Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) Officer Full Time NEW

Job Overview/Summary: 

The EPI Officer, under the direct supervision of the Health and Nutrition Manager based in Assosa, holds a junior management position focused on planning, managing, monitoring, and evaluating immunization and Community-Based Disease Surveillance activities within the health programs of at Kamashi and Demb woredas. The Officer will be stationed in Kamashi town, supporting Kamashi and Demb woredas, and will frequently travel to health posts and health centers. The role involves planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating program activities in collaboration with the Woreda Health Office with the guidance from Assosa based senior health officer and Health and nutrition manager. The position requires working closely with the two woreda health and agricultural offices. Also required to work closely with EPI, PHEM officer, health extension workers supervisor, health extension workers, community volunteer under health and closely working with woreda animal health expertise, Kebele level animal health technicians.

Major Responsibilities: 

• Oversee health programs in assigned woredas, focusing on routine immunization, cold chain management, and Community-Based Disease Surveillance at both facility and community levels.
• Implement BCC strategies, including developing and reprinting IEC/BCC materials.
• Organize and coordinate workshops and training sessions on cold chain management, immunization practices, community-based surveillance and data management within the intervention woredas.
• Facilitate quarterly review meetings with health and agriculture sectors.
• Conduct monthly woreda-based One Health Task Force (OHTF) meetings.
• Facilitate integrated supportive supervision (ISS) with regional, zonal, and woreda program experts on a quarterly basis.
• Conduct self-assessments of all health facilities in the woreda quarterly, providing technical support for Community-Based Disease Surveillance and immunization programs.
• Regularly collect and compile project data, including case studies, success stories, and photographs, for submission to the Health Program Manager.
• Ensure data quality through proper entry, cleaning, and validation for immediate site-based action.
• Facilitate coordination meetings, advocacy initiatives, and awareness-raising sessions with health extension workers and supervisors.
• Represent IRC in woreda-level coordination meetings, workshops, and task force discussions.
• Maintain comprehensive records of health program activities in soft and hard copies, ensuring timely activity report submission to health and nutrition manager.
• Analyze monthly and quarterly reports from Waida health officers to ensure data quality and proper data presentation for decision-making.
• Provide technical assistance to government staff for quality program implementation, including HEWs, health post nurses, health center EPI personnel, cold chain and PHEM focal persons, and WoHO program officers.
• Support Woreda Health and Agriculture offices in community engagement activities.
• Ensure health programs align with protocols, policies, guidelines, and donor requirements.
• Prepare and review monthly, quarterly, and final health program reports for submission to the Addis Technical Unit via the Health and Nutrition Managers
• Undertake any additional tasks assigned by the immediate supervisor.

      Grants Management 

• Regularly follow the status of indicators and take correction measure for the deviance from the target
• Implement the project activities as per the workplan Prepare.
• Check the status of the approved IR line in line with procurement and workplan.
• Responsible for revision and updating of activity, spending, and procurement plans for the active grant.
• Control the proper use of materials procured under GA323 grants before or within the grant period to avoid old grant depositions.

      Monitoring & Evaluation

• Collaborate with the Health and Nutrition Manager to monitor and evaluate program activities.
• Ensure monthly and quarterly indicators are achieved as per the plan.
• Update the indicator tracking tool monthly in coordination with the Assosa MEAL team.
• Work closely with the MEAL field office team to collect client feedback.
• Develop and implement response mechanisms to address feedback effectively.
• Participate in supportive supervision, quarterly monitoring visits, and annual monitoring visits conducted in the woreda.
• Share visit findings with the Health and Nutrition Manager.
• Actively engage in mid-term and final evaluations in the intervention woredas.
• This ensures proper tracking, accountability, and continuous improvement in program performance and donor compliance.

       Human Resource Management 

• Prepare and submitted time sheet in every month timely.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promote a strong team spirit, and provide oversight and guidance to enable staff to be efficient in their positions.
• Site with health and nutrition manager and develop key performance objective Key Working Relationships:
• Take mandatory online training courses in consultation with the HR team.

    Internal 

• Work closely with senior health officers, other woreda EPI officers
• Work closely with the support department and other program departments.

   External 

• Work closely with the woredas health and agriculture office, health center and health post staff and zonal health department, and other implementing partners.
• Actively participate in health coordination meetings and other relevant meetings facilitated by implementing partners at the woreda and zonal level.

        Safeguarding Responsibilities: – 

• Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion and cohesion in IRC [team/office]
• Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies