Immunization (EPI) Specialist, NO-3, Fixed Term Position, #00012514, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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For every child, the right to Health

How can you make a difference?

The Immunization (EPI) Specialist is based in the UNICEF Ethiopia Country Office in Addis Ababa and reports to the Health Manager (Immunization, Health Systems and Health Emergencies). Ethiopia’s immunization programme operates in a large, decentralized and diverse setting affected by geographic inequities, population mobility, recurrent disease outbreaks, climate-related shocks, conflict and humanitarian emergencies. The post works closely with the Ministry of Health, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, regional health bureaus, UNICEF field offices, WHO, Gavi and other partners to strengthen routine immunization, reach zero-dose and under-immunized children, support outbreak preparedness and response, and integrate immunization within primary health care and resilient health systems.

Purpose for the job:

The Immunization (EPI) Specialist provides technical leadership and support for the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of UNICEF-supported immunization interventions in Ethiopia. The post contributes to equitable coverage of routine immunization, reduction of zero-dose and under-immunized children, introduction and scale-up of vaccines, prevention and response to vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks, strengthening of cold-chain and vaccine management systems, and integration of immunization with primary health care, maternal and child health, nutrition and emergency response.

Socioeconomics ensures that programme design and implementation address geographic, gender, socioeconomic and humanitarian inequities, use disaggregated data for decision-making, and prioritize underserved populations in pastoralist, remote, conflict-affected, internally displaced and refugee-hosting areas.

Key Functions, Accountabilities and Related Duties/Tasks

• Conduct sectoral analysis and provide technical support to inform evidence-based planning, programme development, implementation and management, ensuring the use of sex-disaggregated and other relevant data.
• Support the design, implementation and continuous improvement of immunization strategies and approaches in partnership with government counterparts, UNICEF sectors and development partners.
•  Provide technical leadership in the development and implementation of workplans, ensuring effective technical support, coordination and timely achievement of planned results.
• Monitor and evaluate programme implementation to identify gaps, inform corrective actions, and improve programme effectiveness, quality and sustainability.
• Provide technical support to government counterparts and implementing partners throughout the programme cycle, including strengthening institutional and individual capacities for effective programme delivery.
• Strengthen the capacity of Country Office staff through training, coaching and knowledge-sharing initiatives to support the effective development, implementation and management of immunization programmes.
• Ensure effective management and accountability of programme funds, supplies and resources in compliance with UNICEF policies, procedures and approved workplans.
• Establish and maintain effective partnerships and collaboration with key stakeholders to promote advocacy, technical cooperation, programme coordination, information sharing and knowledge management.
• Ensure the availability of strategic programme information through effective monitoring systems, data analysis and reporting to support evidence-based decision-making and programme performance.
• Ensure the timely preparation and submission of quality programme reports and documentation in accordance with established guidelines, procedures and reporting requirements.
• Maintain immunization emergency preparedness and support coordinated emergency response efforts to ensure continuity of immunization services during humanitarian crises and disease outbreaks.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  Generic JP-Immunization (EPI) Specialist Level 3.pdf

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

Minimum requirements

• Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Public Health, Epidemiology, Medicine, Nursing, Health Policy and Management, Health Systems, Pediatrics, Community Health and any other related fields is required.
• Work Experience: At least 5 years of relevant work experience in Programme Management, Immunization or Public Health Programme Planning, Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation, a strong understanding of primary health care systems and integrated service delivery and any other related fields is required.
• Skills: Strong expertise in immunization and public health, complemented by experience in primary health care integration and the application of digital health solutions to improve programme outcomes is required. Demonstrated skills in programme management, monitoring and evaluation, immunization data and evidence use, and vaccine management and outbreak response to support effective and sustainable health interventions is required.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables

• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language
• Experience with routine immunization strengthening, reaching zero-dose and under-immunized children, vaccine-preventable disease outbreak response, vaccine and cold-chain management, and collaboration with government and development partners is highly desired.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts. 

For every Child, you demonstrate...

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

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others
(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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, discrimination, fraud, corruption and other forms of serious misconduct.

UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference, safeguarding and background verification checks. These checks may include verification of academic credentials and employment history, screening against relevant United Nations misconduct databases, and requests for misconduct disclosures from current and former employers, professional associations, other relevant organizations and participating organizations under inter-agency safeguarding initiatives, including the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), where applicable.

Appointment, selection and continued engagement are subject to the satisfactory completion of all required checks. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information and consent to enable UNICEF to undertake these checks. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments are conditional on the selected candidates' willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable female applicants are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Advertised: 26 Oct 2026 E. Africa Standard Time
Applications close: 05 Nov 2026 E. Africa Standard Time

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