Nutrition Advisor

Role & Responsibilities

Provide technical advice and support to field management and the health / nutrition staff. Develop, lead, monitor, and evaluate the nutrition aspects of the country programme. Coordinate and network at a senior level with national and regional health / nutrition authorities and other NGOs. Lead on all nutrition elements of proposals and reports, providing capacity building for national and international staff, promote best practice in the nutrition programmes as well as contributing to the overall management of the country programme.

Project Overview

Medair is currently implementing three projects within South Sudan, providing emergency primary health care based on the basic package of health services as well as CMAM for conflict affected populations, and running a Stabilisation Centre and implementing nutrition activities in health facilities in Leer county and Greater Pibor Administrative Area. Medair also maintains a health and nutrition emergency response team that is able to respond to health or nutrition emergencies within any of the 10 states of South Sudan, such as disease outbreaks, population displacement or emergency levels of global acute malnutrition.

Workplace & Working conditions

Field based position in Juba, with frequent travel to field locations.

Starting Date / Initial Contract Details

September 2024. Full time, 12 months (renewable, subject to funding).

Key Activity Areas

Nutrition Project Technical Oversight

• Maintain an overview of country nutrition programme and of regional context, with a view to strategically developing new projects in current sites and/or in surrounding regions, and proactively planning for responsible exit.
• Give technical advice to field managers and GSO on potential involvement in new nutrition interventions and internal nutrition capacity for implementation.
• Define appropriate policies, guidelines and protocols for nutritional aspects of Medair’s work in country.
• Provide technical support to nutrition teams in all project sites, including evaluation and impact analysis of current projects.
• Carry out regular monitoring visits in conjunction with other field managers, ensuring that project objectives are met with recognised international standards.
• Supervise and monitor the development of reporting systems for data collection (qualitative and quantitative), analysis and follow-up. Maintain an oversight of medicines and nutrition supplies.
• Ensure the continuous presence of active PCA with Unicef and FLA with WFP in a way to secure the uninterrupted delivery of key food commodities (GIKs) for the different nutrition projects
• Provide input into the integration of beneficiary participation and accountability.
• Oversee selection, development and piloting of IEC materials (as needed).
• Ensure integration of key HHP and IYCF messages in each health and nutrition project location.

Representation

• Develop and maintain relationships with Ministry of Health, Department of Nutrition, UN, NGOs, donors, partners and other stakeholders, with the objective of raising public awareness of Medair and ensuring good co-operation and partnerships. Accompany donors on field trips.
• Represent Medair at nutrition cluster coordination, sector and bilateral meetings and with national and / or local government departments and any other relevant meetings or events.
• Support the nutrition cluster in identifying priority areas for nutrition response.

Staff Management

• Be involved in the recruitment of nutrition staff for the country programme. Support line managers in inductions and appraisals of nutrition staff. Ensure that all nutrition staff are adequately trained and, if necessary, create possibilities for capacity building, mentoring and coaching, within budget constraints.

Financial Management

• Work with the relevant field managers and GSO staff to plan and construct nutrition budgets.
• Support fundraising effort by sharing information of priorities area of need through different networks and coordination bodies.

Quality Management

• Ensure nutrition projects are implemented in line with donor proposals and requirements and in accordance with Medair, donor, country and international standards.
• Regularly assess and provide feedback and recommendations on the quality of nutrition programmes and interventions during field visits and at other relevant times to GSO advisors as well as field staff.
• Maintain resource library for the nutrition team and keep up-to-date with the latest trends and updates within the sector. Provide guidance on routine nutrition monitoring and evaluation activities.

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, prayer, and words of encouragement.
• Encouraged to join and contribute to Medair’s international prayer network.

Qualifications

• University degree in nutrition or in another relevant field such as medicine or nursing
• Strong working knowledge of English (spoken and written)

Experience

• Relevant post-qualification professional experience in a management position
• At least 2 years of international experience managing and implementing an emergency nutrition intervention with CMAM and IYCF components
• Experience overseeing projects specifically participatory mothers’ groups including IYCF in emergencies desirable; Experience and willingness in training/mentoring staff
• Experience in the design, monitoring of implementation and evaluation of CMAM programmes
• Knowledge of humanitarian principles, Sphere, CHS and HAP Standards and other international humanitarian guidelines and protocols
• Advanced planning, assessment, analytical, leadership and project management skills
• Experienced professionals in a relevant field; Overseas intercultural experience
• Committed Christian; commitment to the Medair values
• Strong working knowledge of English, spoken and written
• Working knowledge of French, spoken and written, for French-speaking field programmes
• Able to live and work in a multicultural team under difficult conditions
• Strong character traits, including emotional stability, adaptability, ability to handle stress, cultural and gender sensitivity, honesty, and physically fit

All new deploying international staff to Medair’s country programmes (and other roles which require field travel) should be fully vaccinated with a WHO-approved COVID vaccine, supported with a COVID vaccination certificate as evidence.