Position:  Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) Project Manager (National position)

Location: Gaziantep, Turkey

Reports to: Northwest Syria Health Program Manager

Direct Reports: Health Program Manager

Duration: 1st June 2024 – 31st December 2024

ABOUT Relief International.

Relief International (RI) is a leading nonprofit organization working in 16 countries to relieve poverty, ensure well-being and advance dignity. We specialize in fragile settings, responding to natural disasters, humanitarian crises and chronic poverty.

Relief International combines humanitarian and development approaches to provide immediate services while laying the groundwork for long-term impact. Our signature approach — which we call the RI Way—emphasizes local participation, an integration of services, strategic partnerships and a focus on civic skills. In this way, we empower communities to find, design and implement the solutions that work best for them.

RI includes the four corporate members of the RI Alliance: RI-US, RI-UK, MRCA/RI-France and RI-Europe.  Under our alliance agreement, we operate as a single, shared management structure.

Position Summary.

The EPI Project Manager will be responsible for the overall management of the RI-led EPI program in NWS in collaboration with the Syria Immunization Group (SIG), WHO and implementing partners (IPs). The EPI Project Manager will ensure that IPs have the required financial and material support to smoothly run the EPI program and support the vaccination centers in their area of coverage inside Northwest Syria. In addition, the EPI Project Manager is responsible for the coordination of activities between the SIG, IPs, WHO and local health authorities, ensuring the quality of programming and compilation and submission of accurate activity reports. This position requires an individual who is accustomed to EPI program implementation in emergency settings and has extensive experience in technical health program management and local partnerships.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

• Overall leadership and supervision of the implementation of the EPI project in Northwest Syria, in close coordination with SIG and WHO.
• Manage administrative & financial aspects of the EPI program and ensure payment of agreed upon expenses and incentives in due time, covering operational costs of EPI centers through IPs. 
• Support smooth implementation of existing and approved EPI plans in coordination with WHO, SIG Technical Committee and IPs.
• Participate - in coordination with SIG TC and IPs - in the selection and contracting of staff according to the criteria determined by the terms of reference (TORs) of the profession in line with WHO guidelines.
• Actively participate in the development of detailed EPI plan for NWS led by WHO and SIG Technical Committee
• Coordinate all technical and logistic aspects of the EPI program among Relief International, the SIG, and IPs according to WHO guidelines.
• Support the integration of routine vaccination services at health facilities with other available health services, especially antenatal care, nutrition, and pediatric clinic.
• Support the smooth integration of COVID-19 vaccination in other routine vaccination activities in all supported sites. 
• Manage administrative and financial aspects of the EPI supervision project and ensure payment of recruited supervisors in due time.
• Support smooth implementation of existing EPI supervisory plans in coordination with SIG Technical Committee and IPs.
• Support the on-ground technical supervision staff to ensure high quality performance of vaccination activities in the field.
• Manage relations with RI’s implementing partners following a positive partnership management approach in achieving shared goals of the project.
• Closely work with RI’s awards and partnership team to ensure completion of the due diligence process and signing of sub-granting agreements with all partners in a timely manner.
• Closely track and monitor the project spend plan, including proposing adjustments to address any under- or overspending.
• Regular review of the findings and recommendations of EPI supervision teams and develop action plan with IPs for the corrective measures that can address the findings.
• Closely monitor the project achievement versus the set indicator targets.
• Draft donor and other technical reports by compiling inputs from IPs and in collaboration with the grants and reporting unit. Ensure reports are of high quality and submitted in a timely manner.
• Ensure compliance with donor and RI policies and procedures relevant to the program implementation.
• Interface with WHO and the SIG on all aspects of program implementation, in coordination with the Northwest Syria Deputy Hub Team Leader and in collaboration with technical leads in Gaziantep and Amman.
• Lead proposal development/budget modification process for any EPI related activities in consultation with the Whole of Syria Health Advisor and in consultation with the grants and reporting unit overseeing the proposal process and adherence to deadlines.
• Take lead in all coordination related to EPI activities with IPs, WHO, Health cluster and other stakeholders in Türkiye and NWS levels.

Safeguarding

• Uphold and promote RI’s commitment to ensuring the safeguarding and safety of the vulnerable communities we serve.
• Consistent with RI’s safeguarding and protection policies, ensure all people who come into contact with Relief International are as safe as possible.

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS REQUIREMENTS

• Advanced University Degree in Public health, medicine, or other relevant health fields
• Minimum of five years professional experience leading, managing, and implementing EPI program activities in emergency setting preferably in NWS
• Demonstrated background and extensive technical knowledge in vaccination programs.
• Previous experience of managing programs with multiple implementing partners, including supervision of staff
• Strong budgeting and budget monitoring skills including a high level of proficiency with MS Excel.
• Experience of program management in a remote management context.
• Comprehension and awareness of the Syrian crisis in general and NWS context in specific. 
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, public speaking, and strategic planning skills required.
• Fluent English and Arabic speaking and comprehension skills required.
• Strong English writing skills are required

Key competencies:

• Adaptable and flexible
• Strategic thinking
• Strong writing and analytical skills
• Solution oriented and positive thinking

• Solid organizational and planning skills
• Self-critic, curious and eager to develop further professionally
• Communicate with impact and respect

RI Values: 

We uphold the Humanitarian Principles: humanity, neutrality, impartiality and operational independence. We affirmatively engage the most vulnerable communities.

We value:

• Inclusiveness
• Transparency and accountability
• Agility and innovation
• Collaboration
• Sustainability

How to apply

In case you meet the requirements and you are interested in the position, please send your CV in English in addition to three professional references to hrturkey@ri.org before May 16, 2024 stating in the subject “EPI Project Manager“

As per the urgency of the position we will review the applications on daily base. 

All candidates must be eligible to work in Turkey"

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply