Technical Officer (Vaccine Preventable Diseases and Immunization)

The Technical Officer supports the delivery of technical advice and implementation of immunization strategies and vaccine preventable disease control in Samoa and surrounding areas. The role involves monitoring disease burden, supporting vaccination campaigns, and contributing to program planning and evaluation to improve immunization outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Work under direct supervision of the respective officer and overall guidance of the WHO country office head.
• Provide technical advice to governments and stakeholders on immunization strategies, policies, work programmes, and sustainable financing.
• Monitor national burden of vaccine preventable diseases through health information systems, research, program reviews, coverage surveys, seroprevalence studies, and evaluation of new interventions.
• Support Ministries of Health in planning and organizing national and subnational vaccination campaigns aligned with strategic immunization goals.
• Assist governments in implementing activities recommended by the Sub-regional Verification Committee for Measles and Rubella Elimination in the Pacific.
• Contribute to development, monitoring, and evaluation of work plans and budget implementation in consultation with national counterparts.
• Support resource mobilization efforts for sustainable immunization program implementation.
• Coordinate adaptation and implementation of evidence-based norms, standards, guidelines, and tools in programme areas.
• Provide technical input for development of information, education, and communication materials to foster community awareness and health practices in life-course immunization.

Requirements

• University degree in medicine, nursing, public health, or other related sciences.
• Training or specialization in immunization, vaccine preventable diseases, surveillance or related field is desirable.
• At least two years of working experience in supporting the development and/or implementation of public health, capacity building policies/strategies, and programmes in the area of Vaccine Preventable Diseases and Immunization at national level.
• Professional experience providing technical services to Member States and other partners in relevant public health programmes in resource limited settings.
• Experience working in the area of immunization service delivery and disease surveillance, and analyze life course data is desirable.
• Relevant work experience with WHO and/or United Nations agencies, health cluster partners, non-governmental or humanitarian organizations.
• Knowledge and skills in program management for development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of public-health action plans and immunization programmes.
• Skills in coordinating integrated, multi-sectoral public-health programme interventions involving multiple stakeholders.
• Skills in planning, training, monitoring, and evaluation of interventions, and development of locally adapted tools and instruments.
• Ability to work effectively with government officials, NGOs, and international partners in resource-limited contexts.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills including report writing, presentations, and technical documents.
• Skills to advocate and communicate critical life-course messages.
• Ability to work harmoniously as a team member, adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds, and maintain high personal conduct standards.
• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English language.

Skills

• Immunization Programme Management
• Vaccine Preventable Diseases
• Disease Surveillance
• Public Health Policy Development
• Capacity Building
• Program Implementation
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Data Analysis
• Technical Advisory
• Health Program Coordination
• Training Design
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Report Writing
• Presentation Skills
• Advocacy
• Life Course Data Analysis
• Resource-Limited Settings Experience
• Collaboration with NGOs

Languages

English