Senior Program Officer, Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access

  • Full Time
  • Lusaka, Zambia
  • Applications have closed

PATH

PATH is an international organization that drives transformative innovation to save lives and improve health, especially among women and children. We accelerate innovation across five platforms-vaccines, drugs, diagnostics, devices, and system and service innovations-that harness our entrepreneurial insight, scientific and public health expertise, and passion for health equity. By mobilizing partners around the world, we take innovation to scale, working alongside countries primarily in Africa and Asia to tackle their greatest health needs. Together, we deliver measurable results that disrupt the cycle of poor health.

PATH’s Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access (CVIA) brings together our expertise across every stage of the long and complex process of vaccine research, development, and delivery to make lifesaving vaccines widely available to children and communities across the world. CVIA’s current portfolio encompasses more than two dozen vaccines either in development or already in use to protect against 15 different diseases. Our focus is on vaccines to address the leading diseases that claim children’s lives worldwide: pneumonia, diarrheal disease, and malaria; as well as other global health priorities, such as polio and meningitis. We work in partnership with national health ministries, pharmaceutical manufacturers, donors, international financing and regulatory organizations, and many others.

This senior staff position in southern Africa will work within Policy, Access, and Introduction (PAI) functional area of CVIA and be managed by the Director of Vaccine Introduction & Impact (VI&I) or their designee. In general, this person will focus on post-licensure studies, vaccine introduction, development of vaccine introduction strategies, and post-introduction activities especially those that ensure equity and coverage in new vaccine introduction.

Responsibilities:

  • Coordinate, plan, and provide medical and scientific support and guidance on appropriate vaccine-related activities and issues relating to licensed vaccines and vaccines in development with special emphasis on new vaccine introduction
  • Represent and serve as a primary liaison for PAI with EPI staff, relevant global stakeholders (e.g., WHO HQ and AFRO, UNICEF, Gavi) and other professional, research and academic institutions in 11 southern Africa countries (Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mozambique, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe)
  • Contribute to planning, developing and implementing programs to improve vaccine use, to increase vaccine coverage, and to assure equitable distribution of vaccines in this region
  • Work collaboratively with other PATH/PAI staff working on new vaccine introductions in Africa and Asia
  • Work collaboratively with other functional areas within CVIA (e.g., Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Chemistry or Clinical Functional Areas) and with Global Health Country Programs to optimize vaccine use, based upon a firm understanding of scientific, medical, and public health considerations
  • Demonstrate and maintain complete and in-depth knowledge of the scientific and technical characteristics of all vaccines including vaccines being developed within CVIA
  • In collaboration with the appropriate internal PATH stakeholders, provide expert guidance and plan, organize, implement, monitor, and evaluate regional plans for medical/scientific support of CVIA vaccines initiatives
  • Participate in PAI discussions regarding evaluation of ongoing projects and development of new projects
  • Collect and disseminate scientific and public health information on vaccines, including those within the CVIA portfolio, through presentations to congresses, scientific sessions, groups of medical professionals, and other advisory groups
  • Collect and disseminate scientific and public health data on vaccines, including those within the CVIA portfolio, to groups forming regional and national recommendations on vaccine use (e.g., African Regional Office of WHO [AFRO], national immunization technical advisory groups [ITAG])
  • Attend meetings of groups that support, fund and/or provide technical assistance on vaccine use and new vaccine introduction (e.g., AFRO Immunization Technical Advisory Group, Gavi joint appraisals) in the southern Africa region in providing the latest scientific/medical data on licensed and developing vaccine recommendations to address unmet medical needs
  • Engage Gavi Senior Country Managers and Project Officers to develop country-specific plans for new vaccine introduction
  • Lead engagement activities with academic institutions, government, research laboratories, scientists and health care practitioners worldwide who conduct vaccine research; teach health professionals in the fields of pediatrics, immunology, infectious disease, epidemiology, public health and vaccinology, sharing new product-specific data and developing advocates for immunization and prevention
  • Support other vaccine activities including service as a subject matter expert in:
    • Vaccine-preventable diseases and vaccinology
    • New vaccine introduction
    • Post-licensure clinical studies including vaccine effectiveness, vaccine impact, vaccine safety (pharmacovigilance), and vaccination optimization studies
    • AEFI surveillance

Required Experience

  • Doctoral-level training in medicine, epidemiology, or public health AND in infectious diseases
  • Minimum 10 experience in medical affairs or public health aspects of vaccine delivery.
  • Significant experience working with Gavi, WHO, UNICEF, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other international organizations promoting children’s vaccination.
  • Experience with new vaccine introduction is a must.
  • Proficiency in English
  • Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 50% annually

Must have legal authorization to work in a southern Africa country.

PATH is dedicated to building an inclusive workforce where diversity is valued.

PATH is an equal opportunity employer. Every qualified applicant will be considered for employment. PATH does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, age, national origin, marital status, disability status, political ideology, military or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.


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