19 vaccines to be safely delivered to all those who need them.
BACKGROUND
The Humanitarian Buffer is a mechanism established within the COVAX Facility to act as a measure of ‘last resort’ to ensure access to COVID-19 vaccines for high-risk and vulnerable populations in humanitarian settings. Populations of concern in humanitarian settings may include refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, internally displaced persons, minorities, populations in conflict settings or those affected by humanitarian emergencies, and vulnerable migrants irrespective of their legal status. Both COVAX Participants and humanitarian agencies can apply for Humanitarian Buffer doses.
ngo jobsMAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
The Senior Manager, Humanitarian Buffer Implementation (Humanitarian Agency Liaison) will support the operationalisation and implementation of the Humanitarian Buffer:
- Lead the country and agency communications for the humanitarian buffer:
- Operationalise and implement process for information flow to applicants;
- Update and maintain guidance and communications materials related to the Buffer for external stakeholders/ countries e.g. FAQs, website;
- Internal communications within the Gavi Secretariat with Public Policy Engagement/Senior Country Managers/Executive Office etc;
- Support relationship management with COVAX partners;
- Support relationship management with humanitarian agencies;
- Oversee confidentiality of information flows.
- Project manage preparedness checks and monitor contracts for humanitarian buffer doses:
- Work with CRD, SCO and other Pillar teams to track preparedness and escalate as needed to deliver doses in a timely manner;
- Coordinate across COVAX Facility teams to gather data, status updates including from Vaccine Deal-making and Portfolio Management, Country Engagement, Public Policy Engagement, Resource Mobilisation, Risk, Communications, and Legal.
- Lead development of twice-yearly Board reporting on humanitarian buffer implementation;
- Oversee delivery funding for humanitarian buffer doses going to UNICEF;
- Lead the execution of the learning agenda with Measurement Evaluation and Learning team and implement learnings;
- Provide link into Gavi 5.0, Fragility, Emergencies and Refugees and zero-dose work;
- Support strategic plan development for the humanitarian buffer;
- Support analysis and develop materials for internal and external meetings related to the humanitarian buffer (e.g., project team meetings, country/partner consultations, governance body meetings, multilateral advocacy meetings).
Note: The essential functions listed in this section are not limited only to the tasks listed and may include other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
ACADEMIC
- Masters’ degree in public health, science (e.g., biology, epidemiology), law, health/development policy, political science / international relations, health economics, business administration, or a related field.
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Minimum of 8 years of professional experience working in global public health, with demonstrated experience working in the humanitarian sector;
- Experience dealing with the operational complexities of the humanitarian space and a deep understanding of the political dynamics within the humanitarian sector;
- Experience in development of technical /implementation policy /development & funding or monitoring & evaluation guidelines;
- Experience in project managing complex projects with diverse multisector stakeholders;
- Ideally experience leading the process of funding other humanitarian agencies and defining relevant assessment criteria;
- Experience in diverse settings (lower, lower-middle, middle income economies) an asset.
SKILLS/COMPETENCIES
- A self-starter with demonstrated planning and project management skills, and a proactive work attitude;
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with colleagues from a wide range of disciplines, backgrounds, and cultures;
- Ability to work independently and iteratively, and effectively prioritise and execute tasks in a fast-paced, open environment;
- A team player, collaborative, organised, detail-oriented;
- Flexible and adaptable to changing priorities and business needs;
- Curious, quick learner;
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
- Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, Word.
LANGUAGES
- Written and spoken fluency in English;
- Other languages (particularly French and/or Spanish) a plus.
CONTACTS
- Office of the COVAX Facility;
- Gavi Secretariat teams;
- WHO, CEPI, COVAX Partners and Gavi Alliance partners.
If you wish to apply, please provide a cover letter and resume through our Careers webpage and apply by clicking on “Senior Manager, Humanitarian Buffer Implementation – COVAX (Temporary).” Deadline for applications is 28 September 2021.
Become part of our community and join us on Facebook and Twitter for updates about our mission to save children’s lives! You can also follow our hashtag #vaccineswork.
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.