The Maternal and Child Survival Program (MCSP) is the USAID/Bureau for Global Health’s flagship program that contributes to USAID’s commitment to Ending Preventable Child and Maternal Deaths (EPCMD). MCSP is implemented by Jhpiego in partnership with John Snow, Inc. (JSI), Save the Children, ICF International, Results for Development, PATH, PSI, and CORE Group. Working closely with the USAID mission, Tanzania government, non-governmental organizations, local communities and partner agencies, MCSP supports the implementation of evidence -based public health interventions at scale to achieve the goals of Ending Preventable Child and Maternal Deaths (EPCMD) over the next decade. JSI leads MCSPs immunization work and supports its country, regional, and global immunization initiatives through direct consultation, operational research, transfering information, and promising program approaches to those in the field. In Tanzania, the MCSP immunization team will work with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) and its Immunization and Vaccines Division (IVD) to strengthen the routine immunization system toward achieving and sustaining optimal immunization coverage. Additionally, MCSP will provide support to IVD for the introduction of measles rubella (MR) and inactivated polio virus (IPV) vaccines in 2014 and 2015, respectively.
MCSP/Tanzania immunization work is concentrated at national and regional levels. Regional work is focused in the areas with more than 40 percent of unvaccinated children in Tanzania – Kagera, Tabora, and Simiyu. Routine immunization strengthening activities in these regions were initiated under MCSPs predecessor project, the USAID-funded Maternal and Child Survival Program (MCHIP), and will be continued in these areas. Tailored approaches to strengthening the immunization system to increase coverage will be implemented for each region. To implement MCSPs immunization activities in Tabora and Simiyu, a Regional Immunization Technical Officer will be based in Tabora, at the JSI regional office, with frequent travel for technical support to activities in Simiyu.
Position: MCSP/Regional Immunization Technical Officer, Tabora
Location: Tabora, Tanzania (with frequent travel to Simiyu)
Overall Responsibilities:
The MCSP Regional Immunization Officer, based in Tabora, will focus on routine immunization and new vaccine introduction activities in Simiyu and Tabora regions in Tanzania. The officer will provide expertise for the design, implementation, evaluation and documentation of interventions that lead to sustainable and high quality routine immunization coverage. This may include providing technical inputs to improve the planning, management, coordination, training, monitoring, and/or evaluation of routine immunization services in the respective regions. The officer will collaborate with all regional technical staff, Regional Health Management Teams (RHMT), Community Health Management Teams (CHMTs), partners, and other stakeholders on key program strategies and plans.
The officer will be a part of the Maternal and Child Survival Program (MCSP) team in the Lake zone. S/he will report to and be supervised by the MCSP/Tanzania Immunization Technical Advisor. The officer will also work with RHMTs in Tabora and Simiyu, and the CHMTs in selected districts in the regions.
Specific Duties:
Specific responsibilities of the Regional Immunization Technical Officer will include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Provide technical support during regional and district primary health care (PHC) meetings in both Simiyu and Tabora regions.
• Serve as a technical advisor to the RHMT and selected CHMTs on Immunization issues, especially on strategies to decrease the number of unvaccinated children in both Tabora and Simiyu.
• Contribute to strategic planning, implementation and monitoring of immunization technical activities with the RHMT in Simiyu and Tabora regions to improve the regional and district routine immunization programs.
• Support the immunization capacity building activities in Simiyu and Tabora regions to improve Regional Immunization and Vaccine Officers (RIVOs) and District Immunization and Vaccine Officers (DIVOs) capacity, and health worker performance for RI and new vaccine introduction.
• Collaborate with RHMTs, CHMTs, RIVOS, and DIVOs in assigned Simiyu and Tabora regions and selected districts to outline and implement the introduction plan and timeframe for MR and IPV vaccines introduction, including routine immunization system preparedness (e.g. with cold chain planning and training).
• Assist Simiyu and Tabora RHMTs and CHMTs of the selected districts with capacity building needs and implementation of the Mid-level Manager training activities and Immunization In Practice training modules.
• Collaborate closely with IVD, the national MCSP team, zonal training centers, and other IVD and partners.
• Consult with the National Immunization Technical Officer, IVD, and other partners to follow-up on the Reaching Every District (RED)/ Reaching Every Child (REC) training, micro planning, and monitoring implementation in the priority districts.
• Conduct supportive supervision visits with the RHMTs and CHMTs in the selected districts
• Provide assistance and participate with the RHMTs and CHMTs in the selected districts to conduct quarterly immunization performance reviews supportive supervision visits to selected districts, with a focus on improved data quality, analysis, and use
• Provide technical support to conduct Data Quality Self Assessment
• Identify and provide technical input (e.g. capacity building and training activities, supportive supervision, assistance with immunization review meetings, RED guidance) to RHMTs and DHMTs, focusing on staff responsible for the immunization program
• Compile and analyze data for performance monitoring and evaluation of the project and work with partners in Simiyu and Tabora regions to analyze and utilize data to take corrective actions;
• Collaborate with the MCSP/Tanzania Immunization Technical Advisor and the MCSP/Tanzania team to prepare and implement work plans and budgets, and submit technical reports to the National Immunization Advisor
• Provide inputs into the MCSP/TZ monthly and quarterly reports
• Other duties as assigned by the MCSP/Tanzania Immunization Technical Advisor
QUALIFICATIONS AND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES REQUIRED:
• Citizen of Tanzania
• MPH or medical/nursing clinical degree and more than five years of experience in the field of public health, with specialization in immunization and maternal/child health.
• At least five years of work experience in a management position with EPI.
• Experience with managing immunization programs and child health programs, including provincial and/or district-based work
• Knowledge of the Tanzanian Ministry of Health structure at all levels will be an added advantage for this position
• Experience in working in a multi-agency/organizational environment
• English communications skills, both verbal and written.
• Strong analytical skills
• Strong computer literacy required (especially Excel, MSWord and Windows)
Mode of Application:
Submission may be sent to the address below not later than Friday 31st October, 2014. Channel your application to the below link.
Link: https://johnsnowinc.mytribehr.com/careers
Only candidates meeting the minimum requirements will be contacted. If you have not heard from us within 3 weeks after the closing date, kindly assume that your application was not successful. JSI is an equal opportunity employer.
MCSP/Regional Immunization Technical Officer, Tabora , Tanzania
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