ERT – Nutrition Project Manager At Medair

Role & Responsibilities

Provide leadership to the Emergency Response Nutrition project and the team to ensure the activities meet proposal objectives within appropriate timeliness and budgets and that the services meet national and international quality standards. The ERT Nutrition Project Manager coordinates to identify locations with nutrition needs, develops, leads, monitors and evaluates the Emergency Response nutrition assessments and interventions. This involves leadership and strategic decision to effectively manage information and report on the projects in line with the objectives, time frame and budget with a focus on nutrition system strengthening, capacity building and coordination.

Project Overview

The Emergency Response Team (ERT) operates multi-sector relief programme including Nutrition, Health, WASH, NFI and Emergency Shelter response across any of the states of South Sudan, with an overall objective to reduce morbidity and mortality of vulnerable populations in South Sudan.

Workplace & Working Conditions

Based in Juba, with frequent travel, often for extended periods, to work in any of the states within the Republic of South Sudan. Working and living conditions may be very basic and require great resilience.

Starting Date & Initial Contract Details

August 2021. Full time, 24 months.

Key Activity Areas

Technical

• Provide strong leadership of the emergency nutrition project(s), working to ensure short, mid and long-term positive impacts for the beneficiaries, local nutrition authorities & local nutrition staff.
• Contribute to development and implementation of an effective nutrition strategy including quick deployment, integrated CMAM, Infant and Young Child Feeding in emergency, proactive, responsible exit planning in consultation with country nutrition advisor, ERT PC and other nutrition staff.
• Set clear objectives and indicators for nutrition assessments and interventions in collaboration with the country nutrition advisor, nutrition staff, PC and other sectors when multisectoral responses.
• Continuously monitor and supervise emergency nutrition activities, evaluating progress through outputs and impacts using both quantitative and qualitative data, and involving the nutrition team in analysis.
• Provide input into the integration of beneficiary participation and accountability in the project.
• Decide on new activities and new project sites and provide input regarding future project growth and changes needed, linked to the assessed needs and gaps and the Medair country strategy.

Communication and Coordination

• Coordinate externally and internally to identify locations with expected multisectoral/nutrition needs and initiate assessments/interventions in a timely manner. Develop a good communication structures with the emergency nutrition team, the nutrition advisor as well as the other ERT sectors.
• Develop and maintain good relationships with the Nutrition Cluster coordination team, NGOs, UN agencies and other nutrition actors with the objective of ensuring good cooperation and partnerships.
• Coordinate early in the response with partners on ground to agree on modalities of intervention and signature of Memorandum of Understanding. Represent Medair and feed back to relevant staff (ERT teams, Advisors).
• Participate in nutrition coordination meetings, Medair internal trainings and other working groups or meetings.

Staff Management

• Oversee and ensure quality recruitment, training and line management of field nutrition staff.
• Facilitate regular meetings to assist information sharing between project staff, to ensure all staff members are aware of project objectives and current work plans and to provide the opportunity for feedback. Provide coaching and technical supervision to staff in order to develop ownership and full responsibility for nutrition activities.
• Assess the training needs of nutrition staff and ensure that appropriate training is conducted.

Financial Management

• Manage the Emergency Nutrition team budget and ensure all expenses are according to budget and meet the Medair standards with regard to financial management.
• Track expenses against project budgets, working with the Project Coordinator and Finance Manager to address issues of spending. Draft the annual budget for nutrition emergency response projects.

Logistics

• Ensure nutrition supplies and equipment is ordered on time to ensure buffer stock is readily available in Juba warehouse. Work in close collaboration with ERT logistics for staff movement and to ensure items are procured, transported, stored, managed and accounted for correctly.
• Submit timely requests to nutrition partners (UNICEF, WFP) to release core pipeline nutrition supplies and monitor supply utilisation. Work in collaboration with ERT logistics to ensure adherence to field warehousing procedure and completion of Medair gift certificate to handover partners.

Security Management

• Responsible for ensuring field team compliance with security procedures; ensure teams are equipped with appropriate communications equipment, quick run bags, security money and security equipment.
• When teams are on the ground, working with the ERT PC to monitor the security situation, gathering information from various sources and feeding back important information to Medair management.

Quality Management

• Ensure emergency nutrition projects are implemented in line with donor proposals and requirements and in accordance with Medair, donor, country and international standards i.e. Sphere and HAP standards. Be Actively involved in nutrition technical working group (CMAM, IYCF).
• Ensure rapid nutrition assessments and interventions are in line with relevant national and international guidelines (MUAC sampling, CMAM, IYCF).

Team Spiritual Life

• Reflect the values of Medair with team members, local staff, beneficiaries, and external contacts.
• Work, live, and pray together in our Christian faith-based team settings. Fully contribute to the rich spiritual life of your team, including team devotions, prayers, and words of encouragement.
• Encouraged to join and contribute to Medair’s international prayer network.

This job description covers the main tasks that are anticipated. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary.

Qualifications

• Higher level qualification, preferably in nutrition or in another relevant field as nursing or public health.
• Strong working knowledge of English (spoken and written).

Experience

• 2 years post-qualification professional experience in a relevant field.
• Management experience in a nutrition / health context.
• Ability and willingness to manage project implementation.
• Good numerical, report writing and administration skills. Problem solving ability.
• Good social, communication and coordination skills.
• Knowledge and experience of nutrition / primary health care principles and management.
• Able to prioritise clearly and oversee multiple tasks. Able to take the initiative in project decisions.