Senior Manager, Safe Injection Equipment Devices – COVAX (Temporary) At GAVI Alliance

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 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 equitably distributes vaccine 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.

THE ROLE

Please note this is a temporary role, until 31st December 2023.

The Senior Manager, Safe Injection Equipment is the COVAX focal point for demand forecasting and supply planning necessary to ensure safe injection equipment (SIE) flow smoothly and rapidly through various processes to countries. SIE devices, including auto-disable syringes, re-use prevention syringes, and safety boxes, are a critical component of immunisation programmes. The key objective of this role is to ensure that a sufficient quantity of SIE is available in countries to enable the administration of COVID-19 and other Gavi supported vaccines. In scenarios of insufficient supply, the Senior Manager will support decision-making on shorter-term mitigation options and facilitate consideration of longer-term solutions. Likewise, the Senior Manager will support decision-making to address short-term and long-term risks associated with excess supply situations. The Senior Manager will work closely with his or her counterparts at UNICEF and is an integral member of the COVAX Operationalisation SWAT team, which is the primary body for operational decision-making at the COVAX pillar level. The SWAT team is responsible for all operational decisions following agreed COVAX processes and requiring cross-workstream collaboration, and addresses resolution of all operational topics that affect single products and a majority of cross-product issues.

MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

The Senior Manager, Safe Injection Equipment will oversee the end-to-end process, raise strategic issues to the SWAT team and coordinate solution options for safety immunisation equipment (SIE) within the COVAX portfolio. Additionally, as an SIE focal point for Pillar level stakeholders, respond to queries and status requests, draft recommendations / materials for COVAX governance approval, and provide input on country response and external communications related to SIE. The Senior Manager will engage regularly with procurement partners (UNICEF, PAHO), as well as policy and technical experts such as WHO, PATH and BMGF, as well as procurement partners (UNICEF, PAHO). As the supply and demand of SIE is closely interlinked across vaccines, the Senior Manager’s scope will include SIE related to COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines Gavi supports (“Gavi Core”).

• Responsible for COVAX and Gavi Core demand forecast and supply planning for SIE, with cross agency team from Gavi, UNICEF, CEPI and SCO teams;
• Lead the continuous improvement of vaccine demand and supply planning processes and models to address needs related to SIE, in engagement with key Gavi stakeholders;
• Coordinate with COVAX Deal team (portfolio management) and COVID-19 Delivery team (delivery timelines and vaccine specific requirements) to inform forecasts;
• Engage in Gavi Core vaccine forecasting to inform related SIE needs, and maintain appropriate procurement and financial linkages between COVAX and Gavi Core SIE requirements and use;
• Build forecasting scenarios related to supply, demand, cost, delivery, and funding parameters to identify risks, opportunities, and build appropriate response plans;
• Engage with UNICEF (and PAHO for COVAX) to influence procurement and agreements with SIE manufacturers, as well as delivery strategies linked to warehousing/shipments/freight in case of constraints;
• Engage with UNICEF, PATH and BMGF to define longer-term strategic engagement with manufacturers including guidance on product preferences;
• Track the grant processing for SIE related funding decisions, liasing with other Gavi finance teams to support UNICEF (and PAHO for COVAX) timely access to disbursements;
• Coordinate with COVAX Design & Operationalisation/Country Engagement teams, Gavi Core Vaccine Programme and WHO to inform policy decisions (e.g. adjusted COVID-19 vaccine allocations, guidance on acceptable product specifications, timeline of SIAs, etc.) to accommodate supply availability in case of constraints;
• Monitor the end-to-end process of SIE, including consideration of in-country stocks, needs, and absorption in coordination with UNICEF;
• Regularly review actuals versus forecast for SIE;
• Represent demand and supply planning for SIE at the COVAX SWAT team and review action plans and implication on the forecast;
• Align work with Gavi colleagues and partners in the Office of COVAX Facility, and VFGO to ensure complementarity of forecasts, efforts and teamwork;
• Draft documents and presentations for internal and external discussions and governance;
• Contribute to related strategic initiatives, for example market shaping and pandamic preparedness projects, that may influence SIE needs or be influenced by SIE context and learnings.

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.

QUALIFICATIONS

ACADEMIC

• Degree in quantitative disciplines related to public health, finance, economics, or a related science or engineering field.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• At least 8 years professional experience in supply and demand planning/forecasting roles within health product, global/public/social health, or FMCG sectors;
• Previous experience engaging with manufacturers or suppliers, coordinating programmes/projects in a commercial setting (e.g product launch, programme management or as an engagement manager);
• Experience leading quantitative analyses, modelling or other applied data intensive projects in a public health, supply chain management, or financial context;
• Demonstrated excellent stakeholder management and communication across various functions, sectors;
• Familiarity with international or public sector organisations is preferred.

SKILLS/COMPETENCIES

• Proven skills in designing and managing complex forecast and planning projects;
• Good understanding of vaccines or SIE (preferred) or similar sector, and related supply and demand considerations;
• Advanced Excel skills, with demonstrated ability to manage and analyse complicated data and scenarios;
• Excellent written (PowerPoint, Word) and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to draft impactful materials for stakeholders with quick turnaround;
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills; a logical thinker with intellectual curiosity and the ability to think strategically, as well as delve into operational details;
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high pressure environment with senior stakeholders across multiple organisations;
• Impeccable stakeholder engagement experience and ability to engage with stakeholders comfortably and professionally at all levels;
• Desirable: experience with SAP or similar ERP system.

LANGUAGES

• Fluent in English;
• Other languages desirable, particularly French.

CONTACTS

• Gavi Secretariat;
• Governments of COVAX Facility Participants;
• Gavi’s alliance partners;
• Pharmaceutical and SIE related companies.