Country: Uganda
Closing date: 26 Sep 2018
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In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions
into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
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Program / Department Summary
The Nutrition Advisor will play a key leadership role in the implementation of a five-year $41 million USAID Food for Peace Activity to support pregnant and lactating women and children under five years of age living across the districts of Amudat, Kotido, Kaabong and Moroto in Karamoja. The Activity is multi-sectoral with programming in livelihoods, nutrition, WASH, and governance with cross-cutting attention to gender and youth.
General Position Summary
The Nutrition Advisor will work closely with the Deputy Chief of Party and the MCHN Manager to ensure the quality, efficiency, integrity and learning associated with behavior change for development and health system governance in the four districts. The Nutrition Advisor will be responsible for oversight of the quality maternal and child health and nutrition activities within Apolou as well as coordination between sectors and among partners related to the nutrition objective, including local Community Based Organizations, Save the Children and Whave.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategy & Vision
● Support the Apolou Leadership in developing a vision and strategy for the Activity.
● Play an active role in identifying and developing new initiatives that foster or improve food security and nutrition strategic objectives of the Activity and the country office.
Program Management
● Support scale up of MCHN and nutrition Behavior Change strategy in four districts through Mother Care Groups, male engagement programming, and other activities as relate to the overall nutrition objective
● Support implementation of health system governance activities across the four districts
● Ensure nutrition activities are implemented according to best practice with technical oversight of implementation strategy and related materials
● Develop and roll out associated MCHN curricula to community platforms as needed
● Manage team of nutrition implementers, including national staff and international consultants
● Provide budget oversight and administration for the health and nutrition component and ensuring staff compliance with donor and agency regulations
● Work with partners and team leaders, advocate for nutrition and health priorities in line with Apolou strategy at key district, regional and national events
● Ensure an integrated approach to health and nutrition related program activities in order to maximize resource utilization and synergy between the staff, consortium members, district local governments, the Ministry of Health and other implementing partners
● Support coordinated data collection systems and reporting formats within the MCHN team and between partners, with integrated communications to ensure sharing of lessons learned and foster a supportive environment driven by achievement.
● Identify and communicate learning agenda for the nutrition and health sector within Apolou.
● Recommend program priorities and explore, evaluate and present new opportunities with high potential for impact in the areas of health, nutrition and gender.
● Support the MEL Advisor to ensure that the correct tools and processes for collecting data in the field is being done.
● Support Collaborative Learning and Adaption component in the Apolou program.
Team Management
● Lead quarterly review meetings, and monthly sector meetings to guide implementation, coordination and learning.
● Participate in the recruitment of new staff, establish effective supervision structures, identify and meet training needs and ensure adherence to Mercy Corps’ performance management system within the team;
● Establish an adaptive management learning culture in which evidence is continuously generated and lessons learned are actively shared across the consortium for maximum impact
● Work with HQ and national office staff to strengthen operations, identify and pursue complementary programming
● Build capacity of team leaders to take primary responsibility for respective data gathering, quality control and communication to MELC focal person
Influence & Representation
● Ensure establishment and provide oversight on the team’s maintenance of relationships with communities, village councils and local government in Moroto, Kotido, Kaabong and Amudat/Karamoja target areas.
● Support and coordinate visits from regional and HQ based staff and external visitors, such as donors and media, in collaboration with DCOP and CoP.
● Establish and maintain contact with all key actors as relevant for program implementation –government ministries, UN agencies, NGOs, private sector partners – and establish mechanisms for contacting local community organizations and partners and other local NGOs/CBOs in line with key Apolou areas of work
● Advocate and make appropriate presentations when requested at local, regional, and where possible national and international platforms for Apolou supported strategies for health and nutrition
● Represent Apolou at Nutrition-related meetings, implementing partner coordination meetings, events and conferences
Coordination and Representation
● Attend nutritional working group and other relevant meetings at Kampala, district and regional level on behalf of Mercy Corps
● Represent Mercy Corps externally at various forums where requested.
● Develop draft presentations around nutrition analysis and results for Mercy Corps for presentation purposes when requested.
● When requested represent Mercy Corps’, Apolou in coordination and technical meetings at district, regional and national level, and at higher levels, to ensure optimal coordination/collaboration and development of common approaches to the nutrition field.
Additional
● Ensure mainstreaming of crosscutting issues including: targeting, HIV/AIDS, equality/gender, rights based approach and do no harm throughout the programme including analysis and design to meet mainstreaming strategic objectives;
● Ensure compliance with all Mercy Corps policies and procedures including Program Participant Protection Policy, Equality, Security Management, Finance and Transport.
● Provide technical support to other programs particularly Livelihood program development.
● Undertake other related duties as may be assigned by the DCoP, CoP and Country Director
Finance, Compliance AND Operations Management
● Oversee the smooth flow of routine program support functions (e.g., finance, administration, logistics) in the field office and compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures.
● With the support of the Operations Director and Senior Operation Manager ensure adequate operational systems are in place to provide for sector operations
● Manage program budget(s) as secondary budget holder.
● Strictly follow Mercy Corps Fraud and Corruption Prevention guidelines.
Security
● Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
● Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
Organizational Learning
As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
Accountability to Beneficiaries
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Supervisory Responsibility
The Nutrition Advisor initially will have no direct supervisory responsibility in terms of management of staff. However, as the Apolou program develops there may be some restructuring done to this role.
Accountability
Reports Directly to: Apolou Deputy Chief of Party and has a dotted line into the MCHN Manager.
Works Directly with: Gender and Youth Manager, Resource Transfer Manager, Gender Advisor, Purpose1, Purpose 3 and Purpose 4 Managers, Monitoring and Evaluation and Learning Advisor, Deputy Chief of Party, Program Quality and Partnership Manager, Leads of Consortium Partner Teams in Apolou, and HQ Technical Support Unit
Ethics and Integrity
All Mercy Corps staff are expected to behave ethically and demonstrate highest integrity in their professional and personal life. Mercy Corps has zero tolerance to any form of fraud, corruption, abuse, harassment or exploitation. Any breach of our policies or misconduct will lead to a disciplinary action or may lead to termination.
Knowledge and Experience
● A Master’s Degree or equivalent in Nutrition;
● At least 5 years’ experience in nutrition specific programming with at least 3 of the years in nutrition programming implementation in developing country contexts, preferably in Sub-Saharan Africa.
● Demonstrated experience in public health nutrition, community behavior change, preferably with an understanding of the facilitative approach to development;
● Superb English verbal and written communication and presentation skills required;
● Strong understanding of data analysis and statistics;
● Ability to communicate with donors, private sector and civil society partners and host government representatives;
● Demonstrated flexibility, creativity and enthusiasm as well as a willingness to learn and to be continually adaptive within a dynamic and often self-directed working environment is mandatory;
● Self-starter, with strong capacity for critical thinking and problem solving;
● Ability to focus on day-to-day tasks at hand while also working towards longer-term objectives with an understanding that these will change continuously;
● Demonstrated capacity to generate and to translate innovative ideas into practical development approaches as well as marketable investment proposals and concepts;
● Willingness to travel frequently and extensively in remote areas with basic services.
Success Factors
The success of the Nutrition Advisor will combine strong program management skills with one’s ability to execute program activities with high quality. S/he will have an ability to develop, implement and manage innovative activities focused nutrition. S/he will also have proven experience with cross-cultural teams and capacity building, individual staff development, and strong mentoring skills. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail are essential. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.
How to apply:
Applications: Submit your online application addressed to the Human Resource Director, Mercy Corps Uganda by clicking on the following link https://www.fuzu.com/jobs/nutrition-advisor-karamoja-mercycorps, Clearly state your salary requirements on the cover letter, attach your CV (with 3 referees), and copies of academic qualifications/certificates. Deadline for Submission: Close of business on Wednesday, September 26th, 2018. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted by Mercy Corps. Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer; qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
