Head of Department- Health and Nutrition At Action Against Hunger USA

Position:

Head of Department: Nutrition and Health

Regional Nutrition and Health Specialist.

Contract Duration : 12 Months

Location: Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Action Against Hunger-USA is part of the Action Against Hunger International network, which provides humanitarian relief in over 42 countries worldwide in the sectors of nutrition, health, water/sanitation, and food security. Action Against Hunger-USA, an independent NGO, currently manages operations in seven countries: Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Haiti and Somalia. Action Against Hunger-USA has approximately 1,500 staff based in the various country offices, Head Quarter in US and Operational Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. Additional growth is anticipated.

  1. SUMMARY OF POSITION:

The Head of Department (HOD) Nutrition and Health is a strategic role at the country office. Under direct supervision of the Program Director (Country) and with technical oversight of the Regional Nutrition and Health Specialist (Regional level); the HOD Nutrition and Health will oversee the Health and Nutrition department and provide technical guidance to both static and emergency programs at the country level. This role provides overall technical and operational guidance and is accountable of Nutrition and Health portfolio. This includes strategic engagements with internal and external stakeholders, positioning, management of human resources, knowledge management, quality assurance of implementation, resource mobilization.

PURPOSE: Successfully develop and execute the nutrition and health strategy, leading the technical team in driving the agenda at country level, in alignment with Action Against Hunger technical framework, guidelines and policies.

ENGAGEMENT: Internal and external engagements with key stakeholders. Internally engagement with key nutrition, health teams as well as building synergies with other sectors to promote a multisector approach to address underlying causes of undernutrition within country office, regional, US offices. Externally position and engage with key sector coordination forum, working groups, government representatives, peer organizations, research institutions and donors.

DELIVERY: Provide technical and operational oversight to the nutrition and health portfolio ensuring projects and programs delivered are of high quality.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

  1. Program and Project management.
  • Collaborate in definition of nutrition and health strategy for Action Against Hunger and translation nationally.
  • Integration and coherence of Action Against Hunger nutrition interventions: in accordance with the Action Against Hunger strategy and relevant national strategies.
  • Ensure the cohesion of the nutrition and health teams while promoting multisector approach to address underlying causes of undernutrition within country office in line with the strategic plan,
  • Provide nutrition/health operational support in application of project cycle management: ensuring relevance, impact, sustainability, and quality of the interventions.
  • Follow up nutrition and health program implementation (spend, log frame, logistics, recruitment, reporting) with the team, to ensure actualization of program goal/ objectives on time, scope, budget.
  • Lead the Nutrition and Health component in overall program design, narrative and financial project conceptualization, in collaboration with other team members as identified.
  • Provide nutrition and health operational support to ensure application of project cycle management from conception to evaluation.
  • Integrated evidence-based maternal, newborn, and child health and nutrition programs aligned with donors’ plans, the Ministry of Health Haiti strategy, and Action Against Hunger Strategic priorities.
  • Lead efforts to strengthen the health system in Haiti, with a focus on Preventing malnutrition and treatment of Wasting, promoting Universal Health Coverage (UHC), Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD), Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) within the Primary Healthcare (PHC) using capacitated Community Health Workers (CHWs).
  • Prioritize community engagement for behavior and social change on Maternal Infant Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) and work closely with local partners and communities to identify and address health and nutrition barriers for advancing efforts through human centered approach.
  1. Technical Support, Staff Management and Development
  • Promotes accountability and transparency by regularly sharing program results and engaging with stakeholders to ensure that their feedback is incorporated into program design and implementation.
  • Strives to deliver high-quality programs to meet international and national standards based on evidence and best practices thorough analysis of gaps and needs.
  • Develop/revise human resources structure and plan for nutrition and health unit in collaboration with program managers and according to evolving program needs.
  • Manage a team of health and nutrition staff, provide technical guidance, coaching and mentoring, conduct performance reviews, and lead career development plan in collaboration with human resources to promote performance-based promotion within the organization.
  • Programs are effectively monitored, evaluated and learning documented through joint planning with Ministry of Health (MOH) and other partners.
  • Demand Planning and Quality Control on the last Mile Delivery through monitoring the supply chain for the timely and accurate delivery of medicines and supplies to patients and healthcare providers. This involves managing delivery schedules, routes, and tracking shipments to ensure they arrive at the right place and on time in close coordination with logistic team.
  • Identify capacity building initiatives such as training and workshops are crucial in equipping government staff with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively carry out their duties.
  • Together with the country program teams, identify innovation and research opportunities.
  • Integrate innovative solutions into health and nutrition programs through piloting new thematic initiatives.
  • Support in the documentation by producing knowledge products, human interest stories, capitalization and dissemination of program experiences and lessons.
  • Technically lead the recruitment of nutrition and health technical field practitioners by providing a technical assessment of each candidate’s skills & experience (including screening CVs, evaluating technical tests, conducting technical interviews, sharing documentation and notes with HR for the database and placement purposes).
  • Provide assistance to the nutrition team in running the program in the event of staffing gaps.
  1. To ensure data quality and proper/timely reporting of the programs
  • Conducting research and analysis related to nutrition and public health, using data from various sources including surveys, surveillance systems, and administrative records.
  • Developing and maintaining information systems and platforms to collect, manage, analyze, and disseminate monthly data related to nutrition and public health.
  • Providing technical nutrition information assistance and capacity building support to government agencies, NGOs, and other stakeholders working on nutrition and public health issues
  • Contributing to policy development and program planning related to nutrition and public health, based on evidence generated from research and analysis.
  • Provide timely updates/report on attended meetings or training and share with relevant persons as necessary. Continuously inform and updating on nutrition program implementation and any issues on a regular basis
  • Ensure donor reports as per set schedules (monthly, quarterly, and annually) on grant activities, indicators and achievements are produced in quality.
  • Validate donor proposals, reports, Action Against Hunger nutrition analysis reports written by program managers and lend support in the process.
  • Prepare handover report as necessary to replacement.
  • Participation in weekly coordination team meetings and any other general team or strategy meetings.
  1. Representation, Coordination & Liaison
  • lead and coordinate interagency and inter-sectoral mechanisms engagement to lead the emergency nutrition and health response to save life and ensuring that interventions are timely, effective, and integrated with other sectors to grow the Health and Nutrition portfolio.
  • Participation in all relevant meetings related to nutrition and health, including meetings with donors, partners and governmental bodies as defined.
  • Support Action Against Hunger’s advocacy activities related to nutritional issues (follow up on advocacy plans, press releases, coordination with Scaling up Nutrition SUN Network), in coordination with the relevant stakeholders.
  • Promotion and position of Action Against Hunger as a major actor in nutrition and health in country (active participation in relevant Technical Working Group, Coordination meetings and other related forums) and dissemination of external reports.
  • Examine and pursue funding opportunities in line with the Nutrition and Health strategy.
  1. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Deputy Head of Nutrition, Health Specialist and any others as profile evolves.
  1. FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
  • Budget development and oversight of all nutrition and Health projects.
  1. PHYSICAL DEMANDS
  • To travel to the field, the employee must attest to a level of physical fitness capable of enduring physically difficult, highly stressful situations, which may include the necessity to walk long distances, to eat a limited diet and/or to reside in potentially uncomfortable housing or tents.
  • The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
  1. WORKING CONDITIONS, TRAVEL AND ENVIRONMENT
  • The duties of the job require regular job attendance at least five days per week. Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required.
  • Must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business purposes. While performing the duties of this job in the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well as infectious diseases.
  1. GENDER EQUALITY COMMITMENTS & ZERO TOLERANCE TO ABUSE
  • Foster an environment that supports values of women and men, and equal access to information.
  • Provide a work environment where women and men must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance
  • Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, boys and girls regardless of gender, sex orientation, disability, religion, race, color, ancestry, national origin, age or marital status,
  • Value and respect all cultures.
  • Promote and uphold the PSEA policy and procedures.
  1. REQUIRED QUALITIFICATIONS
  • Education: Advanced degree in public health, nutrition, or a related field is required.
  • Experience: At least 7 years of progressive experience in managing health and nutrition programs in developing countries, with a focus on maternal, newborn, and child health and nutrition. Experience working in humanitarian and emergency contexts is highly desirable.
  1. REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE ESSENTIAL
  • Technical skills: Knowledge of and experience in implementing health and nutrition programs in accordance with global best practices, including guidelines, and standards for maternal, newborn, and child health and nutrition. Strong technical knowledge in health system strengthening, CMAM, MIYCN, SMART, SQUEAC, community engagement for behavior change, and.
  • Management skills: Demonstrated experience in managing teams, budget management, and strategic planning. Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders from diverse backgrounds.
  • Cultural sensitivity: Cultural sensitivity and ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment. Familiarity with Haitian culture and context is highly desirable.
  • Language: Proficiency in English and French. Knowledge of local language is highly desirable.
  • Computer skills: Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and other data analysis software SPSS, EPI INFO, ENA for SMART, digital health solutions (DHIS2) etc. Experience using digital health solutions is highly desirable.
  • Commitment to Action Against Hunger values: Demonstrated commitment to the values and mission of Action Against Hunger, including a commitment to gender equality and human rights.

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