Head of Food Assistance and Nutrition Unit , Plan International

Plan has a growing portfolio of food assistance and nutrition programmes.  We are now setting up a Food Assistance and Nutrition Unit (FANU) with the aim of improving the quality of such programmes and establishing Plan’s reputation as a credible agency on food assistance issues in disasters and recovery situations.

FANU is expected to support country programmes improve programme design and implementation by bridging disasters and recovery. It is further expected to organise Plan’s knowledge and capacity to systematically strengthen Plan’s influence and reputation amongst UN agencies, donors, policy makers and governments

FANU will have a global remit and report to the Director for Disaster Risk Management, based at International Headquarters in Woking, UK. However this role could also be potentially be located in any country where Plan has an office and in that case, it will have some accountability to the Country / National Director where it is located

The post holder is responsible for managing the unit and provides strong leadership for operationalising FANU. Setting up the Unit and establishing a strong reputation within Plan and externally. The post holder will be responsible for managing the existing budget and for seeking additional funds for the unit either through cost recovery or by soliciting contributions and grants from Plan’s National Offices

The post holder will require strong management and representational skills. S/he will also require knowledge of the theory, policy and practise in food assistance,  nutrition, cash programming and  livelihood—and in depth knowledge and experience in any one of the issues

The post holder will be expected to use their technical knowledge and experience to sharpen analysis of needs in any emerging crisis and to help with concepts for the outline of programme design so that Plan’s interventions are appropriate to the circumstances. They will support aspects of detailed programme design, particularly the monitoring indicators and processes. Once a programme is being implemented, FANU will continue to advise and support.

Dimensions of Role:

• The Head of FANU will take responsibility for the FANU budget and line manages the FANU Specialist and any other staff or interns who may join the unit.
• Reporting to the DRM team regularly on the development of FANU portfolio of Food Assistance and Nutrition projects and opportunities for expansion
• Represents Plan at global WFP, FAO, African Union and represents (or manages Plan’s representation) in Global Food Security and Nutrition Clusters, sharing responsibilities with the other technical specialists.
• Regular travel including secondment at short notice to support Food Assistance related disaster risk management work where required by Plan’s DRM team.

Main Responsibilities

Plan’s FANU is operating effectively and within budget

• Develop a plan for developing FANU and share responsibilities for implementation
• Line management of staff, consultants, volunteers and interns managed in line with Plan’s policies and practice and for high performance
• Establishment of an effectively functioning unit within the local context
• Excellent coordination and reporting of the FANU to DRM IH for effective coordination with other parts of the DRM team

Leadership; Strategy and Management

• Provide technical oversight to the development and negotiation of major food assistance and nutrition programmes throughout Plan to recognised international standards
• Provide senior leadership within the FANU & DRM in global technical oversight of food resourced programmes by supervising and providing leadership to CO, developing mechanisms that result to compliance to food aid regulations, developing new programmes in the regions and COs, and developing mechanisms for rapid food response in emergencies.
• Provide leadership to FANU/Plan food specialists in CO’s ensuring systematic assistance to countries with food resourced programmes and countries with potential for food aid programming.
• Provide leadership to the development and implementation of tools designed to improve quality food assistance and nutrition programming.
• Assist CO’s to develop a sound and replicable design, monitoring and evaluation of food aid programmes that contributes to enhanced livelihood security of communities.
• Representing Plan/FANU in internal and external forums as required, including presenting and attending conferences.
• Contribute to Plan’s reputation with key donors and stakeholders, including USAID, CIDA, AusAid, WFP, USDA, DFID and EU etc in coordination with National Office’s
• Provide technical leadership to Plan’s engagement with the World Food Program and FAO. Attend senior level WFP and FAO technical meetings

Technical / Programming

• Provide strategic programming and systems support for development and relief food programmes, including assistance/advise with proposal design writing and budgeting.
• Ensure that proper food handling and accountability systems are in place in every country where there is food programming.
• Provide technical oversight to countries through periodic visits to monitor and review aspects of food programming and systems, as well as to provide appropriate feedback and recommendations.
• Collaborate and coordinate with relief entities in the regions in the design and implementation of the food aspects of relief programmes, including early warning, preparedness mitigation and the actual response.
• Liaise with regional DRM managers to maintain a database of Plan’s food assistance and nutrition programmes worldwide. This should include levels of need by country and donor response.
• Provide assistance with the recruitment of staff that have the required knowledge, skills and abilities to meet Plan’s Food and Nutrition programming standards.
• Ensure food emergency assessments are carried out and integrated food assistance and nutrition projects designed and implemented.
• Establish quality standards for food assistance and nutrition programmes that improve Plan’s impact on children. Food Assistance to cover food aid, livelihoods and cash programming.
• Develop standardised participatory monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for food assistance and nutrition
• Coordinate or support  the provision of high quality programmatic expertise in nutrition and food assistance programmes
• Prepare procedures for engagement on WFP programmes between Country Offices (COs) and National Offices (NOs)
• Support Country Offices to design new food assistance and nutrition projects including rapid assessment of household food insecurity and analysis of food markets and support the development of proposals
• Develop partnerships with other potential food assistance partners and reserve mobilisation strategies with potential food aid nutrition potential donors and partners
• Support CO/RO to access to quality human resource expertise during food aid crisis.
• Capitalise the learning and lesson learnt from programme implementation in implementing countries  and dissemination

Global Food Security advocacy initiatives are based on evidence of Plan’s food assistance experience

• Coordinate and disseminate evidence-based research, learning and documentation on the impact on various forms of food assistance on children.
• Develop a strategy with key messages for the coming five years to ensure change in policy and practice for increased impact on children
• Prepare food assistance/nutrition, children position papers and policy briefs
• Lead Plan’s representation at WFP, FAO, African Union, Civil Society initiatives and Food Security and Nutrition clusters for influencing policy and for networking.

Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives:

Knowledge

• Masters degree or equivalent in Development; Social Sciences, Food, Nutrition or a related field.
• Direct experience with and thorough working knowledge of food aid legislation and regulations of major donors including but not restricted to the United States, UK, Canada, ECHO, the EU and Australia.
• Formal training in Food aid, Logistics, Food Programming and related systems preferred.
• Extensive experience in a high level management position
• A proven ability in donor relations and networking required
• Experience in working in both relief and development preferred.
• Proven experience in representing organisations at WFP, FAO, African Union, Civil Society initiatives and Food Security and/or Nutrition clusters etc.
• Proven experience of setting up a department or team from scratch would be desirable.
• Resource acquisition experience preferred.
• Knowledge of international humanitarian standards and codes of conduct

Skills

• Proven effective management skills leading teams across several locations and operating in a cross cultural structure
• Excellent proven food security and/or nutrition analytical skills
• Excellent written and spoken English with French an advantage
• Excellent representational and coordination skills
• Excellent project design, participatory monitoring and evaluation skills
• Ability to work in emergency settings

Behaviours

• Striving for high performance
• Strategic thinking and innovation
• Influence and communication
• Building effective teams and partnerships
• Developing people
• Self awareness and resilience

Languages

Excellent written and spoken English required. French would be advantageous.

Location and Travel

The post holder will ideally be based in Plan International Headquarters (UK) or a strategic location such as Rome. However we will consider applications from other locations. It requires extensive travel to Country,  Regional and other offices in Plan, for coordination, representation and to provide support for programme design and implementation. Such travel may account for up to 40% or above of working time. You may be required to visit remote locations where emergency and recovery programmes are implemented which has basic facilities or be physically and emotionally challenging.

Type of Role: Three year fixed term contract

Reports to: Director of Disaster Risk Management

Salary: Competitive Salary and benefits

Closing Date: Friday 12th July 2013