Chief of Polio, P-5, Fixed-Term Position, Islamabad, Pakistan, 24 months, #00091844

Organizational Context

UNICEF operates in over 190 countries, dedicated to saving children's lives, defending their rights, and helping them fulfill their potential. We are committed to promoting the rights of every child, offering diverse opportunities for professional and personal development in a passionate and diverse culture.

Job Purpose

The Chief of Polio will provide strategic oversight and leadership for UNICEF’s polio eradication program in Pakistan. This role is crucial for ensuring the delivery of UNICEF's accountabilities under the National Emergency Action Plan and within the National Emergency Operations Center framework, encompassing Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC), vaccine management and logistics, integrated programming, and coordination. The position requires leading strategy development, planning, budgeting, donor engagement, and reporting to drive progress in a complex and critical phase of polio eradication efforts in one of the last endemic countries.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership and oversight for UNICEF's polio eradication program in Pakistan, ensuring alignment with the National Emergency Action Plan (NEAP) and the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) framework. Lead the development and implementation of strategies for Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) to build trust, address misinformation, and increase vaccine demand. Oversee vaccine management and logistics, ensuring continuity of supply and effective cold chain management. Drive the integration of polio eradication efforts with routine immunization and broader health and social services to address underlying vulnerabilities and ensure long-term impact. Strengthen coordination mechanisms with government counterparts, international partners, and other stakeholders to ensure high-quality implementation in priority areas and among high-risk populations. Manage the polio program budget, donor engagement, and reporting requirements, ensuring accountability and transparency. Lead and mentor the polio team, fostering a collaborative and results-oriented work environment. Monitor epidemiological trends and operational challenges, adapting strategies as needed to overcome persistent transmission and address complex factors like population movement, insecurity, and humanitarian shocks. Ensure robust cross-border coordination with Afghanistan to address shared epidemiology and population mobility.

Work Experience

A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in public health, program management, or related fields, with at least 5 years in a developing country context. Experience in polio eradication or infectious disease control programs is highly desirable.

Skills

Strategic leadership, Program management, Public health expertise, Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC), Vaccine management and logistics, Stakeholder coordination, Budget management, Donor relations, Risk assessment, Cross-cultural communication, Team leadership, Data analysis

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