Program Director, Center for Vaccine Excellence | Polio Eradication Surge Capacity Support Program - The Task Force for Global Health

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Description

The Director is responsible for the overall success of the Polio Eradication Surge Capacity Support program by providing leadership, technical expertise, and oversight in the areas of program development and implementation, staff recruitment, financial management, and collaboration with external Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Gates Foundation (GF), and Rotary International. This position reports to the Director, Center for Vaccine Excellence at the Task Force for Global Health and is located at the Task Force for Global Health in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Provides leadership to the Polio Eradication Surge Capacity Support program by providing technical expertise and oversight in the areas of program development, implementation, and strategy, staff recruitment and management, program budget oversight, and collaboration with external Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners. The Director interacts closely with the CDC Polio Team, sets up and runs internal team meetings, identifies contractors and technical resources to accomplish project deliverables, drafts and monitors contracts, tracks program effectiveness and progress, and provides regular reports to the CVE Director, Deputy Director, and GPEI partners.

 

The Polio Eradication Surge Capacity Support Team within the Center for Vaccine Excellence at the Task Force for Global Health is a quickly deployable team of senior epidemiologists with expertise in outbreak response surveillance and management, particularly in challenging areas. In collaboration with GPEI partners and other international agencies in support of Ministries of Health, the team works to improve surveillance, lead preparedness planning, and coordinate outbreak response activities during polio outbreaks in high-risk countries. The Atlanta-based team is deployed on field assignments 60-80% of the time, working closely with field-based contractors in-country.

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Oversee Polio Surge Program strategic vision and fundraising.
• Provide technical guidance and oversight for polio outbreak and surveillance activities needed to fill vital gaps in the global outbreak response. 
• Improve surveillance, lead preparedness, and coordinate outbreak response activities in outbreak and high-risk countries, in collaboration with Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners and other international agencies to support Ministries of Health. 
• Develop and implement plans to provide surge capacity to deploy quickly to challenging areas to address and enhance outbreak response and assure maintenance of effective surveillance capacity.
• Develop comprehensive solutions to fill identified gaps, i.e., assemble a reliable local team that can ensure continuity in the implementation and monitoring of country-level outbreak and surveillance plans.
• Collaborate closely with CDC, WHO, Ministries of Health (MoH), and GPEI partners to develop outbreak preparedness and response plans to overcome challenges toward polio eradication.
• Collaborate with GPEI partners and the MoH to implement surveillance strengthening strategies and initiatives, as well as to develop plans if unavailable.

Leadership and Management:

• Develop and implement the Polio Eradication Surge Capacity Support program.
• Collaborate closely with and provide leadership to the Project Manager to ensure alignment and successful execution of initiatives.
• Lead Sr. Epidemiologists on the Polio Eradication Surge Capacity Support team.
• Recruit and manage contractors with requisite experience for structured, long-term deployments working closely with local field-based staff (in-country).
• Provide input and guidance into the staffing process; actively participates in staff recruitment, development, and retention activities. 
• Builds collaborative relationships with the CDC Polio Team and GPEI partners.
• Promotes and maintains effective communication and good relations within the organization and with partner organizations.
• Conducts advocacy at the international, regional, and national levels to help ensure that adequate resources are available to achieve the objectives of the program.
• Oversees and develops 5-year strategic plans

Program Management:

• Partners with the CVE Deputy Director and the Project Manager on the financial management of the program.
• Provides technical and polic