Technical Officer (Immunization)

Background/Purpose:

To serve as WHO's focal point embedded within the Federal Directorate of Immunization (FDI) for provision of strategic, technical and coordination support to strengthen Pakistan's Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). The incumbent will support national governance, policy development, strategic planning, service delivery improvement, partner coordination and implementation of national immunization priorities. The incumbent will also facilitate coordination of WHO technical assistance provided through different technical areas and ensure coherent, timely and evidence-based support to the Government of Pakistan.

Key Responsibilities:

Under the direct supervision of Medical Officer (EPI), in close collaboration with Federal Directorate of Immunization (FDI), the incumbent shall:

1. Provide strategic technical support to FDI and provincial EPI programmes in development, implementation and monitoring of national immunization policies, strategies, frameworks and operational plans.
2. Contribute to development, review and updating immunization policies, guidelines, standards and strategic documents. Provide technical inputs for Gavi-related processes, donor engagement, investment cases and resource mobilization efforts.
3. Coordinate and facilitate technical assistance provided by WHO across all thematic areas and ensure timely, coherent and harmonized technical input from WHO to FDI.
4. Facilitate evidence-based improvements in immunization service delivery models to enhance coverage, equity, sustainability and quality.
5. Facilitate implementation and monitoring of strategies to reach missed children and improve equitable vaccine access by reducing Missed Opportunities for Vaccination (MOVs) and catch-up vaccination.
6. Facilitate coordination among government institutions, WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, development partners, professional associations, NGOs and private sector stakeholders to advance immunization programme objectives.
7. Contribute to technical working groups, programme reviews, strategic planning, and resource mobilization efforts.
8. Prepare technical reports, guidance documents, presentations, and implementation updates.
9. Undertake any additional related duties assigned by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications:

Essential

• University degree in Medicine.

Desirable

• Advanced university degree in Public Health, Medicine, Epidemiology, Health Systems, or related field.

Experience

• Essential: Minimum five (05) years of progressively responsible experience in immunization, public health, health systems strengthening, or primary healthcare programmes.
• Desirable: Demonstrated experience in routine immunization planning, monitoring, microplanning, and programme implementation. Experience working with government counterparts and development partners.

Required competencies:

1. Technical expertise
2. Overall attitude at work
3. Teamwork
4. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
5. Communication

Skills:

• Strong understanding of immunization governance, policy and health systems.
• Familiarity with immunization service delivery and programme monitoring frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders.
• Excellent negotiation, partnership management and facilitation skills.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving capabilities.

Languages:

• Excellent knowledge of English and Urdu.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• Appointment of selected candidate will be on Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA) issued by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) for a period up to three months which is further extendable based on multiple factors including job performance, programme need, and funding availability. LICA is a non-staff contract whereby the signatory has the status of a contractor and not considered in any respect as being a staff member of either the World Health Organization (WHO) or UNOPS. As such, there will be no employer-employee relationship between the signatory and the contracting Organization.
• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http:********************************************. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
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