Senior Programme Manager, Public Health Emergenci..., Geneva

Senior Programme Manager, Public Health Emergencies and Pandemics GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance Apply by: 09 Jun 2026

Contract type: 5‑year fixed‑term

Location: Geneva

Department: Vaccine Programmes and Markets (VPM)

Team: Global Health Security (GHS)

Reports To: Head, Public Health Emergencies and Pandemics (PHE&P)

About the Role The Senior Programme Manager sits within the Public Health Emergencies and Pandemics (PHE&P) sub‑team of the Global Health Security team in Gavi's Vaccine Programmes and Markets function. The role works closely with internal teams across the Secretariat and with key external partners including WHO, UNICEF, Africa CDC, and affected countries. The team’s core mission is to ensure Gavi is prepared for, and can rapidly and effectively respond to, vaccine‑preventable public health emergencies and pandemics by enabling timely funding decisions, access to vaccines, and support to countries for delivery.

Key Responsibilities

Triage and provide timely alerts and escalation on emerging and evolving public health threats relevant to Gavi, leveraging information from partners and internally to support early awareness and leadership decision‑making. Maintain and advance information‑sharing agreements with core partners, including WHO and UNICEF.

Lead development of rapid assessments and recommendations to inform funding decisions and operational responses under Gavi mechanisms, such as the First Response Fund and the Gavi Resilience Mechanism, integrating inputs from internal teams, partners, and affected countries. Refine assessment templates, eligibility and review criteria and ways of working to ensure fit‑for‑purpose and as streamlined as possible.

Coordinate cross‑Secretariat response efforts during active emergencies, convening internal workstreams, clarifying roles, strategic and operational priorities, and aligning teams and partners toward rapid and effective operationalisation of Gavi’s response.

Drive operational delivery of Gavi’s emergency responses, coordinating and supporting efficient approval, disbursement, and implementation of outbreak and emergency support via relevant response mechanisms, working in close collaboration with key internal teams such as country delivery, grant management, resource mobilisation, market shaping, and others.

Represent Gavi in cross‑partner coordination fora (such as IMSTs and key working groups) during active responses, contributing to discussions and decisions on supply, allocation, funding, and strategic coordination in collaboration with partners.

Support surge capacity and operational adaptability during scaled emergency responses, including contributing to onboarding and coordination of time‑limited surge resources where required.

Strengthen preparedness and response systems by leading the refinement of tools, guidance, operating procedures, and partnership approaches that support Gavi’s "Gavi Ready" agenda, aligned with Gavi’s comparative advantages.

Lead partnerships with certain internal teams (such as Country Delivery) and with select external partners (in collaboration with other PHE&P team members), supporting the ongoing refinement of Gavi’s GHS partnership strategy.

Generate and use evidence, monitoring, and learning to inform real‑time decision‑making, manage risk, and support continuous improvement of Gavi’s global health security and pandemic response approach. Coordinate routine reporting and generate analyses for Gavi’s governance bodies and leadership.

Experience and Skills Experience

Typically 8‑12 years of relevant professional experience in global health at national, regional, or global level, including several years of direct involvement in outbreak, epidemic, or pandemic preparedness and response at national or sub‑national levels.

Experience operating in complex, multi‑stakeholder emergency response environments and familiarity with vaccine‑related programmes.

Exposure to funding, operational, or delivery decision‑making during public health emergencies is expected.

Education and Qualifications

Advanced university degree in medicine, public health, development, economics, politics, or a related field.

Master’s degree in public health or another field directly relevant to global health security (e.g., epidemiology).

Languages

Essential: Fluency in written and spoken English.

Preferred: Fluency in French.

Technical and Functional Skills

Outbreak and pandemic preparedness and response expertise (technical, advanced).

Vaccine value chain knowledge (technical, advanced).

Public health programming and grant management (technical, working knowledge).

Rapid assessment and analytical synthesis (functional, advanced).

Stakeholder coordination in complex environments (functional, advanced).

Operational delivery in crisis contexts (functional, advanced).

Good to Have

Monitoring, evaluation, and learning in emergency contexts (technical/functional, working knowledge).

Familiarity with innovative financing mechanisms (technical, working knowledge).

How You Work (Behaviours and Mindsets)

Operate with sound judgment and accountability, with a pragmatic mindset in fast‑moving, high‑risk, and ambiguous situations.

Build trust‑based relationships and collaborate effectively across functions, organisations, and cultures.

Work respectfully, demonstrating diplomatic skills and solid political and cultural awareness consistent with Gavi’s values, engaging sensitively with a wide range of stakeholders.

Communicate clearly, translating complex information into actionable guidance for decision makers.

Demonstrate adaptability and resilience, shifting between preparedness and response modes as required.

Work with a high degree of independence and ownership, maintaining focus on impact, delivery, and continuous improvement while knowing when to escalated or seek alignment.

Strategic mindset—thoughtful of both near‑term needs and longer‑term horizon challenges that need to be identified, planned for, and ultimately addressed.

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