Officer, Nutrition (Katsina)

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Officer, Nutrition

Location: Katsina
Category: Nutrition

Job Summary

• The Nutrition Officer will ensure that the International Medical Corps program is delivering the highest level of quality of nutrition services in line with national and international guidelines.
• This position also contributes to the development of strategies, manages existing programs and resources, and provides day to day supervision, management and coaching of Nutrition team in the operational area.
• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function with or without reasonable accommodation:
• The Officer, Nutrition is responsible for implementing all Nutrition programs, participating in defining intervention priorities, developing necessary contacts and relationships with government, non-government, donors, and UN agencies at the field level.

Principal Duties and Responsibilties

• Compile information to ensure that the Nutrition situation around implementation of the program is achieving the expected result, when required.
• Liaise with M&E Team to ensure timely submission of contributions, support the M&E team in analysis of beneficiary data collection through the various tools.
• Provide direct hands-on technical support Nutrition health workers and IMC partners to manage Nutrition projects effectively and innovatively with focus on key technical areas.
• Ensure effective Implementation of sensitization activities whilst collaborating with key stakeholders.
• Develop and monitor weekly and monthly planning of nutritional activities.
• Actively participate in surveys done at the Community level (KAP, SMART, Causal Analysis, Barriers, Coverage, etc.)
• Perform other duties as assigned. The duties and responsibilities listed in this document are representative of the nature and level of work assigned and not necessarily all inclusive.
• Build the capacity of Technical, Community Health and Nutrition Volunteers (CHNVs), mother support group leaders (MSGLs) and committees to deliver quality service and undertake participatory monitoring of the implementation of the project works and record lessons learned and reports.
• As required, actively represent International Medical Corps in Nutrition sector discussions and activities.
• Provide technical support and training where required to all team members and partners.
• Work closely with the Nutrition health workers for proper and timely referral for SAM cases with medical complications in established stabilization Centers available in the area.
• Support to track the progress of activities, challenges encountered, lessons learned, and good practices and Compile collected data, pictures, and other information from the field.
• Ensure development of core skills and competencies in Nutrition among IMC staff in the project offices.
• Support the project team in developing high quality project/programme reports.
• Participate in country Nutrition sector-specific assessments and make recommendations as required.
• Assist in development of, or provide technical review for, emergency response proposals.
• On job capacity building of the Nutrition health workers in management of acute malnutrition both SAM and MAM at health facility and community levels.
• Be familiar with national policies, strategies and other initiatives and developments by government and other stakeholders in Nutrition.
• Train the Community Health Workers/volunteers in MUAC screening, CMAM and how to use the IYCF and Hygiene promotion IEC material, to enable them to effectively deliver key messages, in a manner that it is easy for the communities to remember and adopt the practices.
• Provide support on a regular basis in the running of the Nutrition (CMAM, IYCF) programs at both health facility and community levels.
• Support and mentor the Nutrition health facility workers in implementing OTP, TSFP services, in addition to providing technical support to the midwife’s/health facility workers to have IYCF counselling services provided to mothers/caregivers, with challenges/difficulties in practicing optimal IYCF.
• Support in the establishment of Baby and mother friendly space and ensure it is functional at Health facility level.
• Determine the cause of malnutrition in the emergency response and formulate appropriate responses that will address the cause.
• As required ensure emergency nutrition and related projects are technically sound, environmentally friendly, socially, and culturally acceptable.
• Support in establishment of Mother support groups or mother care groups in the project area, ensure that monthly the groups are supported to carry out IYCF and Hygiene sessions.
• Work closely with Nutrition health workers, and community structures to follow up on implementation of Nutrition activities and support.
• Keep monitoring tools and files archived at the IMC office, ensuring their availability to his/her supervisor.
• Provide feedback to the programme team based on the field monitoring visits.
• Ensure that CMAM, IYCF Nutrition protocolsguidelines are respected AND strictly adhered to, such as admission, discharge criteria, referral system and follow up of defaulter cases.

Job Requirements

• Typically, University degree in Public Health, Nursing, Nutrition or equivalent
• Good Knowledge of nutrition activities particularly in management of acute malnutrition, growth
• Ability to integrate into the local environment including awareness of political, religious, and economic aspects of the community.
• Proven ability and experience in planning and conducting formal training sessions on Nutrition including CMAM and IYCF.
• Advanced training in facility-based management of severe malnutrition, nutrition surveillance and communications is desirable.
• Commitment to and understanding of IMC's aims, values, and principles.
• Ability to interact with health and nutrition professionals at various levels.
• Extremely flexible and can cope with stressful situations.
• Understanding of nutritional surveillance and information systems,
• Excellent inter and intrapersonal skills to ensure consistent positive relations with key stakeholders.
• A willingness and capacity to be flexible and accommodating when faced with difficult and frustrating working conditions.
• Significant experience on community management of acute malnutrition and Infant feeding in Emergency in host communities/ IDP camp setting.
• Good knowledge of the processes and approaches concerning nutrition issues; knowledge of the operations of the national governments in nutrition and health.
• Ability to deal with relations with local authorities as a Nutrition representative of IMC in the working areas.
• Demonstrated proficiency in computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, email, and utilization of the internet.
• Minimum 3 years' experience in Nutrition work and implementation of Nutrition programs, including community mobilization, monitoring and evaluation aspects.
• Strong report writing and computer skills.
• A team player and culturally sensitive.
• Proven capacity to supervise, train and coach local staff and community workers.
• Excellent communication skills and a willingness to be respectful, kind, sensitive and empathize with children and their care givers.
• Fluent in written and spoken English and Hausa.
• Strong communication skills: oral, written and presentation skills.
• Strong leadership, team building, conflict resolution and ability to deliver IMC's strategic objectives.