Nutrition Technical Specialist Job in Kenya


Nutrition Technical Specialist – Kenya Country Office
 
Team / Programme:Programmes    

Location: 40% based in Nairobi and 60% in area offices
 
Grade:  TBC     

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:
 
 
The Nutrition Technical Specialist will be expected to lead a capacity assessment, to evaluate constraints in programme implementation, to train staff, launch activities as described in proposals, and proposed action plans for each base to ensure good quality programmes and implementation of planned activities. 
 
S/He will work in collaboration with existing nutrition staff and his/her works will be predominantly supportive and mentoring to the existing staff to ensure good practice. 

She/he will also collaborate with Districts health staff and other Save the Children sectors. 

He will work in close collaboration with the Health &Nutrition Programme Managers and the nutrition coordinators in area offices.

Scope of Role:
 

Reports to:
 Nutrition Advisor with dotted line relationship to Health & Nutrition Programme Managers

Dimensions:
  

Save the Children has supported children in Kenya since before its Independence in 1963 and has had a consistent operational presence in the country since 1984. 

We provide 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 and has a liaison post in Garissa. 

Currently, we have a staff complement of approximately 350 staff and a confirmed budget of approximately US$15 million this year.

Staff directly reporting to this post: 
 None

Key Areas of Accountability:

General management of the program activities and strategy:
  • Ensures technical support for the teams for the implementation of capacity building for all the health workers (i.e. conduction of ToTs or ad hoc technical sessions).
  • Monitors and ensures that the technical protocols, manuals, guidelines and forms used in the field are in line with validated national technical tools and national guidelines.
  • Provide technical support to the field teams and technical updates when available and is available for solving any problem arising in the field.
  • Analyzes the program activities and results using internationally validated indicators (Sphere standards) and monitors the programme evolution and together with the nutrition advisor re-orients programs if needed.
  • Ensures a consistent response and approach to the programme needs, thus creating credibility of Save the Children actions.
  • Works closely with the Nutrition Advisor in program strategy and protocols development and development of proposals
  • Ensures frequent visits to the field, with visits to the program activities at community level for each field visit, and provides formal visit feedback via Field Visit Reports. Three weeks every two months should at least be spent in the field. Field visits should not be shorter than a full week. Before every field visit, a TOR must be shared with the Nutrition Advisor, Health and Nutrition Program Managers and Area Managers. Other Coordinators are to be in copy of the communication.
Coordination
  • Participates at the nutrition capacity group working meetings with partners at Nairobi level when necessary.
  • In the absence of the nutrition advisor participates in the monthly NTF coordination meetings at Nairobi level.
  • Ensures that the technical parts of project cooperation agreements and MoU’s with authorities, partners and other organizations are consistent between all the area offices and shares with the nutrition advisor for validation.
  • Coordinates on behalf of the field offices with the health & nutrition authorities at Nairobi level
Supply pipeline
  • Follows up with the organizations in charge of the supplies (RUTF from UNICEF,CSB from WFP GOK for drugs etc.), to ensure timely renewal of the MOU’s with these partners and timely orders of products (on an ad hoc basis). (This is mainly done by PMs at field level directly with UNICEF field offices) the Nutrition support Coordinator will support with troubleshooting in case of constraints or identified pipeline breaks.
  • Ensures coordination of and validates the logistics orders from the area offices departments and ensures regular communication with the logistics department.
  • For every project, a procurement plan is to be prepared by PMs with support of Nut support coordinator to ensure that purchases are all forecasted before the start of the project.
Strategy Development & Reporting
  • Support the nutrition advisor in the definition of the Nutrition program strategy, proposals etc.  in collaboration with field teams and collaboration with other units.
  • Support the nutrition advisor and the reports officer in developing program donor reports (proposal, quarterly, final reports), with respect of the technical formats and deadlines.
  • Prepares monthly technical activity reports (compilation of the activities in the area offices) with a qualitative look at the programs (sent to area offices and to the nutrition advisor).
  • Documents progress of pilot projects to ensure appropriate follow up in evolution/changes within approaches implemented as pilots.
  • Writes short field visit Terms of Reference and reports, the latter including clear detailed action points for the improvement of the programs or problems solving. This is a good feedback and documentation tool on progress of activities at field level.
Communication
  • Communicates regularly with the program teams for follow up, troubleshooting and technical and strategic advice. At least each PM should be called on phone once a week for update / discussion.
  • Communicates with the logistics and administration departments in order to have a good follow up of respective departments (supply requests, stocks, pharmacy, etc. and budget and expense follow ups) and solve problems as they arise.
  • Communicates externally with the other organizations and authorities on a regular basis, and ensures that PMs communicate regularly with partners at local level.
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
  • Nutrition professional with postgraduate qualification or equivalent field experience
  • Minimum five years’ experience in CMAM
  • Previous experience of project management and managing a team
  • Experience of and commitment to working through systems of community participation and accountability
  • Experience of training and capacity building staff
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy
  • Commitment to Save the Children Values
How to apply

The application period is now open and will close on Wednesday,27th March, 2013 at 4.30pm.  

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