UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfil their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.  

And we never give up. 

For every child, dedication.

UNICEF is the world’s largest buyer of vaccines and plays a critical global role in ensuring early and sustained access to high-quality vaccines. This supports the programmatic needs of the Expanded Programme on Immunization for children, including both routine immunization and outbreak response activities.

A core member of the Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF has a key role in influencing vaccine markets as the lead procurement agency for Gavi, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, as well as major disease partnerships and collaborates with an extensive network of partners at various levels.

UNICEF Supply Division convenes industry stakeholders during Industry Consultations on a yearly basis, and the team also focuses on country engagement and capacity strengthening activities.

UNICEF is the leading UN agency for cold chain provision, including related to contracting and market development as well as technical standard setting in collaboration with WHO PQS. The team further provides normative guidance to UNCEF’s global construction activities. Leveraging from global cold chain implementation programmes and construction guidance, the team further provides solarization solutions mainly at PHC level involving both mobilization of turnkey solutions as well as normative country guidance.

The Immunization Supply Pillar focuses on the supply and procurement of vaccines, equipment, and related products and infrastructure needs to support immunization and health programmes. This work is carried out in close collaboration with programme group and key partners, such as the Gavi Alliance.

The pillar is comprised of three main components:

Vaccine Centre (VC): Responsible for the procurement and supply of vaccines and safe injection devices.
Energy and Infrastructure Centre (EIC): Focused on cold chain systems, construction, oxygen and energy equipment, and the solarization of health facilities.
Planning and Partnerships Unit (PPU): Supports partner engagement, strategic planning, coordination, and capacity strengthening.

The Deputy Director, Immunization Supply will lead Supply Division’s work on access to affordable, quality assured vaccines and immunization related supplies and infrastructure.

How can you make a difference?

Under the direct supervision of the Director Supply Division, lead the Immunization Supply Pillar, providing management oversight across the Vaccine Centre and Energy & Infrastructure Centre, setting goals and strategic directions in the area of vaccine and related supplies for the work of the teams as per the UNICEF Strategic Plan and organizational priorities, Office Management Plan, Strategies and Centre workplans as well as:

Supports country programmes on supply policy issues and advisory services on supply matters relevant to vaccines. Recommends policy changes related to vaccine supply and services. Sets objectives, directs and implements the development of market strategies, procurement approaches and contractual framework in close collaboration with other Supply Division Centre Chiefs, Deputy Directors, partners and industry ensuring the objectives of vaccine security are met.

Advise Divisional Director on preparedness and response strategy and oversee vaccine related emergency response during outbreaks, epidemic and pandemic leading strategic and technical engagement with key partners and stakeholders ensuring efficient and effective supply operation for procurement and delivery of vaccines for outbreaks.

Ensures procurement is conducted in compliance with UN Financial Rules and Regulations, Division Procedures, Vaccine Procurement Principles and in support of Vaccine Security, including evaluation of offers and establishment of final contracts agreements till safety delivery to country programmes.

Budget steward responsibility for program related funds assigned.

In collaboration with regional offices ensures quality-assured Immunization supply by establishing priorities and evaluation of services provided in context of regional supply strategies. Input to development of immunization supply analysis and strategies of country programmes.

Partnership development and coordination

Ensures close coordination with partners engaged in the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) and leads internal coordination in UNICEF vis a vis immunization related procurement and supply activities and guidance.

Participates in major strategic meetings with Programme Division, WHO and Gavi on global supply policy issues in support of the objectives of Vaccine Security.

Leads strategic Industry and Partner consultations on access, procurement and market shaping of vaccines and immunization related supplies.

Represents UNICEF at major meetings and conferences in relation to immunization, relating to strategies and policy development for the supply of appropriate products and services and procurement approach.

Strategic procurement framework development

Leads, guides and coordinates strategies for procurement of Immunization Supplies, and contributes to strategies of other immunization related supplies.

Develop strategic procurement tactics and negotiations strategies. Develop vaccine industry engagement strategies and support UNICEF senior executive level engagement.

Guides market research identify gaps and interdependencies, ensures adequate long-term forecasting and facilitates communication of such to and from programmmes, industry and partners.

Lead, manage and develop people resources to promote technical competence and foster career progression and retention of a “fit for purpose”/ agile workforce

Promote an environment of management excellence, staff well-being and accessibility and inclusion through implementation of strategies, policies, and procedures.

Foster behaviors that focus on delivering results for children, whilst balancing risk informed decisions, policy compliance and flexibility through which partners’ needs are reliably addressed, to create an avenue for the greatest results.

Coordinate the human resource development and resourcing strategies to bring about changes in knowledge, skills, abilities and mind sets for Immunization Pillar Teams.

Keep abreast of industry standards. Institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned with global/regional colleagues to contribute to organizational development initiatives and to strengthen professional capabilities.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Qualifications:

An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Business/Management, pharmaceutical science, Public Health, epidemiology, law or other related disciplines.
A minimum of thirteen (13) years of relevant professional experience in health procurement programmes with knowledge of vaccines and other products required for immunization programmes and of worldwide markets.
Senior experience in public procurement and influencing markets.
Proven management experience very important.
Strategic leadership and soft skills.
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

Competencies

Builds and maintains partnerships (level III)
Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (level III)
Drive to achieve results for impact (level III)
Innovates and embraces change (level III)
Manages ambiguity and complexity (level III)
Thinks and acts strategically (level III)
Works collaboratively with others (level III)
Nurtures, leads and manages people (level III)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be cancelled.

SSRRE 2027-2028: Deputy Director (Immunization Supply), D-1, Copenhagen, Denmark