Background of IRC:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities that support them, as well as with those who remain within their homes and communities. At-work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. IRC leads the way from harm to home. Began work in Ethiopia, 1999 in response to severe drought that happened in Ethiopia’s Somali region. Currently, providing assistance in ten different regions implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response.

The IRC has a focus on narrowing the gender gap in humanitarian aid and ensuring that we contribute to gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in both our programs and operations by working to establish a context where our clients (including those from minority groups) enjoy the same rights and opportunities as well as an equal access to services. The IRC also has a strong commitment to creating an equitable and inclusive culture, where safeguarding is upheld in our workplace and programs. We are determined to protect our clients and staff from safeguarding violations through prevention and, where misconduct is alleged, to address it without fear or favor.

Job Overview/Summary: 

The health sector in Ethiopia currently implements activities in three distinct settings: A refugee health program that is involved in delivery of community based reproductive health services as well as HIV/AIDS prevention activities; and a child survival community-based treatment program and community surveillance for measles, tetanus, and polio and also Emergence Response Mechanism (ERM). The Pfizer EPI Specialist will be part of the team in the Tigray region in three Zones (Northwest, Central and South) and works toward ensuring Zero dose Children (ZDC) and missed communities in targeted fragile and conflict settings are served by quality immunization services integrated in Primary Health Care (PHC) platforms. He/ She will support the team in conducting trainings for community level and facility-based health providers to ensure that ZDC are reached with high quality immunization services. He/ she will lead strengthening of surveillance systems by engaging with the communities by working with the HEWs, health workers, and other community level collaborators such as Community Health Volunteers (CHVs/HDAs) to improve the awareness of the community to identify and report vaccine preventable diseases and priority zoonotic diseases.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

·   Coordinating in the micro-plan preparation for immunization and SIAs campaign including for routine EPI and with emphasis on inaccessible, border and poorly performing areas.

·   Work with Gavi REACH team to map out missed communities, ZDC and hard to reach populations to develop strategies that will ensure adequate reach of immunization services.

·   Coordinating effective cold chain logistics, including adequate forecasting, quantification and requisition of vaccination supplies, timely delivery of vaccines and health supplies for campaigns and routine activities, vaccine stock management, and appropriate maintenance and expansion of cold chain.

·   Support team in developing weekly movement plans to project support areas in line with the project activity work plans to ensure regular support supervision and mentorship of field teams, last mile delivery of HMIS, vaccine and other needed supplies to health services delivery points.

·   Develop IPC action plans with the relevant teams and use this for continuous quality improvement.

·   Work with TRHB and key collaborators to design, and effectively disseminate risk communication and community mobilization (RCCE) materials on immunization to generate community acceptance and consensus.

·   Support the project teams to detect, identify, report and manage adverse events following immunization (AEFI) in supported project locations.

·   Highlight gaps, using field reports and empirical data on performance and technical coverage in EPI activities that need to be addressed.

·   Represent IRC and actively participate in weekly regional health and nutrition cluster meetings, RMNCH, pharmaceutical, MHPSS and other technical working groups.

Grants Management

·   Responsible for preparation of activity, procurement, and spending plan.

·   Responsible for revision and updating detailed activity, spending and procurement plans accordingly.

·   Ensure budget activity lines are assigned well as per the description in the proposal.

Monitoring & Evaluation

·   Compile, and report project progress reports (weekly, monthly, quarterly, biannual, and annual) to Senior Snr health and nutrition manager and Gavi REACH managers and coordinators.

·   Ensure timely compilation of social mobilization field data, including social mobilization checklists within the overall polio and RI monitoring and evaluation framework.

·   Supervise and evaluate the program activities and make sure that monthly & quarter indicators met or not.

·   Provide technical support to evaluate the efficiency of the program implementation and recommend changes in goals, objectives, intervention strategies, measurable outputs, and timelines.

Safeguarding Responsibilities: -

·   Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion and cohesion in IRC [team/office]

·   Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies.

Job Requirements

Education and experience

·   Health Officer/Nursing/ MSc in PH qualification from a recognized college/University.

Work experience:

·   Minimum of two years of relevant experience for degree holders and one year for postgraduate and five years of relevant experience for diploma holders.

·   Work experience in immunization, and PHEM is an asset.

·   Good project management skills and experience. 

·   Ability to plan, coordinate, and manage implementation of ZDC in hard-to-reach areas.

·   Understanding of Expand program of immunization (EPI) and diseases surveillance /PHEM/ policy in Ethiopia.

Personal specifications

·   Ability to work under pressure, long work hours and high workload.

·   Good interpersonal skills- verbal and written communication skills.

·   Self-motivated, honest, highly responsible, and punctual.

·   Work as part of a team as well as to work autonomously when required.

·   Ability to constructively address gaps and weaknesses.

Language Skills: 

·   Strong oral and written communication skills in English.

·   oral and written communication skills in Amharic, and Tigrigna is Advantageous

How to Apply

Candidates meeting the above qualifications are encouraged to apply only online by using THIS LINK

• Applications will not be returned. IRC discourages phone calls or personal visits.

• Only applicants meeting the minimum qualification will be short listed and contacted.

• Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Your application letter/cover letter must include the following information.

·         Name of the position you have applied for

·         Date of application

·         Summary of  your qualifications and experience

·         Motivation/objective of why you have applied for the job

·         Permanent Address and present address (if different from permanent) and telephone number if possible also email address

·         Disclose any family relationships with existing IRC employees.

IRC is an equal employment opportunity employer.  IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.

IRC strives to build a diverse and inclusive team at all levels who as individuals, and as a group, embody our culture statement creating a working environment characterized by critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity for us to achieve our aspirations as a team and deliver the best possible services to our clients.

 Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols, and other supportive benefits and allowances.