Manager, Program - Nutrition at Evidence Action

Evidence Action's mission is to fill the gap between what is effective in global health and development and what is implemented at scale. One of our flagship programs is the Deworm the World Initiative, which envisions a world where all at-risk children have improved health, increased access to education and better livelihoods potential as a result of being free of intestinal worms.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Manager, Program - Nutrition

Location: Abuja (with travel as required)
Employment type: Temporary
Department: Programs
Role Type: Temporary Hire
Duration: 20 months
Direct reports: 9 State Program Coordinators in nine states

Job Purpose

• In Nigeria, Evidence Action has a strong track record of delivering high-quality TA for health programs. Evidence Action has supported Nigeria's national school-based deworming program since 2016, currently reaching 6 million children annually across five states.
• In partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Evidence Action has also conducted pilots of multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS) and intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in school-age children (IPTsc).
• Small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) are a WHO-recommended intervention to prevent malnutrition.
• Evidence shows that SQ-LNS prevents stunting and wasting and can reduce child mortality by 24%. Evidence Action is supporting the Nigerian government's rollout of SQ-LNS to children 6-18 months of age living in areas with elevated mortality and malnutrition.
• Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) MMS during pregnancy improves maternal and child health outcomes by addressing multiple micronutrient deficiencies.
• Compared to iron and folic acid supplementation (IFA), MMS reduces stillbirths by 9%, small for gestational age by 8%, and low birth weight by 12%. Evidence Action is supporting the Nigerian government's scale-up of MMS for pregnant women in FCT, Oyo, and Jigawa states, building on successful piloting of the program in FCT and Oyo State.
• The successful candidate will provide technical assistance (TA) for the roll out of SQ-LNS at the central level and in nine high-burden states: Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Plateau, and Sokoto.
• The successful candidate will also provide technical assistance to three states (FCT, Oyo and Jigawa) for the scale-up of MMS. Our TA will include program planning and management, supply chain support, training and community sensitization, and monitoring, learning, and evaluation (MLE).

Role Summary

• We are seeking a Manager, Program, Nutrition to lead Evidence Action's technical assistance for the national SQ-LNS and MMS programs.
• The Manager, Program, will provide strategic oversight and coordination across multiple states and the FCT, working closely with federal government stakeholders, development partners, and a team of nine State Coordinators.

Duties and Responsibilities
The Manager, Program will be responsible for the following activities:

National Coordination and Strategic Planning:

• Lead national-level coordination of the MMS and SQ-LNS technical assistance program
• Develop and oversee implementation of national-level rollout workplans in collaboration with federal government stakeholders
• Develop program-wide policies, protocols, and standard operating procedures for MMS and SQ-LNS delivery

Stakeholder Engagement and Advocacy

• Maintain relationships with key stakeholders at federal ministries, development agencies, and implementing partners
• Represent Evidence Action in national-level coordination meetings, technical working groups, and multi-stakeholder forums
• Advocate for SQ-LNS and MMS procurement and financing through government mechanisms

Technical Assistance and Capacity Building:

• Provide technical guidance to State Coordinators on program implementation across all priority states
• Support adaptation of training materials, development of training cascades, and implementation of community sensitization campaigns
• Review and provide technical feedback on state-level operational plans and support states in addressing implementation challenges

Supply Chain and MLE Oversight

• Coordinate national-level quantification, forecasting, and procurement planning for SQ-LNS and MMS
• Oversee the design and implementation of annual facility and household coverage surveys and quarterly facility performance monitoring
• Synthesize learnings from routine monitoring data and surveys to make program improvement recommendations

Requirements
Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Public Health, Nutrition, Health Policy, Health Systems, Development Studies, or a related field required
• A medical degree or other clinical qualification is an added advantage

Experience:

• Minimum of ten years of experience in nutrition, public health, or child health programming, preferably with government or NGOs in Nigeria
• Excellent organizational and project management skills, including work plan development, budget management, and reporting and accountability requirements
• Demonstrated experience managing large-scale health or nutrition programs and providing technical assistance to government at federal and/or state level
• Strong stakeholder management and coordination skills with government officials at multiple levels, especially in health and related agencies
• Excellent communication (written and verbal), documentation, and reporting skills in English with experience producing high-quality technical reports and presentations
• Proven ability to manage multi-disciplinary teams across locations and provide technical mentorship
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and data analysis tools
• Experience with monitoring and evaluation systems and data-driven program management with the ability to synthesize complex data and translate findings into clear recommendations for program improvement
• Experience overseeing supply chain systems, including forecasting, quantification, procurement planning, and distribution oversight
• Highly motivated to achieve exceptional quality and results, and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously

Benefits
Benefits may differ based on country-specific regulations

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note: Evidence Action is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a commitment to diversity. All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply.