Contract Nutrition Program Coordinator at Helen Keller International (HKI)

Helen Keller International (HKI), established in 1915, is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to saving the sight and lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. Headquartered in New York City, HKI currently conducts programs in 21 countries in Africa and Asia, as well as in the United States.

HKI implements integrated package of cost-effective interventions that are proven to improve maternal and child nutrition. HKI supports policies and programs on food fortification, vitamin A supplementation, infant and young child feeding, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, community-based management of acute malnutrition and prevention and treatment of neglected tropical diseases. At the core of HKI’s programs is advocacy and social behavior change communication to various stakeholders. HKI also undertakes cutting-edge research to influence policy decisions and inform program quality.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Contract Nutrition Program Coordinator

Location: Bauchi
Employment Type: Full-time
Reports to: Program Manager, Transforming Lives Through Nutrition
Duration: 3 months

Scope of the Position

• The Contract Nutrition Program Coordinator will provide collaborative technical leadership for the project in Bauchi.
• The position will work under the direct management of Program Manager Transforming Lives Through Nutrition.

Specific Responsibilities
The Contract Nutrition Program Coordinator will be responsible for the following:

• Provide technical guidance and support to achieve timely, high-quality project deliverables and meet project objectives and donor requirements.
• Develop and maintain detailed tracking tools for the utilization of the RUTF at the facilities in Bauchi, Kebbi, and Sokoto state.
• Develop and maintain detailed tracking tools for children enrolled in the CMAM program in Bauchi, Kebbi, and Sokoto state.
• Follow up with health facilities and caregivers to track progress of SAM children enrolled in the program Bauchi, Kebbi and Sokoto states.
• Work with the communication team to track and develop success stories for the program 
• Guide the technical aspects of the project. Ensure that activities are implemented in compliance with the best practices inscribed in IMAM guidelines. 
• Provide guidance and support to the health facility teams delivering the intervention in Bauchi, Kebbi and Sokoto state.
• Develop work plans for the project.
• Coordinate with nutrition program officers in Kebbi and Sokoto to provide weekly activity progress report. 
• Coordinate with the various stakeholders across the states to ensure the seamless implementation of the project. 
• Undertake other duties as required.

Qualifications

• Education: Degree in public health nutrition or a related field and a minimum of 5 years work experience or equivalent combination of skills and experience.
• Experience: Prior experience working in complex nutrition programs, preferably with direct experience in Nigeria
• Knowledge of nutrition and other public health related areas.
• Demonstrated experience working and/or collaborating with government ministries and other development partners in multi-sectoral nutrition programming. 
• Substantial institutional and staff expertise in implementing complex capacity building programs, in resource-constrained environments.
• Strong experience and demonstrated success in coordinating activities with multiple stakeholders to optimize the use of limited resources, including the development of joint work plans.
• Excellent capacity building and coordination skills. Ability to delegate responsibilities effectively and coach and mentor staff from different cultures.
• Ability to respond rapidly to shifting implementation scenarios. An ability to work in challenging and changing environments, and to see through challenges to find solutions; an ability to maintain balance when under stress.
• Experience working effectively in partnership with staff, collaborating organizations, consortiums, international donors and agencies, host country governments and ministries, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft software packages: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook.
• Excellent English language skills, both written and spoken, with strong presentation skills. Ability to prepare and disseminate project findings, success stories, and other documents effectively.

Required Competencies:

• Superior technical knowledge and experience in one or more of the following areas: food systems for nutrition and/or public health nutrition (including prevention and treatment of acute malnutrition, adolescent health and nutrition, maternal/infant/child health and nutrition). 
• Superior leadership, management and communication skills--this includes professional experience interacting with donor, host country governments and other relevant stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal skills and experience working effectively in teams and cross-cultural settings. 
• Excellent time management and personal organization skills.
• Ability to respond rapidly to shifting implementation scenarios.
• Comfortable working in a matrixed, integrated work environment. 
• Confident giving and receiving feedback in a direct, professional manner. 
• Capacity to direct multiple long and short-term activities simultaneously with minimal supervision.
• Ability to work effectively with local government and NGO stakeholders.
• Skilled in fostering new and effective partnerships, facilitating meetings, and effectively participating in technical working groups. 

Application Closing Date
11th April, 2025.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV to: nigeria.recruitment@hki.org using the job title as the subject of the email.