Health Specialist

AI summary

UNICEF Nigeria in Abuja is hiring a Health Specialist (NO-3, 364-day temporary appointment) to lead routine immunization and new vaccine introduction programs. The role involves managing, monitoring, and evaluating health programs while providing technical guidance to government partners. This is a locally recruited National Professional Officer position aimed at improving children's health outcomes across Nigeria.

• 364-day temporary appointment at NO-3 level in Abuja
• Focus on routine immunization and new vaccine introduction
• Requires advanced degree in public health and 5+ years experience
• Application deadline: September 15, 2026
• Locally recruited National Professional Officer position

Original source description

Health Specialist, NO-3, TA, (364 days), #138401 Abuja, Nigeria - WCAR | UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund Health Specialist, NO-3, TA, (364 days), #138401 Abuja, Nigeria - WCAR UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund Abuja National NO-C, National Professional Officer - Locally recruited position level Speaks Chinese, Arabic, English, French, Russian, Spanish Application deadline: September 15, 2026 (7 days) Apply Summary by Impactpool UNICEF Nigeria is seeking a Health Specialist to support the development and implementation of health programs, particularly in routine immunization and new vaccine introduction. The role involves managing, monitoring, and evaluating program progress while providing technical guidance to achieve sustainable results. The Health Specialist will collaborate with government and partners to enhance immunization efforts and contribute to the overall health strategy. This position offers an opportunity to make a significant impact on children's health in Nigeria. Candidate Requirements: Advanced University Degree in public health or related field Minimum 5 years of experience: in public health/nutrition planning and management Experience: in routine immunization and new vaccine introduction Skills in program management and monitoring Ability to collaborate with government and partners Fluency in English UNICEF Nigeria Country Office in Abuja, Nigeria is seeking a passionate and dynamic person to work in the role of Health Specialist and invites applications from highly motivated and committed persons who want to contribute to results for children. If you are that person, we encourage you to apply and become part of a highly motivated and committed team. 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 Voice UNICEF, the United Nations agency for children, works to protect the rights of every child, especially the most disadvantaged and those hardest to reach. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we do whatever it takes to help children survive, thrive and fulfil their potential. We provide and advocate for education, health and nutrition services. Protect children from violence and abuse. Bring clean water and sanitation to those in need. And keep them safe from climate change and disease. The world’s largest provider of vaccines, UNICEF also runs the world’s largest humanitarian warehouse. Before, during and after emergencies, we’re on the ground with life-saving help and hope. How can you make a difference? The Health Specialist reports to the Health Manager Immunization for guidance and general supervision. The Specialist supports the development and preparation of the health program/s and is responsible for managing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and reporting of program progress of the sector of routine immunization strengthening, immunization system strengthening, new vaccine introduction and supplementary immunization operationalization program/s within the country program. The Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes to facilitate the administration and achievement of concrete and sustainable results according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM) and organizational Strategic Plans and goals, standards of performance and accountability framework. Major Responsibilities: Support to routine immunization program development and planning Program management, monitoring and delivery of results. Technical and operational support to routine and supplementary immunization program implementation Networking and partnership building Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: TOR Health Specialist RI NCO.docx (1).pdf To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… Minimum requirements: Education: An Advanced University Degree in public health/nutrition, pediatric health, family health, health research, global/international health, health policy and/or management, environmental health sciences, biostatistics, socio-medical, health education, epidemiology or other health related science is required. Experience: A minimum of 5 years of professional experience: in public health/nutrition planning and management and/or in relevant areas of routine immunization & new vaccine introduction, maternal and neonatal health care, health emergency/humanitarian preparedness, at the national and international level some of which preferably in a developing country is required. Skills: Routine immunization & new vaccine introduction planning and management, Public health, vaccine preventable disease intervention and outbreak response planning, implementation and monitoring, Planning, monitoring and evaluation of supplementary immunization planning and monitoring, High level of self-awareness and ethical awareness, Ability to collaborate with government and development partners, Ability to build and maintains implementation partnerships with immunization partners and stakeholders Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Desirables Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language immunization project development, implementation and monitoring, UN system agency Relevant experience: at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts. Relevant experience: in health/nutrition program/project development and management in any UN system agency or organization is an asset. 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 female candidates 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. 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. Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category. 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 . At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead. Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements: for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager. Summary by Impactpool UNICEF Nigeria is seeking a Health Specialist to support the development and implementation of health programs, particularly in routine immunization and new vaccine introduction. The role involves managing, monitoring, and evaluating program progress while providing technical guidance to achieve sustainable results. The Health Specialist will collaborate with government and partners to enhance immunization efforts and contribute to the overall health strategy. This position offers an opportunity to make a significant impact on children's health in Nigeria. Candidate Requirements: Advanced University Degree in public health or related field Minimum 5 years of experience: in public health/nutrition planning and management Experience: in routine immunization and new vaccine introduction Skills in program management and monitoring Ability to collaborate with government and partners Fluency in English Fellowship Master the recruitment process of the impact sector! Become a fellow and gain access to Impactpool's premium material that will boost your career in the impact sector Explore fellowship Show UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund that you are interested in them Recruiters from the organization will be able to view your profile, contact you for current & future vacancies and engage you on opportunities that match your skills and interest. Connect with organization Health Specialist, NO-3, TA, (364 days), #138401 Abuja, Nigeria - WCAR UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund Abuja National NO-C, National Professional Officer - Locally recruited position level Speaks Chinese, Arabic, English, French, Russian, Spanish Apply