Supply Chain Optimization and Workforce Development Consultant

About This Role

The Supply Chain Optimization and Workforce Development Consultant will provide technical expertise and support to countries in vaccine and cold chain management, operationalizing UNICEF’s Immunization Roadmap and Health Strategy 2030. This role involves developing and implementing supply chain optimization initiatives, workforce development, and professionalization support at national and sub-national levels to ensure timely availability of vaccines and adequate reach of immunization services.

Responsibilities

• Conduct landscape analysis/desk review of current immunization supply chain (iSC) systems, including storage, transport, distribution, capacity, and performance.
• Introduce system optimization approaches, methodologies, and tools to in-country stakeholders, identifying alternative scenarios for optimization analysis.
• Utilize system optimization tools like SCANNIT to model, analyze, and compare alternative scenario options, including readiness for large cold chain warehouse projects.
• Provide optimization recommendations to stakeholders and facilitate consultations to develop phased costed implementation roadmaps.
• Support the implementation of the Direct Delivery of Routine Immunization Vaccines for Equity (DRIVE) Initiative, including stakeholder engagement, readiness, sourcing, and monitoring.
• Contribute to the development and update of capacity building technical, management/leadership, and strategic modules for iSC functions.
• Facilitate national and sub-national stakeholders in conducting HR landscape, gaps, and needs analyses for workforce optimization.
• Identify and scale context-appropriate iSC professionalization initiatives with in-country stakeholders.
• Provide technical guidance to countries for conducting Cold Chain Management (CVM) gap analyses and preparing Gavi applications and cash grants.
• Contribute to the systematic documentation of evidence related to the implementation and scale-up of supply chain optimization, last-mile delivery, and workforce development initiatives.

Requirements

• Advanced University Degree in Engineering, Public Health, Supply Chain, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Business or Public Administration, or related field (or Bachelor's with 11 years qualifying experience)
• 8+ years of experience in international public health programming
• 3+ years experience in immunization and immunization supply chains in low- and middle-income countries
• Familiarity with in-country immunization supply chain processes and strengthening
• Experience and knowledge of supply chain optimization tools
• Experience with implementing in-country (last mile) distribution initiatives
• Knowledge and experience with designing and implementing iSC capacity/workforce development and professionalization interventions
• Experience with engaging multiple stakeholders at national and sub-national levels
• Experience with developing high quality technical documents
• Experience in planning, coordination and working with teams in different time zones
• Proficiency in spoken and written English

Qualifications

• An advanced University Degree in Engineering, Public Health, Supply Chain, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Business or Public Administration, or other relevant fields.
• At least 8 years of experience in international public health programming, with at least 3 years in immunization and immunization supply chains, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Knowledge and experience with supply chain optimization tools, implementing in-country distribution initiatives, and designing iSC capacity/workforce development interventions are required.

Nice to Have

• Knowledge of other UN languages

Skills

* Required skills