UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to a Calling

The overall goal of the UNICEF Zambia Country Programme of Cooperation (2023–2027) is to support the Government of Zambia in advancing and decentralizing policies and programmes that promote the rights and well-being of all children, with a particular focus on the most disadvantaged and vulnerable populations. The programme aligns with national development priorities, the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), UNICEF's Strategic Plan, regional priorities, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), contributing to improved survival, development, protection, and participation outcomes for children and adolescents.

Immunization remains one of the most cost-effective public health interventions, preventing millions of deaths annually while generating substantial long-term social and economic benefits. Equitable access to high-quality immunization services is essential for reducing child mortality, preventing disease outbreaks, and achieving universal health coverage. Central to this effort is a resilient and efficient vaccine supply chain system that ensures the continuous availability of potent vaccines and immunization commodities at all levels of the health system, including the last mile.

How can you make a difference?

The Immunization Specialist (Vaccine and Cold Chain Management) will play a critical role in ensuring that every child and woman, particularly those in underserved and hard-to-reach communities, has access to safe and effective vaccines. By strengthening vaccine supply chains, improving cold chain systems, reducing stock-outs and wastage, and supporting data-driven planning, the position will help increase immunization coverage and equity across Zambia. The role will also build national capacity in vaccine and logistics management, support the introduction of new vaccines, enhance the use of digital information systems, and contribute to a more resilient and efficient immunization programme, ultimately helping to save lives and protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases.

The Immunization Specialist (Vaccine and Cold Chain Management will provide dedicated technical expertise to support the Ministry of Health in strengthening immunization systems and ensuring equitable access to life-saving vaccines for all children and women, particularly those in underserved, remote, urban poor, and hard-to-reach communities. The position contributes to the achievement of UNICEF Zambia Country Programme priorities, Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030), and national immunization goals by strengthening vaccine supply chain and logistics systems, cold chain infrastructure, immunization programme planning, and data-driven decision-making.

The incumbent is expected to provide technical support to the Ministry of Health and partners in improving vaccine availability, reducing stock-outs and wastage, enhancing cold chain performance, and strengthening national capacities in vaccine forecasting, inventory management, effective vaccine management (EVM), cold chain optimization, solar-powered health facility electrification, new vaccine introduction, decommissioning of obsolete cold chain equipment’s and immunization supply chain management. He/she will support the effective use of digital systems, including OpenLMIS and related information platforms, to improve monitoring, accountability, and evidence-based planning.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  Immunization Specialist P3 (Vaccine Management)- TA Signed PDF.pdf

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements

1. Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Public Health, Supply/Purchasing, Public health, Epidemiology, Supply chain, Logistics, Child Health, Health Management and any other related fields.
2. Work Experience: 5 years of relevant work experience in Health, Health Care, Planning, Programming, Implementation Monitoring, Evaluation of Health/Immunization Programmes, Cold Chain Management, Effective Vaccine Management, Health Facility Solar Electrification. Proven experience in strategic negotiations and planning in multi-stakeholder settings. Experience, proficiency in reports and strategic notes articulation is a requirement.
3. Skills: Advanced Presentation, Multi-stakeholder settings, Reports Development, Research reports, Strategic Articulation skills are required.
4. Language Requirements: Proficiency in English language is a requirement.

Desirables

1. Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language.
2. Direct experience on new vaccine introductions, VPOP, vaccine management OpenLMIS is an asset.
3. Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments are conditional on the selected candidates willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable male candidates from targeted underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.