John Snow India Private Limited (JSIPL)

Position Description

Position Name: Team Leader – New Vaccine Introduction & System

Position Type: Full-time
Company/Division: JSI India, Immunization Technical Support Unit (ITSU)
Reporting to: Project Director - ITSU
Location: New Delhi

Background

John Snow India Private Limited (JSIPL) is a subsidiary of John Snow, Inc. (JSI), a health care consulting
and research organization dedicated to improving the health of individuals and communities in the
United States and around the world. JSI's mission is to improve the health of underserved people and
communities and to provide a place where people of passion and commitment can pursue this cause.
For over 35 years, Boston-based JSI and its affiliates have provided high-quality technical and managerial
assistance to public health programs worldwide. JSI has implemented projects in 106 countries, and
currently operates from eight U.S. and 81 international offices, with more than 500 U.S.-based
professionals and 1,600 host country staff. In India, JSIPL implements and manages several public health
projects in the areas of maternal, child and newborn health; supply chain logistics; immunization; and
HIV.

Project Overview

The Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) of the Government of India (GoI) aims to achieve full
immunization of all target-age children and mothers in India, through state and district-specific delivery
of vaccines. India declared 2012 as the year of strengthening routine immunization (RI). To augment its
ongoing efforts around immunization, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), GoI has now
entrusted JSIPL with the management of the Immunization Technical Support Unit (ITSU) in collaboration
with other partners. This effort emphasises addressing national programs and priorities in delivering real
change and impact by working closely with the health system, government and key stakeholders
including civil society organisations. The ITSU, provides techno-managerial support for scaling up the UIP,
enabling system strengthening for providing quality services and supporting implementation of
MoHFW's Multi-Year Strategic Plan for Immunization. The ITSU Phase III will focus on providing technical
input to the GoI, MoHFW and coordination with immunization partners with the aim of helping India
accelerate progress in achieving 90% full immunization coverage (FIC) by 2018.

Job Summary

Team Leader – New Vaccine Introduction (NVI) & System will have management authority over their
team, supervised by the Project Director, and will be responsible for the design and implementation of
activities to meet the objectives set forth by the MoHFW. As a technical member of expert committee
S/he is expected to undertake activities for new vaccine introduction & system, and to design and
implement activities related to cold chain and vaccine logistic management at national level. S/he will
conceptualize new research opportunities, operational research to strengthen UIP, conduct surveys
regarding vaccine storage, cold chain, supply chain and will provide recommendations based on those.
Responsibilities

 Guide NVI & System team to align new vaccine introduction activities, research and cold chain &
vaccine logistics with MoHFW priorities.
 Support the development multi-year strategic plan for universal immunization programme (UIP).
 Review background material for development of technical guidelines for introduction of new
vaccines into UIP.
 Review and submission of reports of various activities undertaken by NVI & System unit.
 Facilitate MoHFW in development of any Gavi proposal/amendment/ document.
 Guide in evidence synthesis on various aspects of routine immunization to strengthen health
systems for immunization and improve coverage.
 Undertake studies and operational research to strengthen the Universal Immunization
Programme.
 Support in development of research proposals for vaccine research.
 Guide documentation of best practices and knowledge management by regular review of
national and international evidence.
 Supervise in the development of tools and questionnaires for both quantitative and qualitative
research activities for immunization programme.
Guide in conceptualizing and piloting new cold chain technology solutions.
 Liaise with MoHFW, NIHFW, NCCVMRC and other immunization partners for new vaccine
introduction and cold chain & vaccine logistics management.
 Implementation of NCCVLAP in coordination with NCCVMRC.
 Support states to review cold chain and vaccine logistic performance, identify issues and suggest
corrective actions.
 Support in development of systems for preventive maintenance of cold chain system and quick
repair of non-functional equipment.
 Regular internal reviews of the team and provide a consolidated feedback to the Project
Director, ITSU.
 Any other duties assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications and Skills

JSI seeks a result-oriented individual with the ability to produce and lead teams in producing high quality
deliverables, managing multiple concurrent tasks, and meet tight deadlines. The successful candidate is
required to have:
 MBBS with Post Graduation in Preventive and Social Medicine/Public Heath, with at least 7-10
years of experience consisting of 3-5 years of experience of managing and implementing public
health projects at the National level
 Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and Hindi
 Knowledge of public health issues, routine immunization program, research, and supply chain
management
 Excellent interpersonal relations; ability to network, work in multi-cultural team environment,
and work harmoniously with multiple partners
 Capable of introducing innovative strategies
 Good working knowledge of computer applications, especially MS office, SPSS, STATA
 Strong and proven documentation and organizational skills