Nutrition Manager (Systems Strengthening), P4 at the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Nutrition Manager (Systems Strengthening), P4

Job no: 563930
Location: Abuja
Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment
Level: P-4
Categories: Nutrition

How can you make a difference?
To enable UNICEF to deliver results for children, while complying with different conditionalities, the office is seeking a Nutrition Manager (P4-FT). The candidate will report to the Chief of Nutrition Section and work closely with other members of the Nutrition Section. The Nutrition Manager will also work in close collaborate with other internal and external stakeholders to deliver key results for children in accordance with the new Country Programme Strategy. Specifically, the Nutrition Manager will be responsible for the following:

• Provide overall strategic direction to the Systems Strengthening output, working across the health, food and social protection system in both development and humanitarian contexts
• Develop and leverage strategic partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, including government, UN agencies, donors, international and national non-government organisations and the private sector
• Ensure efficient and effective management of the Systems Strengthening portfolio, including human, financial, operational and administrative management.
• Enable timely achievement of key performance indicators while ensuring compliance with results-based principles and standards, UNICEF guidelines as well as donor conditionalities.
• Mobilise resources (both international and domestic) through the development of high-quality proposals, reports, concept notes, etc.

Key Functions / Accountabilities
Management and advisory support to the Chief:

• Ensure efficient and effective management of the Systems Strengthening portfolio, including human, financial, operational and administrative management.
• Provide thought leadership in establishing the annual work plan, including developing strategies and determining priorities, targets and performance measurements.
• Coordinate work progress monitoring and ensure results are achieved according to schedule and performance standards, reported in a timely manner and documented.
• Provide technical assistance and advice to colleagues in the section and other sections on all aspects of nutrition programming and implementation to enable them to achieve results for children.
• Perform the full duties of the Chief in his/her absence

Programme development and planning:

• Ensure efficient and effective management of the Systems Strengthening portfolio, including human, financial, operational and administrative management.
• Provide thought leadership on strengthening routine data systems (internal and external) and periodic surveys. Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual health reviews with the government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action and interventions to achieve results.
• Prepare regular and mandated programme/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.
• Enable timely achievement of key performance indicators while ensuring compliance with results-based principles and standards, UNICEF guidelines as well as donor conditionalities.

Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results:

• Enhance programme and associate staff capacities for financial monitoring and commodity flow
• Provide oversight and mentorship to Program Associates on finance, administration, payment processing, liquidations, etc.
• Enhance use of electronic shared spaces for storage and use of data and knowledge management

Advisory services and technical support:

• Provide advice to key government officials, NGO partners, UN system partners, and other country office partners/donors on policies, strategies, best practices and approaches on nutrition-related issues to support programme development planning, management, implementation, and delivery of results.
• Participate in strategic programme discussions and planning to provide technical advice, contribute to policy discussions and agendas, and promote nutrition interventions, especially in the areas of gender, emergency preparedness and maternal, newborn, and child health, WASH and education.
• Prepare policy papers, advocacy briefs and other strategic programme materials for management use, information and/or consideration. Liaise closely with the Communications, Advocacy and Partnerships team.
• Participate in emergency preparedness initiatives for programme development, contingency planning and/or to respond to emergencies in country or where designated

Advocacy, networking and partnership building:

• Develop and leverage strategic partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, including government, UN agencies, donors, international and national non-government organisations and the private sector
• Build capacity, exchange knowledge and expertise, and/or promote cooperation and alliances to achieve programme goals on maternal and child rights as well as social justice and equity.
• Prepare high quality communication and information materials to highlight programme goals, achievements and/or needs to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances and support resource mobilization for nutrition programmes.
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) discussions and planning on nutrition-related issues to ensure organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNDAF process in development planning and agenda setting. Collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on UNDAF planning and preparation of nutrition programmes/projects.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building:

• Promote critical thinking, innovative approaches and good practices for sustainable nutrition programme/project initiatives through advocacy and technical advisory services.
• Keep abreast, research, benchmark, and implement best and cutting-edge practices in health management and information systems. Institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.
• Contribute to the development of policies and procedures and introduce innovation and best practices to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programmes and projects.
• Organize, plan and/or implement capacity-building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients and stakeholders to promote sustainable results on health/nutrition-related programmes/projects.

Requirements
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have:

• An advanced University Degree in one of the following fields is required:  Nutrition, Public Health, Nutritional Epidemiology, Global / International Health and Nutrition, Health / Nutrition Research, Policy and/or Management, Health Sciences, Nutritional Epidemiology, or another Health-related Science field.

Experience:

• A minimum of ten years of relevant professional work experience with at least two years in a leadership position that requires strategic guidance, management (human, operational, financial and administrative)
• Experience in development and management high value budgets and programmes implementation at scale in development and humanitarian contexts.
• Familiarity with nexus programming approaches an asset
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Knowledge of the UN rules, procedures and regulations and/or working experience for the UN or other international development organization would be an asset

Application Closing Date
25th July, 2023.