Job description

Background of the position:

Somalia continues to face significant challenges in achieving equitable immunization coverage, particularly among populations in hard-to-reach, conflict-affected, and mobile communities. These challenges include weak health systems, population displacement, insecurity, and limited access to routine immunization services.

The Gates-funded immunization programme aims to increase vaccination coverage and reduce morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases by strengthening routine immunization, supporting outreach services, and enhancing surveillance systems in underserved areas.

Purpose:

The Immunization Coordinator will lead the planning, implementation, and monitoring of immunization activities, ensuring high-quality, equitable service delivery in hard-to-reach areas. The role will focus on strengthening routine immunization, supporting supplementary immunization activities (SIAs), and ensuring integration with broader health services.

Engagement:

Build effective collaboration with the Ministry of Health, partners, health facilities, communities, and internal teams to ensure coordinated and integrated immunization services.

Delivery:

Lead effective implementation, monitoring, and quality assurance of immunization activities, ensuring improved coverage, equitable access, timely reporting, and measurable results, particularly in hard-to-reach areas.

Essential Job Functions

Programme Planning and Implementation

Job application service

• Lead the development and execution of immunization strategies targeting hard-to-reach and underserved populations

• Support microplanning for outreach, mobile, and static immunization services

• Ensure integration of immunization with primary health care, nutrition, and maternal and child health services

• Oversee implementation of routine immunization and campaign activities (SIAs)

Technical Leadership and Quality Assurance

• Provide technical guidance aligned with national immunization policies and global standards (e.g., EPI guidelines)

• Ensure quality service delivery, including safe injection practices and infection prevention and control (IPC)

• Strengthen cold chain systems, vaccine management, and logistics

• Support introduction of new vaccines where applicable

Coverage Improvement in Hard-to-Reach Areas

• Design and implement innovative strategies to reach nomadic, displaced, and remote populations

• Support community-based approaches, including engagement with community health workers and local leaders

• Identify zero-dose and under-immunized children and develop targeted interventions

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

• Oversee data collection, analysis, and use for decision-making

• Strengthen immunization monitoring systems, including coverage tracking and defaulter tracing

• Conduct supportive supervision and regular field monitoring visits

• Support operational research and learning initiatives to improve programme effectiveness

Coordination and Partnerships

• Coordinate with government health authorities at federal, state, and district levels

• Engage with the Donor, partners, and agencies like GAVI, and UNICEF

• Participate in health and immunization coordination forums (EPI working groups, Health Cluster)

Capacity Building

• Train and mentor health workers, supervisors, and community mobilizers

• Strengthen local capacity in immunization planning, delivery, and data use

• Support development of training materials and standard operating procedures

Community Engagement and Demand Generation

• Promote community awareness and demand for immunization services

• Support risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) strategies

• Address vaccine hesitancy through culturally appropriate approaches e.g. HAI, PLA, etc.

Reporting and Compliance

• Ensure timely and high-quality reporting to donors and stakeholders

• Ensure alignment with Donor and MOH requirements

• Monitor programme performance against targets and indicators

• Ensure compliance with donor requirements and organizational policies

Any Other duty                                                       

• Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the line manager

Supervisory roles

• None

Fiscal Responsibility

• None

Working Conditions, Travel, and Environment

• The duties of the  job require regular job attendance of at least five days per week. Must be available to work outside regular office hours or on the weekends as needed by contact with the missions, mission security, or other obligations

• Must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business travel, as well as to the missions if appropriate. Based on the country’s office needs, the time spent on field trips will be a minimum of 30% of his/her working time. While visiting the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high security risks and/or fundamental living conditions and outside weather conditions.

Gender Equality Commitments & Zero Tolerance to Abuse

Job application service

• Foster an environment that reinforces the values of people of all genders, equal access to information

• Provide a work environment where people of all genders must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance

• Promote a safe, secure, and respectful environment for all stakeholders, particularly for children, beneficiaries, and members of staff

• Help to prevent any type of abuse, including workplace harassment, sexual abuse, and exploitation

• Respect beneficiaries, women, men, children (boys and girls), regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status

• Value and respect in all cultures

Skills and qualifications

Required Qualifications, Skills, and Experience

Education

• Master’s degree in public health, Medical, or a related field.

• Other humanitarian courses will be an advantage

Experience

• Minimum 5–7 years of experience in immunization programmes or public health

• Demonstrated experience in EPI and outreach services in humanitarian or fragile settings

• Experience working in Somalia or similar humanitarian contexts is highly desirable

• Ability to travel within Somalia

How to apply

Apply on employer site