Senior Program Officer, Country Support, Pakistan

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

London, United Kingdom

The Role

As a key member of the Polio Endemics team, the Senior Program Officer, Country Support, Pakistan will be responsible for intensifying the engagement of the foundation with key partners (WHO, UNICEF, CDC, Rotary International and Gavi) and national polio eradication programs in Pakistan to interrupt wild poliovirus transmission. The emphasis will be on improving the impact of the broad range of foundation assets in these country settings to enhance the quality of supplementary immunization activities, to strengthen polio surveillance and routine immunization, and to build a supportive environment for the application of new tools and strategies to improve the chances of polio eradication, especially in enhancing the program’s support to female frontline workers.

Ideal candidates will be energized by using their exceptional operational and project management skills to help others organize around and execute on a set of goals, have demonstrated interpersonal skills to manage stakeholders at all levels, and have impeccable attention to detail. They will directly engage with key stakeholders of the provincial polio eradication program in Sindh to help drive outcomes that accelerate the elimination of all polioviruses, especially in endemic districts of the country, to achieve certification of global polio eradication by 2026. Candidates need to demonstrate an enthusiasm for public health programming in an emergency context, excel in managing complex partnerships and have a track record in driving towards measurable, time-bound results.

The Senior Program Officer, Country Support, Pakistan will be based at the foundation’s London office, and report to the Deputy Director, Polio Endemics.

What you’ll do

Collaborate with foundation teams in Seattle, international development partners and grantees, and national and provincial governments in Pakistan to ensure the successful implementation of national strategies to eradicate polio.
Identify, develop and support the implementation of activities in Pakistan to rapidly improve the quality of supplementary and essential immunization activities, with a focus on Sindh province, including:
- Consistent and high levels of quality technical assistance.
- Rapid and regular reviews of polio surveillance data.
- Improved independent monitoring and reporting.
- Sustained country engagement and dedication to polio eradication.
- Improved community demand and participation in immunization.
Support foundation efforts to identify and address immunity gaps that sustain circulation of wild polioviruses in sub-populations (e.g., migrant groups, nomadic population, and hard-to-reach children), particularly in districts with endemic wild poliovirus transmission.
Lead efforts to improve the work experience and motivation of female frontline workers, resulting in increased numbers of previously unvaccinated children, through initiatives that enhances two-way communication between the polio program and frontline workers, address systemic barriers to women’s full participation in the program, and creates pathways for female frontline workers to improve their employment/livelihood potential and competencies for the post-eradication period.
Participate in provincial and district-level technical reviews of program operations, surveillance reviews and reviews of communication and community engagement efforts to improve family and community participation in immunization activities.
Provide input to provincial and district-level programs and partners on appropriate levels of financial resource requirements for polio eradication.

Your Experience

MPH or other post-secondary degree with relevance to public health and administration, international development, business administration or equivalent combination of education and experience.
A track record in public health program management implementation.
Experience with immunization and/or polio eradication in Pakistan or other developing countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region setting useful, but not required.
Experience working with global partners such as GPEI, Gavi, WHO, UNICEF and/or experience in Pakistan/developing country settings, with knowledge of government health systems and political structures.
Proven track record of forging strong partnerships and relationships with Pakistan/developing country policy makers and development partners.
Experience developing and managing projects in a matrix team environment.
Experience working in Pakistan and/or Afghanistan or South Asia preferred.
Demonstrated proficiency in influencing the effective implementation of public health/immunization programs leading to demonstrable health outcomes, preferably in a developing country.
Proven skills in engaging and interacting with health/immunization programs in developing countries, including an understanding of program planning and operations, program reviews and program financial resource requirements.
Experience in developing and implementing programs to foster gender equity.
A knack for building momentum and driving action in matrixed environments, helping others to move beyond ‘business as usual’ and generate / implement innovative solutions.
Ability to identify new and opportunistic partnerships to achieve program goals.
Demonstrated understanding of key cultural and social issues impacting effective administration of public health programs in a developing country context.
A high-level of personal initiative and ability to be proactive, combined with great partnership skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly communicate with a wide range of partners and audiences, including with the foundation senior management.
Urdu and/or Pashto language skills an asset.