Job Title: Senior Program Officer, Vaccines

Location: Madang Province, PNG

Reporting to: Vaccines Program Manager

BACKGROUND

The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to our mission of saving lives and reducing the burden of disease in low- and middle-income countries. We work at the invitation of governments to support them and the private sector to create and sustain high-quality health systems.

CHAI was founded in 2002 in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic with the goal of dramatically reducing the price of life-saving drugs and increasing access to these medicines in the countries with the highest burden of the disease. Over the following two decades, CHAI has expanded its focus. Today, along with HIV, we work in conjunction with our partners to prevent and treat infectious diseases such as COVID-19, malaria, tuberculosis, and hepatitis. Our work has also expanded into cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and other non-communicable diseases, and we work to accelerate the rollout of lifesaving vaccines, reduce maternal and child mortality, combat chronic malnutrition, and increase access to assistive technology. We are investing in horizontal approaches to strengthen health systems through programs in human resources for health, digital health, and health financing. With each new and innovative program, our strategy is grounded in maximizing sustainable impact at scale, ensuring that governments lead the solutions, that programs are designed to scale nationally, and learnings are shared globally.

At CHAI, our people are our greatest asset, and none of this work would be possible without their talent, time, dedication, and passion for our mission and values. We are a highly diverse team of enthusiastic individuals across 40 countries with a broad range of skillsets and life experiences. CHAI is deeply grounded in the countries we work in, with the majority of our staff based in programming countries. Learn more about our exciting work at www.clintonhealthaccess.org

CHAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing an environment of fairness and mutual respect where all applicants have access to equal employment opportunities. CHAI values diversity and inclusion and recognizes that our mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people with diverse experiences, backgrounds, and cultures.

Immunization is one of the most successful public health interventions in history, but over the last decade, immunization coverage in Papua New Guinea has significantly declined, leading to outbreaks of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPD), including measles (2017), polio, and pertussis (2018). Madang, West Sepik, and Enga Provinces are among the top six provinces with a high number of unvaccinated children.

In response, CHAI PNG is collaborating with Abt Ltd. as an implementing partner on the PATH Accelerated Immunisation and Health System Strengthening Program Phase 2 (AIHSS 2) in these three provinces. The program aims to support the government in reducing the number of zero-dose children and reaching underserved communities. Focused on strengthening the health system, the partnership will work to improve immunisation service delivery and financial management, ensuring more equitable and sustainable access to routine immunisation.

CHAI is seeking to recruit a Senior Program Officer who will be based full-time in Madang Province. This role will directly support the government’s efforts to close the immunisation gap and enhance the health system’s capacity to deliver routine immunisation services effectively.

Position Overview

The Clinton Health Access Initiative is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Senior Program Officer to join our team. The ideal candidate will have strong project management and program delivery skills, particularly in immunization initiatives. This individual will be responsible for managing and coordinating the delivery of immunization services and ensuring that project deliverables are met efficiently and on time in Madang Province.

We are looking for a self-driven, quick learner who is adaptable, resilient, and a strong team player. The successful candidate will have excellent project management and problem-solving abilities, as well as exceptional written and verbal communication skills. Comfort in navigating a fast-paced environment with some ambiguity is essential.

In this role, the Senior Program Officer will be responsible for strategic planning and execution while providing technical assistance to the Madang Provincial Health Authority (PHA). The primary objective will be to increase vaccination coverage and reduce the number of unvaccinated children by supporting the PHA in strengthening health systems that deliver immunization services. This position will involve close collaboration with the PHA, health facilities, district and provincial programs, and national initiatives to implement key immunization and health system priorities.

The Senior Program Officer will report directly to the Program Manager, Vaccines.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

Program Coordination and Implementation

• Oversee implementation of AIHSS2 Program interventions in Madang Province.
• Support development and timely submission of work plans and budgets for AIHSS2 interventions.
• Track and report quarterly on annual work plan implementation and budget in Madang Province.
• Ensure all planned program/project activities are effectively and efficiently implemented on time and within budget.
• Ensure district managers and health facility officers-in-charge have the necessary resources to implement activities on time.
• Represent the program in various fora, including routine PHA team meetings and partner meetings.
• Coordinate with PHA and stakeholders in the delivery of vaccines and immunization services.
• Collaborate with Provincial vaccine cold chain staff and relevant stakeholders to ensure adequate vaccine availability at the last mile.

Technical Assistance

• Provide technical guidance and support to PHA, district, and health facility staff in planning and routine review of activities.
• Support the PHA in providing supervision and guidance to health facilities using evidence-based best practices.
• Guide PHA on cold chain management and submission of quarterly reports and data.
• Support provincial officers, districts, and health facilities in improving vaccine services using Data-Driven Quality Improvement approaches.
• Assist with vaccine supply projections and stock management through the Provincial Vaccine Cold Chain Logistics Officer.
• Support PHAs in implementing Corrective Action Plans for Public Financial Management.

Service Delivery

• Ensure static, mobile, and outreach clinics are conducted according to the planned microplan and Annual Implementation Plan.
• Support funding requisition and mobilization of resources for timely immunization service delivery.
• Coordinate with the PHA Finance team to ensure timely funding requisition and mobilization.
• Ensure immunization program outcomes are achieved on time, within budget, and to quality standards.

Reporting, Monitoring, and Evaluation

• Ensure timely compilation and submission of quality and accurate reports as per AIHSS 2 requirements.
• Support program monitoring, evaluation, and impact assessment efforts.
• Generate evidence of service delivery challenges and support the development of coverage improvement plans.
• Ensure compliance of health facilities with reporting requirements and follow up with non-compliant facilities.
• Document best practices in the form of case studies, success stories, abstracts, and video clips.
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications and Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree in a health-related field with a minimum of 5 years of work experience in Public Health within demanding and fast-paced environments.
• Demonstrated experience in basic project management and understanding of the relevant program environments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare compelling presentations.
• Demonstrated experience in:
  • Coordinating vaccines and integrated service delivery.
  • Budgeting, activity planning, and prioritization.
  • Coordinating programs in high-pressure settings.
  • Building and maintaining collaborative relationships across multiple stakeholders.
• Strong analytical skills (both qualitative and quantitative) with attention to detail.
• Ability to provide professional advice and take a data-driven approach to problem-solving.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Fluency in English.

To apply for this role please submit your applications, CVs, and supporting documents to email chaipng@clintonhealthaccess.org.