Senior Nutrition Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

FHI 360 is a US-based NGO dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions.  FHI 360’s Crisis Response team is responding to the humanitarian emergency with the Ukraine Humanitarian Assistance Response Program (UHARP II), providing integrated health and protection programming focused on decreasing morbidity and mortality among conflict-affected communities. FHI 360 is piloting a nutrition program (focused on infant and young child feeding in emergencies, IYCF-E-E) within the health component of its humanitarian response. The pilot period for the nutrition program will be 3 months, with possibility to extend through the duration of the project period.

POSITION OVERVIEW  

Under supervision of the Health Coordinator, the Senior Nutrition Officer is responsible for leading technical programming of FHI 360’s nutrition activities. The Senior Nutrition Officer will ensure that IYCF-E program activities are evidence-based and adhere to technical standards in the nutrition field. The IYCF-E activities include lactation counseling and infant formula counseling for prenatal and postpartum women in health facilities (including linkages to MHPSS services), training of healthcare workers on IYCF-E, the printing and distribution of targeted informational materials on IYCF-E for health facilities, and establishment of mother-baby spaces (IYCF-E-E corners) within health facilities.  The Senior Nutrition Officer will support technical programs from assessment and conception through close-out and evaluation, will provide line management of lactation counselors, and will provide regular supervision of nutrition activities in field sites. The Senior Nutrition Officer works closely with the mission’s Health Officers, MEAL Officers, Logistics Officer, Procurement Officer, and MHPSS Officers. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND DELIVERABLES

• Conduct nutrition/IYCF-E scoping at health facilities in each region of implementation to assess needs and identify which facilities will receive each FHI 360 IYCF-E intervention. Ensure that assessment reports are completed and properly filed.
• Contribute to the development of the nutrition workplan in coordination with the Health Coordinator. Ensure that the workplan is maintained and updated throughout the project.
• Contribute to the development of the nutrition logical framework, indicators, and data collection tools, in coordination with the Health Coordinator and MEAL Coordinator. 
• Coordinate the implementation of routine data collection and reporting for nutrition activities. Support the technical development of program evaluations of nutrition activities.
• Conduct technical recruitment of lactation counselor consultants in each area of implementation. 
• Provide line management and day-to-day supervision of the lactation counselor consultants.
• Work in close collaboration with the MHPSS Manager and Senior Officers to develop the MHPSS component of the nutrition program. This includes creating systems for linking postpartum mothers who need mental health support to FHI 360’s psychologists (for online or in-person consultations), facilitating training on Psychological First Aid (PFA) for lactation counselors, and organizing training for FHI 360’s psychologists on the common needs and challenges facing pregnant and postpartum women. 
• Develop the curriculum and schedule for training of healthcare workers on IYCF-E in Emergencies (IYCF-E-E). Compile or develop the training materials, tailoring the contents to the target audiences / facilities for each particular training.
• Coordinate the planning and implementation of ICYF-E trainings for healthcare workers.
• Identify the informational materials to be printed and distributed in health facilities (preferably from nutrition TWG) and develop a plan for distribution of the materials (including tracking their uptake/utilization). 
• Identify standard minimum requirements for mother-baby spaces (IYCF-E corners), work with health facilities to identify suitable spaces in their buildings, and determine the support required from FHI 360 to furnish and equip the mother-baby spaces.
• Represent FHI 360 in national and sub-national nutrition coordination structures (nutrition TWG, health cluster, etc.).  
• Liaise regularly with external stakeholders from government (e.g. health facility directors), NGOs/INGOs, and relevant UN agencies on nutrition programs.
• Provide technical supervision of the nutrition field activities and staff including through field monitoring visits, and ensure accurate and timely weekly reporting on nutrition activities.
• Determine procurement and logistics needs for nutrition activities, create purchase requests, and closely coordinate with the logistics department to ensure smooth and timely implementation of nutrition activities. 
• Identify operational needs for nutrition activities and field staff. Coordinate closely with operations department to address the identified needs.
• Provide technical assistance for Clinical Management of Rape (CMR) activities.
• Produce regular reports and plans of health activities to the Health Coordinator.
• Any other duties assigned by the Health Manager and Health Coordinator.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• University Degree or equivalent in Medicine or relevant discipline. Specialty in obstetrics or gynecology is preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of technical standards and best practices in nutrition programming in humanitarian settings.
• At least 5 years of work experience in the field of nutrition and primary healthcare.
• At least 1 year of experience implementing or coordinating nutrition/IYCF programs with non-governmental organizations or UN agencies.  At least 2 years of experience with direct provision of medical care to patients.
• Excellent in English. Fluent in Ukrainian. 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills. Demonstrated leadership capacity.
• Demonstrated project and personnel management skills. 
• Strong organizational skills, especially in time management and prioritization, and attention to detail. 
• Excellent analytical and reporting skills.

Please email your CV and cover letter to Відправити резюме with ‘Senior Nutrition Officer’ in the subject line. Only applications submitted in English will be considered.

Candidates with disabilities are encouraged to apply