Company Description

The Centre of Innovations for Public Health and Emergency Response (CIPHER) is a distinguished center of excellence under the School of Global and Public Health at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHES) in Malawi. Established in 2020, CIPHER focuses on strengthening public health systems and emergency response through research, innovation, and strategic partnerships. The center collaborates with organizations like UNICEF, WHO, and the Malawi Ministry of Health to address critical health challenges and advance public health priorities. CIPHER’s multidisciplinary team has contributed to impactful initiatives such as the COVID-19 response, cholera management, and optimized cold chain technologies, driving sustainable improvements in health outcomes across Malawi.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Position Title: Zonal Cold Chain Technician Duty Station: Assigned Zones (with frequent travel to districts and health facilities)

Reporting To: Project Cordinator Duration: 6 Months

Type of Engagement: Technical Support / Capacity Building Role

1. Purpose of the Position

The Zonal Cold Chain Technician will provide hands-on technical support to the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) by strengthening cold chain infrastructure within assigned zones. The role focuses on building the capacity of District Cold Chain Technicians (CCTs) and health facility staff in cold chain management, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of Cold Chain Equipment (CCE), in line with national policies and UNICEF/WHO cold chain standards. The ultimate goal is to ensure vaccine potency, minimize equipment downtime, and support uninterrupted immunization service delivery.

2. Key Responsibilities and Duties

A. Cold Chain Equipment (CCE) Functionality and Maintenance

• Ensure all Cold Chain Equipment (refrigerators, freezers, cold rooms, voltage regulators, solar systems and Remote Temperature Monitoring Devices -RTMDs) within the assigned zone are fully functional and maintained according to manufacturer and WHO specifications.
• Conduct routine preventive maintenance of CCE using approved checklists and job cards.
• Lead and support corrective maintenance and minor repairs, and escalate major repairs for specialized intervention where required.
• Support rehabilitation of aging or non-functional equipment and contribute to decisions on replacement based on equipment age, performance, and WHO PQS standards.
• Maintain proper documentation of all maintenance and repair activities using standardized tools.
• Support installation and commissioning of cold chain equipment (Refrigerators, Freezers, Solar Systems, RTMDs, Voltage regulators)

B. Capacity Building and Mentorship

• Provide on-the-job training, mentorship, and supportive supervision to District Cold Chain Technicians (CCTs) on:
  • Cold chain management principles
  • Preventive maintenance practices
  • Fault diagnosis and troubleshooting
  • Use of tools and spare parts
  • Safety procedures and good engineering practices
• Support district teams to develop and implement routine maintenance micro-plans.
• Strengthen district-level ownership and accountability for cold chain equipment and Maintenance tools

C. Cold Chain Inventory and Asset Management

• Ensure that the Cold Chain Equipment inventory database is accurate, complete, and up to date.
• Support districts to conduct quarterly verification and updating of CCE inventories, including mapping of equipment by type, model, energy source, and age.
• Track availability and condition of maintenance tools, spare parts, and accessories, and report inventory status every three months.
• Support rational deployment and redistribution of CCE within districts based on service delivery needs.

D. Temperature Monitoring and RTMD Support

• Monitor and interpret data from Remote Temperature Monitoring Devices (RTMDs) and other temperature monitoring tools.
• Liaise with District CCTs and health facilities to investigate temperature excursions, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions.
• Promote a strong temperature monitoring culture, including correct placement of probes, timely response to alarms, and proper documentation.
• Support calibration, functionality checks, and troubleshooting of RTMDs and manual temperature monitoring devices (Fridge Tag 2E)

E. Vaccine and Logistics Support

• Support districts in vaccine distribution recording, tracking, and reconciliation, ensuring alignment between cold chain capacity and vaccine stock levels.
• Assist in monitoring vaccine and injection materials stock levels to prevent stock-outs and wastage.
• Promote best practices in vaccine storage, handling, and stock management at all levels.

F. Quality Improvement and Systems Strengthening

• Enforce and support implementation of KAIZEN 5S principles in vaccine stores and cold rooms to improve organization, safety, efficiency, and accountability.
• Support integration of cold chain activities into routine EPI planning, supervision, and review meetings.
• Contribute to strengthening data quality and use for decision-making at zonal and district levels.

G. Reporting and Documentation

• Prepare and submit regular (monthly and quarterly) technical reports using standard templates (Excel, Word, and other approved health system tools).
• Document equipment status, maintenance activities, training sessions, and key challenges with clear recommendations.
• Provide timely feedback to the National Cold Chain Manager to inform planning, resource mobilization, and policy decisions.

H. Other Duties

• Perform any other cold chain and vaccine management related duties as assigned by the National Cold Chain Manager in support of EPI objectives.

3. Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Level 3 Advanced Certificate in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanics

Experience

• At least 2–3 years of hands on experience in cold chain equipment maintenance and repair, preferably within health or immunization programmes.
• Demonstrated experience working with WHO-PQS prequalified cold chain equipment, including solar direct-drive refrigerators
• Experience in capacity building, mentorship, or technical supervision is an added advantage.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong technical skills in diagnosis, repair, and preventive maintenance of cold chain equipment.
• Ability to interpret temperature monitoring data and RTMD reports.
• Good knowledge of UNICEF/WHO cold chain guidelines and EPI operational standards.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and reporting skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and to travel extensively within assigned zones.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills for effective collaboration with district teams.

4. Expected Outputs

• Improved functionality and uptime of cold chain equipment across the zone.
• Strengthened capacity of District Cold Chain Technicians in maintenance and repair.
• Accurate and up-to-date cold chain inventory and maintenance records.
• Reduced frequency and duration of temperature excursions and equipment breakdowns.
• Improved compliance with national and WHO cold chain standards.

• Ensure all Cold Chain Equipment (refrigerators, freezers, cold rooms, voltage regulators, solar systems and Remote Temperature Monitoring Devices -RTMDs) within the assigned zone are fully functional and maintained according to manufacturer and WHO specifications.
• Conduct routine preventive maintenance of CCE using approved checklists and job cards.
• Lead and support corrective maintenance and minor repairs, and escalate major repairs for specialized intervention where required.
• Support rehabilitation of aging or non-functional equipment and contribute to decisions on replacement based on equipment age, performance, and WHO PQS standards.
• Maintain proper documentation of all maintenance and repair activities using standardized tools.
• Support installation and commissioning of cold chain equipment (Refrigerators, Freezers, Solar Systems, RTMDs, Voltage regulators)
• Provide on-the-job training, mentorship, and supportive supervision to District Cold Chain Technicians (CCTs) on: Cold chain management principles, Preventive maintenance practices, Fault diagnosis and troubleshooting, Use of tools and spare parts, Safety procedures and good engineering practices.
• Support district teams to develop and implement routine maintenance micro-plans.
• Strengthen district-level ownership and accountability for cold chain equipment and Maintenance tools
• Ensure that the Cold Chain Equipment inventory database is accurate, complete, and up to date.
• Support districts to conduct quarterly verification and updating of CCE inventories, including mapping of equipment by type, model, energy source, and age.
• Track availability and condition of maintenance tools, spare parts, and accessories, and report inventory status every three months.
• Support rational deployment and redistribution of CCE within districts based on service delivery needs.
• Monitor and interpret data from Remote Temperature Monitoring Devices (RTMDs) and other temperature monitoring tools.
• Liaise with District CCTs and health facilities to investigate temperature excursions, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions.
• Promote a strong temperature monitoring culture, including correct placement of probes, timely response to alarms, and proper documentation.
• Support calibration, functionality checks, and troubleshooting of RTMDs and manual temperature monitoring devices (Fridge Tag 2E)
• Support districts in vaccine distribution recording, tracking, and reconciliation, ensuring alignment between cold chain capacity and vaccine stock levels.
• Assist in monitoring vaccine and injection materials stock levels to prevent stock-outs and wastage.
• Promote best practices in vaccine storage, handling, and stock management at all levels.
• Enforce and support implementation of KAIZEN 5S principles in vaccine stores and cold rooms to improve organization, safety, efficiency, and accountability.
• Support integration of cold chain activities into routine EPI planning, supervision, and review meetings.
• Contribute to strengthening data quality and use for decision-making at zonal and district levels.
• Prepare and submit regular (monthly and quarterly) technical reports using standard templates (Excel, Word, and other approved health system tools).
• Document equipment status, maintenance activities, training sessions, and key challenges with clear recommendations.
• Provide timely feedback to the National Cold Chain Manager to inform planning, resource mobilization, and policy decisions.
• Perform any other cold chain and vaccine management related duties as assigned by the National Cold Chain Manager in support of EPI objectives.

• Strong technical skills in diagnosis, repair, and preventive maintenance of cold chain equipment.
• Ability to interpret temperature monitoring data and RTMD reports.
• Good knowledge of UNICEF/WHO cold chain guidelines and EPI operational standards.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and reporting skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and to travel extensively within assigned zones.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills for effective collaboration with district teams.

• Level 3 Advanced Certificate in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanics