Health and Nutrition Coordinator at Save the Children Nigeria

Save the Children is the leading independent organization for children in need, with programs in over 120 countries. We save children’s lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their potential. Save the Children is working in Nigeria because one in five children in Nigeria dies before their fifth birthday. About 40% of children miss out on school and have to work to survive while nearly 2 million children have lost one or both parents to an AIDS-related disease.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Health and Nutrition Coordinator

Job ID: 14223
Location: Borno
Reports to: Program Manager
Staff reporting to this post: Health and Nutrition Officer.

Role Purpose

• The Health and Nutrition Coordinator:  With guidance from the Health and Nutrition Manager, the Health and Nutrition Coordinator will lead the field related activities in implementing health and nutrition programs with a focus on IMCI, Disease Surveillance, IMAM, MIYCN-E, and MAMI with a comprehensive community-level health and nutrition engagement.
• The technical guidance will be provided in accordance with Nigeria's national guidelines.
• The Health and Nutrition Coordinator will make frequent field visits to the field sites to ensure delivery of the highest standards of service.
• S/he will ensure high-quality clinical services in all SC- project supported health and nutrition facilities.
• S/he will monitor service quality, ensure all staff are trained, and well supported, pharmaceuticals and other medical supplies are properly managed, and apply clinical level data to national level quality improvement efforts.
• This role will also involve representation of the organization in various forums including Health Sector Working Groups, SMOH, SPHCMB, State Hospital Management Board, and LGA authority.

Key Areas of Accountability
Program Development:

• Establish and build capacity of the field-based health and nutrition staff in prioritized health and nutrition interventions within SC programs. 
• Work with the project Manager in strategic planning for future health and nutrition programs 
• Work with the project Manager, New Business Development, and Program Operations team to draft concepts and proposals for future funding following protocols and formats of each relevant donor 
• Work with the project Manager to ensure that field-based health and nutrition teams integrate different health-related sectors (mental health, WASH, and GBV) into the proposed program
• Program support 
• Manage and coordinate all activities under the health and nutrition component across the implementation areas such as Maternal and Newborn health services, IMAM, MIYCN and MAMI services  
• Lead the development of project implementation tools e.g DIP, project workplans, procurement plans  
• Facilitate the implementation of monthly work plans for health programs in liaison with field-based health staff 
• Support in organizing and coordinating technical review meetings with field-based staff on a quarterly basis 
• Participate in relevant monthly technical working group meetings scheduled by MOH. 
• Ensures quality clinical consultations, treatment, referral, and follow-up activities follow the National and WHO protocols 
• Work closely with the health and nutrition MoH team in the field to improve routine disease surveillance monitoring in the catchment areas by building their capacities. 
• Monitor and promote the integration of health and nutrition activities for maximum impact 
• Facilitate collaboration and integration between Health, Nutrition, WASH, and FSL in project development and implementation 
• Support health and nutrition related operational research as required 
• In collaboration with field-based health and MEAL teams contribute to documentation and dissemination of lessons learned and best practices 
• Work in collaboration with Health and Nutrition officer as well as MoH staff in the development of case studies and success stories on a monthly basis 
• Work closely with Health and Nutrition officer and ensure quality benchmarks are utilized in service delivery 
• Contribute to the achievement of CO health and nutrition-related KPI.

Advocacy and coordination:

• Representation of SCI in relevant platforms as delegated by the Health and Nutrition Manager (Child Health Technical Working Group, Disease Surveillance platforms, Disease Outbreaks, Emergency responders, and others) 
• Represent the organization to the UN, health cluster, international and national NGOs, and Ministry of Health at health and nutrition coordination meetings as well as other meetings that are relevant to country programs and enhance the organizations' visibility 
• Participate in SC regional and global technical meetings focusing on child survival, maternal newborn health, adolescent health, IMAM, MAMI, MYCN, clinical governance, and all relevant Community of Practice meetings. 
• Ensure appropriate and consistent health and nutrition-related education and advocacy messaging to key actors including donors, Cluster, SCI staff, partners, mothers, and other carers at all programming contact points.

Training and capacity building:

• Provide technical guidance on child health (IMCI, IMAM, MIYCN), disease outbreaks response and IPC, etc. to MOH facility staff and SCI field office clinical staff. 
• Participate in training to improve medical performance for SCI staff and/or partners 
• Build capacity among SCI and MOH staff to accurately compile monthly activity reports and, together with pharmacy specialist, assist with stock consumption/distribution plans. 
• Provide technical guidance to field-based health staff on clinical governance tools for clinical service delivery 
• Work with and liaise with field-based health and nutrition teams in conducting monthly and quarterly assessments in the facilities utilizing the approved checklists 
• Facilitate supportive supervision of field-based health teams in collaboration with relevant government stakeholders 
• Facilitate and lead in the quarterly assessments of clinical services using the approved clinical quality scorecard.

Quality Assurance, Performance management, and capacity building:

• Work with the MEAL team to develop and operationalize quality benchmarks including beneficiary feedback mechanisms and accountability to the communities, being mindful of cultural norms and practices 
• Work with the health and nutrition officer to ensure that there is a Quality Assurance Scorecard system in place to monitor and course correct practices, as needed. · 
• Create and maintain a positive working relationship with the health and nutrition team as well as MoH staff 
• Assist in the selection and training of qualified health and nutrition staff. 
• Ensure professional development for national health and nutrition staff through assessment of training needs and capacity-building activities. 
• Overseeing training of all MOH healthcare and nutrition staff, including Doctors, nurses, CHEWs, and other technical staff to ensure that the provided training is of acceptable quality and addresses the identified needs and ensure the sustainability of programs.

Health Information Management:

• Work with field-based HMIS officers in timely reporting of data into the national health management system DHIS2 on a monthly basis. 
• Work with the MEAL team to develop performance trends for key service delivery performance indicators 
• Facilitate nutrition data validation and review meetings with the teams in reviewing periodic progress against prioritized key performance indicators in child health, maternal newborn health, nutrition outcome, and disease surveillance.

Qualifications

• Medical doctor (MBBS) or public health specialist (with clinical background).

Experience and Skills:

• At least 5 years’ experience in primary health care and general practice.
• Extensive knowledge of emergency nutrition and health interventions.
• Previous supervisory experience and experience managing budget
• Work experience in humanitarian emergencies
• Work experience with International Non–Governmental Organization ((INGO)
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work as part of a team and demonstrate flexibility, motivation, and maturity
• Ability to work within a tight timeframe and willingness to travel extensively in the field.
• Good knowledge of quality standards and quality controls related to medical practice.
• Experience in nutrition project data management and IMAM programming 
• Having an operational experience will be a plus advantage.
• Demonstrable experience in M&E.
• Good presentation and facilitation skills
• Proven conceptual skills and an ability to think and plan strategically
• Good communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to train and mentor staff
• Proven ability to manage a complex and demanding workload
• Excellent spoken and written English and local language (Northeast of Nigeria)
• Good computer skills (particularly Excel, Word, and databases).

Application Closing Date
1st October, 2025; 01:59 PM.