Nutrition Coordinator : Wajir South

Team/Programme: Area Office Health & Nutrition    

Location:  Wajir South
Grade:  TBC  (Competitive Package)    

Post Type: National
Child Safeguarding:
Level 3 - the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people

Role Purpose: 

Under the supervision of the Health and Nutrition Manager, the incumbent will coordinate the overall implementation of the nutrition capacity building project in Wajir South ensuring all components of the programme are functioning properly, providing quality care to all the patients/beneficiaries through respecting protocols and principles of good practice.

Scope Of Role:

Reports to: Health and Nutrition Programme Manager

Dimensions:  

Save the Children has been operational in Kenya since 1984, providing support to children through developmental and humanitarian relief programmes delivered both directly and through local partners. 

Current programming focuses on Child Protection, Child rights governance, Education, Health, HIV/AIDS, Livelihoods, Nutrition and WASH. 

Save the Children has an operational presence in Dadaab Refugee Camp, Eldoret, Habaswein, Mandera, Meru and Wajir. 

Currently we have a staff complement of approximately 370 and expenditure of approximately US$ 30 million in 2012.

Staff directly reporting to this post: Nutrition Officer, Community Mobilizer

Key Areas Of Accountability:

1.    To ensure the nutrition program is implemented according to the approved donor agreements.

• Overall responsible for the day-to-day coordination of project activities and staff (Nutrition Officer and Mobilizers) management.
• Spearhead the capacity building activities; In liaison with health and nutrition program manager identify MoH personnel, partner NNGOs or INGOs for collaboration of nutrition activities and/or technical training for management of acute malnutrition according to the national protocol.
• Organize and carry out nutrition trainings for MOH staff, community health workers and volunteer groups on management of acute malnutrition both moderate and severe.
• Follow up and provide ongoing technical support (on job training) to the activities of the trained MOH team at the health facility. The volunteers to be trained are health facility management and village health committees (FHM/VHC)
• To participate the evaluation of these activities, and to propose recommendations to develop future capacity building strategies for SC.
• Coordinate closely with the District Health Management Team for the start and quality implementation of IMAM in the district through the existing health facilities and the nomadic clinic.
• Provide technical guidance to support MoH and SC staff in implementation of OTP/SFP at the health facilities.
• Ensure all staff understand and implement programme protocols in line with the donor approved agreement
• Ensure the trained health workers are carrying out appropriate and consistent health and nutrition education messaging to mothers and other carers at health facilities where OTP/SFP are implemented.
• Coordinate quality quarterly and one national supervision jointly with the MOH district health team and collaborating partners (UN WFP, UNOP and COCOP)
• Ensure the district nutritionist provides satisfactory monthly stock consumption reports, supplies request and the distribution plan for the following. 
• Conduct evaluation and appraisal of staff
• Provide the district’s systematic treatment/ essential drugs and the immunization reports on monthly basis.
• Initiate and participate in health and nutrition monthly coordination meetings in the district and link where necessary other stakeholders (UN WFP, UNOP and ALRMP)
• Liaise with other implementing partners and local authorities to maximize collaboration and ensure proper coordination of activities
• Regularly undertake liaison and advocacy with Government partners and officials in your district on project activities and related nutrition issues.  Facilitate visits to field sites for donor representatives and other external visitors as required.  Be able to clearly explain project activities and objectives, related policy issues and the project’s contribution to wider SC goals and objectives
• Lead and motivate the Nutrition team (Nutrition Officer and Mobilizers) to ensure effective project implementation and conduct monthly team meetings.

2.    Monitoring and Evaluation

• Participate in the development of detail implementation plan for the project that provides the overall framework for activities implementation.
• Participate in the design, development and implementation of an M&E framework for all component of the project.
• Write reports to document the process of implementation, lessons learnt and good practice and ensure information is widely disseminated
• Collation and analysis of other existing surveillance data
• Participate in the design and execution of nutrition surveys according to national guidelines
• Prepare monthly activity progress reports as well as quarterly donor reports.
• Participate in nutritional assessment planning, implementation, analysis, interpretation and reporting as required.

Skills And Behaviours (our Values in Practice)
Accountability:

• Holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency

Qualifications And Experience

Person Specification

Essential

• University Degree in Health/Public Health/Nutrition/Agriculture or equivalent
• At least three (3) years experience of emergency nutrition work and the design and implementation of feeding programmes (ideally CTC), including monitoring and evaluation
• Experience in conducting nutrition assessments and an understanding of nutritional surveillance and information systems
• Proven capacity to supervise, train and coach staff
• Willingness and capacity to be flexible and accommodating when faced with difficult and frustrating working conditions
• Prepared to live and work in an uncertain security environment
• Ability and willingness to frequently travel and stay at the field
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles
• Experience and ability to represent SC nutrition work in external meetings
• Demonstrable ability at report writing and excellent communication skills
• Computer literate
• Fluency in written and spoken English, Kiswahili and local languages

Desirable

• Qualified Nutritionist with primary health care/community health care experience

Working Contacts  

External 
The Nutrition Coordinator will work closely with representatives from UN-WFP, UNOP, COCOP and CARE

Internal
On a day to day basis, the Nutrition Coordinator will work closely with the Programme Manager, project team and field support team (Finance, logistician and HR/Admin) and volunteers 

The application period is now open and will close at midday Wednesday 15th November 2012. 

To apply for an open position, please send a short cover letter and CV to Kenya.jobapplications@savethechildren.org  indicating the position applied for in the subject line.