Emergency Nutrition Officers, Nigeria Joint Response (NJR) Project at Save the Children Nigeria

Save the Children is the leading independent organization for children in need, with programs in over 120 countries, including the United States. We aim to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives by improving their health, education and economic opportunities. In times of acute crisis, we mobilize rapid assistance to help children recover from the effects of war, conflict and natural disasters. Each year, we and our partners reach millions of children in communities around the world. Join our dedicated and diverse staff in their work to improve the well-being of children everywhere.

We are recruiting to fill the vacant position below:

Job Title: Emergency Nutrition Officer, Nigeria Joint Response (NJR) Project

Location: Borno, Nigeria
Job Type: Full-time

Program Summary

• Save the Children (SC) is implementing a 7.5 months Dutch Relief Alliance (DRA) funded Nigeria Joint Response (NJR) project in Nigeria, which seeks to provide emergency relief to eligible internally displaced, returnee and host community households in Borno State. As a contribution to the humanitarian crises in the North East of Nigeria, SC through this project, will target vulnerable households with livelihoods, and nutrition support. We are currently seeking an Officer to lead the nutrition component of the project in Borno.
• The Nutrition Officer will be based in Maiduguri and work under the supervision of the Project Manager, to provide technical guidance as well as ensure monitoring, evaluation, accountability, learning (MEAL), and quality implementation of the nutrition component of the project.

Key Roles
Work closely with the Project Manager and the Emergency Nutrition Advisor:

• Ensure the high quality and timely implementation of SC’s NJR project’s nutrition component
• Ensure implementation is as per project proposal, budget and SC procedures (including those related to sourcing, management of project resources, fraud, child safeguarding)
• Lead in collaboration with the partner CSO and other relevant stakeholders, in the constitution and functioning of Mother to Mother Support Groups (MtMSG) and Father to Father Support Groups (FtFSG)
• Support the identification and training of relevant project stakeholders (including health staff, MtMSG, FtFSG, community volunteers, religious leaders and other power brokers), on relevant malnutrition prevention strategies including emergency infant and young child-feeding (e-IYCF), pregnant and nursing mother nutrition, malnutrition screening, diarrhea & intestinal worm control, vitamin supplementation etc.
• In collaboration with the Nutrition Advisor, and other relevant project stakeholders, lead on the acquisition/elaboration of relevant user-friendly tools for awareness raising on nutrition, e-IYCF and pregnant and nursing mother feeding
• Ensure information, education and communication (IEC) sessions include cues to action such as nutritional demonstrations and referrals to relevant services
• Ensure SC’s NJR nutrition interventions complement those of its food security and livelihoods component as well as those of other relevant SC, NJR and non-NJR INGOs projects in project intervention communities
• Facilitate the set-up/functioning of relevant referral mechanisms including to relevant facility-based (e.g. outpatient consultations, ANC, family planning, IYCF, EPI, ORT etc.) and community-based services (OTP sites, MtMSG, FtFSG, EPI outreaches etc.)
• Facilitate at project sites, the integration of IYCF as well as pregnant and nursing-mothers nutrition into relevant community and facility-based interventions such as ANC and EPI sessions etc.
• Put in place mechanisms to ensure peer to peer education especially during MtMSG and FtFSG sessions
• Ensure the minimum standards of humanitarian relief are maintained in accordance with the Sphere and other Core Humanitarian Standards as well as protection mainstreamed.
• Ensure equal participation by all segments of the community, taking into consideration issues regarding gender, age, disability and other specificities
• Lead the process of conducting and updating the risk assessment for the nutrition component of the project, as well as the proposition and implementation of risk mitigation measures
• In collaboration with the project as well as SC’s field and procurement teams, advice on as well as prepare and implement procurement plans for the timely delivery of planned nutrition activities

Qualifications and Experience
Essential:

• 2-3 years’ experience of nutrition work (preferably CMAM and the implementation of feeding/IYCF programs) in emergency context.
• Education: At least a B.Sc in Public Health/Nutrition or related field
• Proven abilities in developing program implementation plans, and working collaboratively with community groups and partner organizations to successfully achieve project objectives
• Demonstrated experience and capacity in conducting nutrition assessments, field-level data collection and analyses, concise reporting on results as well as nutrition surveillance and management of information systems.
• Strong ability to work independently, organize work, meet deadlines, prioritize work under pressure, coordinate multiple tasks and maintain attention to detail
• Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills, creativity and flexibility; Works well in and promotes teamwork; comfortable in a multi-cultural environment; willing, flexible and able to handle pressure well; willing to travel often.
• Experience of negotiating, developing and implementing successful partnerships with multiple stakeholders
• Proven ability to influence change at operational levels
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy
• Understanding of gender, protection and human rights
• A high level of written and spoken English as well as computer skills
• Commitment to the aims and values of Save the Children (SC). In particular, a good understanding of the SC’s mandate and child-focus, and the ability to ensure this always underpins the support we provide.

Desirable:

• INGO experience preferred
• Primary/Community health care experience.
• Work experience in the North East of Nigeria and mastery of the local languages

Application Closing Date
4th May, 2017.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online