Job description – Consultants for COVID-19 vaccine programme

Organisation: Woolcock Institute of Medical Research

The Woolcock Institute of Medical Research is affiliated with the University of Sydney in Australia and is recognized as one of the leading research institutions for respiratory diseases and sleep disorders.

Operating in Vietnam since 2009, we have undertaken large operational, epidemiological and clinical research projects and run training in epidemiological and operational research methods for Vietnamese doctors and public health workers. The Woolcock Institute has three research centres and offices in Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City and Ca Mau. Currently we directly employ about 50 full-time staff and coordinates multiple study projects within lung health management and treatment across eleven provinces. We also expand research activity to other fields including antimicrobial resistance.

For more information about us, please visit:
Woolcock Institute of Medical Research in Sydney, Australia: http://www.woolcock.org.au/
Woolcock Institute of Medical Research in Vietnam: http://www.woolcockvietnam.org/

Overview: Australia is supporting access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines in the Pacific and Southeast Asia through our Regional Vaccine Access and Health Security Initiative (VAHSI) and the Quad Vaccine Partnership. The Australian Expert Technical Assistance Program for Regional COVID-19 Vaccine Access: Policy, Planning and Implementation (AETAP-PPI) has been established under the VAHSI to support Pacific and Southeast Asian countries’ efforts to deliver safe, effective and accessible COVID-19 immunisation programs, based on a health system strengthening approach and in line with best practice standards.

Within this framework, the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research is working with the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) to draw on scientific and technical expertise from the Australian Regional Immunisation Alliance (ARIA) Network and provide access to technical experts remotely and/or through in-country technical assistance.

Location: Hanoi with possibility of domestic travel

Duration: 4 months appointment. The consultants are required to start as soon as possible and work up to 250 hours during the appointment period.

Scope

The Woolcock Institute of Medical Research in collaboration with the NCIRS and UNICEF Viet Nam to support the local authorities in: (i) development of a targeted COVID-19 Vaccine communications strategy for community engagement and support development of the implementation plan, and (ii) communication capacity building plan for health care workers involved in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

Direct report: to Country Director

Tasks and responsibilities:

Consultant 1:
Design and develop a targeted COVID-19 vaccine communications plan for community engagement at subnational level. Detail activities include

• Undertake a review of existing data - including relevant surveys, assessments, and reports - on current acceptance and demand for COVID-19 vaccines, current channels used to reach target audiences and lessons learnt from recent communications activities.
• Draft targeted COVID-19 Vaccine Communications Strategy.
• Organise workshops (virtual/face to face) with key national stakeholders in assessing the communication needs at national and sub-national level, to gather feedback and finalise the draft strategy and implementation plan.
• Attend meetings and prepare minutes

Consultant 2

Developing implementation plan for the targeted COVID-19 vaccine communications strategy, inclusive of tools and materials for building the capacity of health workers and other workers involved in COVID-19 community engagement. Detail activities include

• Develop a training and capacity building plan based on the training need assessment and in line with the COVID-19 communication strategy and plan.
• Customised existing training module on COVID-19 communication to meet the training needs.
• Support in organising and delivering training program for COVID-19 communications.
• Attend meetings and prepare minutes

Specific requirements:

• Advanced university degree in communication, public health, related field (PhD preferred)
• Strong experience in immunization, vaccine preventable diseases
• Experience in engaging with government and/or non-government partners
• Ability to work independently and respond to feedback in a timely and professional manner
• Ability to communicate fluently in English and Vietnamese
• Competencies: communication; drive for results; general epidemiology of communicable diseases; vaccine epidemiology; advocacy and communication to ensure public awareness; analyzing; formulating strategies and concepts.

Application Procedure

For interested applicants, please send a cover letter together with a CV (with the name and contact details of at least three senior referees) in English (both CV and cover letter), no later than 20 April 2022 by submitting the application form in the link as follows:
https://airtable.com/shrEHhrmyayGTWOjs

We regret that only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.

Review of applications will start as soon as possible and continue until 20/04/2022, or until the post is filled, whichever is earlier.

Organization: Woolcock
Location:
Application deadline: 2022-04-20
Send application to: https://airtable.com/shrEHhrmyayGTWOjs