Provincial EPI Officer

PATH is a global organization that works to accelerate health equity by bringing together public institutions, businesses, social enterprises, and investors to solve the world’s most pressing health challenges. With expertise in science, health, economics, technology, advocacy, and dozens of other specialties, PATH develops and scales solutions—including vaccines, drugs, devices, diagnostics, and innovative approaches to strengthening health systems worldwide.

Position: Provincial EPI Officer

Location: Kalemie (Tanganyika province)

PATH seeks to recruit an EPI Officer in Tanganyika province as staffwho will support the provincial team to rapidly improve the quality of the cVDPV2 outbreak response in DRC (2018), as well as strengthen Polio surveillance. In addition, he will provide technical support and advocacy to strengthen routine immunization in the same province of Tanganyika, adapting the successful approach used in Nigeria by BMGF.

PATH’s partners in this work include the BMGF, GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, WHO, UNICEF, VILLAGE REACH, UCLA, NOVEL-T and a consortium of other technical NGOs funded by GAVI. All of us, we are committed to support cVDPV2 outbreak response in targeted health zones and improve routine immunization, new vaccine introductions, increased demand for vaccines, improved vaccination coverage, optimized vaccines cold chain management for big impact, and improved equity of access to immunization services. Our goal is to reduce illnesses and deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases.

The EPI OfficerOfficer will be basedin Kalemiein the DRC and will report to the PATH Senior Immunization Advisor.

Responsibilities:

• Provide technical assistance to the DPS/Expanded Programme for Immunization (EPI) staff to rapidly improve the quality of the cVDPV2 outbreak response in targeted Health Zones according to the GPEI quality indicators, as well as strengthen Polio surveillance;
• Provide technical assistance to the DPS/Expanded Programme for Immunization (EPI) staff in building their partnership, advocacy, and communication capacity. 
• Provide technical assistance to the DPS/Expanded Programme for Immunization (EPI) staff in SIAs solving problems of reaching all targeted children in remote area according to the mapping made by UCLA and partners;
• Provide with Village-Reach technical assistance to the DPS/Expanded Programme for Immunization (EPI) staff in SIAs and RI vaccines cold chain management to make vaccines available and enough in quantity, with best quality (efficiency) and avoid stock out and higher wastage at each level;
• Participate in SIAs and RI coordination meetings held by the MoH with all EPI stakeholders in close collaboration withthe BMGF, WHO, UNICEF and other NGOs;
• Implement together with the PATH Advocacy Partnership and Policy Officer in the province the Advocacy Strategy for Routine Immunization Resources mobilization;
• Follow – up with UCLA the Health zones mapping in the 2 provinces for accurate microplanning and definition of advanced/appropriate strategies to immunize the hard to reach children or targeted children in remote area;
• Follow – up routine immunization performance and quality data transmission from Health Centers level to the provincial and national levels;
• Follow – up with Novel-T the setting and implementation of the digital polio surveillance using AVADAR or e-Serve application, and Community Based Surveillance using additional relays (teachers and pupils) implemented by PATH and following data collection, transmission in real time from the Community ground to the provincial and national level;
• Provide technical assistance in SIAs and RI Communication strategy and activities inHaut-Lomami and Tanganyika;
• Participate in regular follow-up meetings with key stakeholders, including policymakers, multilateral and private sector institutions, NGOs, civil society, professional associations, academic, educational and research organizations, and others on SIAs improvement and RI strengthening;
• Managing and coordinating opportunities, priority events and platforms to reach target audiences and influencers for routine immunization strengthening and domestic resources mobilization; 
• Coordinate partnership and networks meetings for the DRC outbreak response + RI strengthening project in the province of Tanganyika;
• Contribute to drafting the monthly/quarterly reports due to the BMGF in collaboration with MoH/EPI and PATH’s colleagues at provincial and national level (deliverables in the proposal);
• Conduct field trips to give technical support to targeted Health Zones as required;
• Participate inthe DRC outbreak response and RI strengthening periodic reviews and final evaluation at national level.

Required Skills:

• Proven ability to create and maintain effective working relationships with government personnel, NGO partners, and international organizations at various levels.
• Knowledge of the political, social, economic, and cultural context of DRC.
• Skilled in successfully working with geographically dispersed teams and working in a multi-cultural environment.
• Proven ability to manage challenging situations in a difficult political environment.
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Experience in facilitating meetings and moderating complex discussions with a variety of stakeholders (including national leaders) preferred.
• Knowledge of devolution process and new provincial level structure preferred.
• Established history in completing deliverables as required and meeting deadlines.
• Expert computer skills in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Fluency in French; English is an asset.

Required Experience:

• Master’s or other advanced degree in Medicine or public health,
• A minimum of three years of professional experience in immunization and working with diverse stakeholders;
• DRC experience working at Health Zone and provincial levels required.

This position does not attract international terms and conditions. The post holder will be considered as a local staff and will not have international terms and conditions of employment.

Applicants considered for this position are to be DRC nationals. This position is based in Kalemie. Candidates outside of Kalemie will be responsible for their relocation expenses.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

Please submit a cover letter with your curriculum vitae/resume describing your interest in this position, how you meet the requirements, and previous experience with the above-listed job duties. Women are encouraged to apply. To apply, please send your resume and a cover letter at EPI Officer