Health and Nutrition Program Director & MEAL Technical Advisor At World Hope International

Position: Health and Nutrition Program Director & MEAL Technical Advisor

Location: Sierra Leone or Liberia

Direct Report: West Africa Regional Director

Background:

World Hope International (WHI) is a global Christian relief and development organization operating in five countries, including an affiliate fundraising entity in Canada. WHI’s expertise is in global health, water and energy, and social protection. WHI serves approximately 1 million people annually regardless of ethnicity, gender, race, and religion.

For over 25 years, WHI has pursued a vision of a just, safe, and equitable world. Our history demonstrates that effective and practical solutions exist to complex problems. Transformative change happens when marginalized communities experience opportunity, hope, and dignity supported by innovative community, church, government, and private sector partnerships.

Job Purpose:

WHI seeks an experienced Health and Nutrition professional to expand WHI’s health strategy in collaboration with national governments, donor agencies, and public stakeholders. As program lead for Health and Nutrition, the position supervises the health team, manages the grant portfolio, leads new business development opportunities, enables effective data management, and ensures staff and activities comply with global WHI policies and processes. This position will be based in the WHI Sierra Leone or Liberia office.

The role will also be the West Africa Region’s MEAL Technical Advisor. This includes a coherent Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning framework, maintaining an innovative program team, and active engagement with research publications, universities, and professional associations.

Essential Functions:

1. Partnership building: Lead external public and private partnerships that ensure WHI’s leading role in transforming Sierra Leone and Liberia’s health system.

• Ensure program design is aligned with MoU priorities and program data is used to influence MoH planning and policies.
• Strengthen WHI’s professional presence in technical conferences, research publications, consortium and relevant donor communities.
• Build consortium-based program (and funding) models prioritizing maternal and child health, cervical cancer mitigation, and health systems strengthening for the most vulnerable populations.

2. Team Leadership: Lead a professional and committed health and nutrition team driving growth and evidence-based impact.

• Develop a health and nutrition team aligned with WHI values, working within organizational policies, engaged in their professional development, and
• Facilitate health outcomes across all WHI program sectors – WASH, Social Protections, Education and collaborate with WHI resourcing departments.
• Organize the H&N team to meet donor compliance, data management and the regular publication of health research.

3. Program Resourcing: Lead resource mobilization for the expansion of H&N programs in the West Africa region. An important focus is the expansion of health projects in Liberia.

• Lead the design and review of technically sound health and nutrition concepts/proposals in collaboration with Business Development.
• Ensure marketing, communications, and partnership-building activities are effectively supported toward resourcing outcomes.
• Coordinate GIK medications with the GIK director, ensuring supplies are used consistently with GIK policies and good programming practices.
• Position WHI proactively with donor strategies and consortium partners.

4. MEAL Leadership: Advise in the development of Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) systems for the WA Region. Ensure the H & N program sets an example of high-quality MEAL in its program delivery.

• Lead in MEAL development through capacity building of staff and robust MEAL frameworks for each program area.
• Document a health strategy with data collection tools and impact reporting.
• To ensure the regular publication of academic research and engage in national policy formation.

6. Safeguarding and Risk Management: Enable effective risk management in programs implementation and ensure Safeguarding is integrated into the culture and practice of programs and partners.

• Maintain and active risk register for the Health & Nutrition programs.
• Build awareness, capacity and accountability for Safeguarding with staff and partners.
• Maintain a clear understanding of best practices, regulatory requirements, donor commitments in the delivery of health outcomes and health research.

Minimum Education / Experience:

• Master’s degree or relevant post graduate education.
• Ten years of relevant humanitarian and development INGO experience required.
• Knowledge of MEAL concepts and international humanitarian quality standards.
• Innovative competencies in learning and deploying new technologies.
• Evidence of technical writing skills with academic publications and proposals.
• Experience with program budget and financial management skills.
• Five years’ program experience in West Africa is preferred.
• Strong communications skills, oral, and written. Must be able to work quickly in creating concise documents.
• Experience in leading cross-functional and cross-cultural teams in a complex working environment is highly preferred, highlighting an ability to manage diverse teams with different delivery mandates across various grants.
• Proficient computer skills – especially the Microsoft Suite of applications (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, SharePoint).
• Experience in research and technical publications preferred.
• Commitment to the values and mission of WHI.

Working Environment / Conditions:

Standard office environment. Hybrid schedule possible at WHI office locations in Sierra Leone or Liberia. Domestic and international travel required (8-10 weeks per year). Benefits include paid holidays, sick leave, paid vacation, parental leave, and medical benefits.