Vaccine and Cold Chain Managers (VCCMs)

1. POSITION VACANT: Vaccine and Cold Chain Managers (VCCMs) – HSS/ eVIN State Support, SAMS, Delhi

2. NUMBER OF VACANCIES: Two  

3. ORGANISATIONAL BACKGROUND:

Our Client, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, and build resilience so countries can sustain progress. As the UN’s development agency, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

UNDP has been working in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development - from systems and institutional strengthening to inclusive growth and sustainable livelihoods, as well as sustainable energy, environment and resilience. With projects and programmes in every state and union territory in India, UNDP works with national and subnational government, and diverse development actors to deliver people-centric results, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. As the integrator for collective action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the UN system, we are committed to support the Government of India’s national development vision and priorities and accelerate the achievement of the SDGs for the people and the planet.

For more information about UNDP India, please visit https://www.undp.org/india

PROJECT BACKGROUND:

Routine immunization (RI) against vaccine preventable diseases (e.g. measles, polio, TB, tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough) is one of the most cost effective interventions for reducing childhood illness and mortality. Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) is an ambitious programme of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) that aims to reduce morbidity and mortality due to Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD). Joint Review Missions and Common Review Missions organized by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on a regular basis) have noted that whilst UIP performance in India has improved overtime, there still remain a number of key constraints impacting immunization coverage in the country. Further, there are significant inequities in vaccination coverage in different states based on various factors related to individual (gender, birth order), family area (area of residence, wealth, and parental education), demography (religion, caste) and the society (access to health care, community literacy level) characteristics.

The GAVI Alliance-funded Health System Strengthening (HSS) programme is one of the efforts of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) to improve the quality and level of immunization coverage in India.

Some of the main constraints currently preventing India from achieving a quality immunization programme with universally high coverage rates relate to Cold Chain and Vaccine Logistics Management. There is limited cold chain infrastructure and capacity in many states – even for routine UIP vaccines. Systematic efforts to identify gaps and address issues in cold chain and VLM have been conducted in recent years. Key constraints identified include inadequate and poor infrastructure, HR issues including technical capacities; weak monitoring and MIS issues; and Vaccine management. These constraints have led to high breakdown rate of equipment, overstocking and stock outs, inadequate monitoring and supervision, poor management thus hampering improved vaccine coverage.

Our Client, the UNDP, will support State NHM to address some of the above mentioned issues by the development of an integrated and innovative solution that aims to provide real time information of vaccines stocks at the various levels of the Routine Immunization Programme as well as have real time information on the temperature at the various levels of storage across the country.

4. JOB PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF WORK (SOW):

The Vaccine and Cold Chain Managers (VCCMs) is a member of the UNDP project implementation team at the field level, working under the supervision of the State Project Officer to operationalize eVIN and UWIN in the district. The VCCMs will be responsible for programme planning, implementation, capacity building, monitoring, and reporting for all cold chain projects within the assigned district.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The VCCMs will be responsible for the following tasks:

(A) Programme Planning and Implementation:
(1) Planning and execution of all activities related to eVIN & UWIN implementation in the assigned district with close coordination with District Immunization Officer and State Project Officer;
(2) Support in other immunization related activities like Intensified Mission Indra-Dhanush, introduction of newer vaccine in the state, immunization campaign, special drives etc.;
(3) Field visit for cold chain monitoring and Hand holding support to Cold Chain Handlers (CCH) at District Vaccine Store (DVS) and cold chain points in improving timely stock entries and their online visibility, including temperature performance of cold chain equipment.

(B) Technical Assistance:

(1) Technical Support the District Immunization Officer (DIO) in all the activities pertaining to vaccine logistics and cold chain management in the district. This includes, but is not limited to:
(a) Vaccine stock forecasting;
(b) Cold chain needs assessment;
(c) Indent generation;
(d) Storage and distribution planning for vaccines, syringes and Cold Chain Equipment (CCE);
(e) Any other work assigned by the DIO in related to eVIN.
(2) Technical support to the DIO in organizing review meetings related to eVIN;
(3) Develop vaccine collection and distribution cycle and ensure its implementation with support from District Vaccine Store(DVS) in-charge;
(4) Daily review of online data entry of all vaccine and syringes transactions and ensure regular & timely updating by all cold chain handlers;
(5) Support Cold chain handlers for eVIN entries of all transactions;
(6) Regular analysis of consumption patterns, wastage rates, monthly reports etc.;
(7) Monitor cold chain performance through remote temperature loggers and ensure prompt response to temperature excursions at cold chain points across the district;
(8) Work closely with State, divisional and district Level Health officials;
(9) Prepare periodic status reports, annual reports, case studies, etc. in a qualitative and timely manner;
(10) Undertake field visits to monitor the implementation of the system and provide technical inputs to address gaps and bottlenecks in the implementation of eVIN.

(C) Capacity Building of Cold Chain Handlers:
(1) Support State and divisional officials in conducting training sessions for CCH and plan for refresher trainings and trainings of newly recruited staffs;
(2) Supportive supervision of CCH in effective vaccine logistics and cold chain management including temperature recording and handling;
(3) Identify capacity-building needs on eVIN and undertake capacity-building activities district level for different levels of health professionals and field-level functionaries, facilitate learning exchanges.

(D) Vaccine Temperature Management:
(1) Ensure installation and proper functioning of Temperature loggers;
(2) Daily Temperature monitoring of Cold Chain Equipment through Temperature logger using eVIN;
(3) Carry out ongoing maintenance of Assets as guided by technical team.

(E) Admin & HR:
(1) Develop Monthly workplan and Monthly activity report for submission to PO-Operations;
(2) Prepare Travel logs and vouchers;
(3) Daily attendance and leave management with support of direct supervisor.

5. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES:

Qualification:

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration/ Public Health/ Hospital Management/ Social Sciences/ Management/Supply Chain Management/ Technical education from a reputed University / Institution.

Experience:
(1) A minimum of one year of professional work experience at the district level or above on implementation project in the health sector will preferred;

(2) Experience in vaccines supply chain and cold chain will be preferred;

(3) Should have good knowledge of the health system of state;

(4) Experience in managing information technology driven projects will be an asset;

(5) Must have good working knowledge of computer applications;

(6) Should have analytical, negotiating, communication skills.

Required Skills:

(1) Experience in vaccines supply chain and cold chain will be preferred;

(2) Should have good knowledge of the health system of state;

(3) Experience in managing information technology driven projects will be an asset;

(4) Must have good working knowledge of computer applications;

(5) Should have analytical, negotiating, communication skills.

Competencies:

(A) Job Knowledge and Technical Expertise:
(1) Has strong knowledge of project area and keeps abreast with new developments in areas of professional discipline and seeks to develop herself/himself professionally;
(2) Has sound knowledge of project management tools and utilises these regularly in work and assignments.

(B) Results Based Management:
(1) Leads and facilitates work planning, alerting those involved of potential obstacles and helping to identify suitable alternatives as needed;
(2) Takes accountability for the delivery of agreed results;
(3) Ability to work independently and with minimum supervision.

(C) Building and Managing Strategic Partnerships:
(1) Identifies common interest and goals and carries out joint initiatives with partners;
(2) Makes effective use of resources and comparative advantage to strengthen partnerships

(D) Advocacy:
(1) Brings visibility, promotes ideas and develops partnerships to advance the organisation’s work;
(2) Recognises key players in decision making, engaging them and building consensus for final decisions.

(E) Client Orientation:
(1) Demonstrates an understanding of client / partner / donor perspective and strives for high quality client-oriented services;
(2) Establishes smooth relationship and enabling environment between clients and service providers.

Required Language(s):

(1) Good knowledge of written and spoken English is required;

(2) A good working knowledge of local language of the duty station will be needed.

6. CONSULTANCY FEE:

The monthly consultancy fee for the position shall be commensurate with the Government norms, as applicable for the position. The professional fee will be subject to withholding taxes, as applicable.

7. NATURE OF ENGAGEMENT:

The selected candidate shall be engaged as a Consultant on the rolls of SAMS, a third-party payrolling agency, for a full-time consultancy engagement and the duration of engagement shall be driven by project priorities. It is explicitly clarified that this consultancy engagement does not constitute a promise or guarantee of future employment, with SAMS, or our client, or any other organization associated with the project. 

8. LOCATION: Delhi

9. REFERENCE: VCCM-DEL-0925

10. CONTACT INFORMATION:

Team SAMS
Strategic Alliance Management Services P Ltd.
1/1B, Choudhary Hetram House, Bharat Nagar
New Friends Colony, New Delhi 110 025
Phone Nos.: 011- 4081 9900; 4165 3612

www.sams.co.in

11. APPLICATION PROCESS:

Eligible candidates interested in the position are requested to submit thier applications by or before September 24, 2025.