Terre des Hommes Health and Nutrition Project Manager Job in Modogashe, Garissa County, Kenya

Job Title: Health and Nutrition Project Manager
 

Duty Station: Modogashe, with daily visits to project sites in Lagdera sub county, Garissa County
 

Duration: 3 months, with possibility of extension
 

Supervisor: Field Coordinator 

Background: Tdh programme in Garissa County operates in two main target regions: rural areas in Lagdera sub-county (with an integrated nutrition/WASH intervention) and Dadaab complex and surrounding areas (with a range of child protection services). 
 

Tdh is currently looking at expanding its health intervention in Garissa County, including Maternal and Child Health projects. 

General Responsibilities
 

The Health and Nutrition Project Manager will be responsible for the management, delivery and expansion of a quality health and nutrition programme in Garissa County, with a focus on the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the existing emergency nutrition intervention in Lagdera sub-county, in adherence with Tdh’s and national protocols/guidelines, and in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health.
 

The Health and Nutrition Project Manager will operate under the direction of the Field Coordinator. 

Tdh HQ resource person fulfils a support mandate as agreed between the Humanitarian Desk Officer and the Country Representative.
 

The incumbent will conduct his or her duties in respect of the Charter of Terre des hommes and the Tdh Child Protection Policy. 
 

Terre des hommes expects that its employees’ professional conduct reflects proper behaviour in accordance with local culture and traditions. The incumbent assures the moral protection of the name of Terre des hommes and defends in all circumstances the interests of the movement. 
 

S/He complies with the anti-corruption and anti-harassment policies of UNICEF and the provisions of the Secretary General’s Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse. 

S/He should not expose intended target population, including children, to any form of discrimination, abuse, or exploitation.
 

Tdh intervenes without any affiliation for politics, religion or financial profit. The incumbent will direct his or her activities and engagements without preoccupation of political, racial or religious affiliation.

Specific Responsibilities

Line Management

The Health and Nutrition Project Manager works under the responsibility of the Field Coordinator and directly supervises the Nutrition Officer. 
 

Project Management     

• Oversee the implementation of the Health and Nutrition project and ensure that stated goals and objectives are met, as per project planning document.
• Develop, design and produce appropriate and contextualized methodologies and resources materials for use by the project team.
• In collaboration with the rest of the Nutrition Project team, produce project implementation/work plans and ensure they are implemented effectively and timely.
• Organise and, where possible, co-facilitate training sessions to Ministry of Health (MoH) staff according to the IMAM, IYCF, IMCI, HINI national protocols, in order to improve the quality of the services delivered.
• Provide regular technical supervision and on-the-job training for MoH staff at all health facilities supported by Tdh and strengthen the capacity building role of the Sub-County Management Team.
• Supervise the planning and implementation of the hygiene promotion activities.
• Participate in joint monitoring and supervision visits with MoH officials and other health and nutrition stakeholders in the sub-county and actively follow up on the recommendations.
• Assist the nutrition team and relevant counterparts across the project in preparing, conducting and analysing nutrition surveys and facilitating coverage and KAP surveys, as required.
• Supervise the coordination, monitoring, and capacity building of Community Health Units and Community Volunteers, in line with the MoH Community Health Strategy.
• Analyse data collected at facility level, confirm the reliability, and monitor the consistency of the information uploaded on the MoH DHIS database.
• Constantly monitor the health and nutrition situation in the target and neighbouring areas and, in consultation with local health officials, provide advice on prioritisation of activities and additional actions that need to be taken to respond to the situation as part of Tdh intervention.
• Effectively manage project budget, procurement of nutrition supplies and other resources in line with Tdh’s policies and procedures to ensure efficiency, accountability and transparency.
• In collaboration with the Admin/Finance Manager, forecast expenditures, track activities expenses, make recommendations on budget optimisation, and ensure that appropriate action is taken in a timely fashion.
• Check and validate requests for funds for team members based on available resources.
• Coordinate with the Field Coordinator, the Admin/Finance Manager and the Logistics Officer through purchase and budget follow up to ensure that the Health and Nutrition project receives adequate support and operate in line with Tdh’s and donors’ policies, procedures, and standards.
• In collaboration with the Logistics Officer, validate the movement of the vehicle assigned to the project.

Project Quality Assurance    

• Ensure that the quality and coverage of the nutrition project, at community and facility level, meets international and national standards and internal and external recommendations.
• Ensure effective supervisory mechanisms are in place and identify indicators which properly reflect project activities and realities of Garissa County context.
• Produce programme data on key nutrition indicators (which may include IMAM performance, programme coverage, community participation, health & nutrition knowledge and practice, and quality of service delivery) and ensure it is collected, analysed, reviewed and responded to on an ongoing basis – as may be feasible and realistic given operating context.

Project Strategy and Development    

• Assess Tdh’s capacity and work closely with the Field Coordinator and the Country Representative on the needs of the population and Tdh’s capacity to expand operations to Maternal and Child Health maintaining quality programming.
• Work in line with Tdh nutrition strategy, as defined in Tdh thematic policy and the project document.
• Identification of relevant experiences and lessons learnt among other partners.
• When deemed necessary, propose amendments to the nutrition strategy, in consultation with the Field Coordinator and the Country Representative.
• Participate in the elaboration of the 2015 strategy and provide technical assistance and lead on project design and proposal and budget preparation for institutional and private donors, to meet identified needs and strengthen local capacities within the sector.
• Identify potential local/national partnerships.

Human Resources Management    

• Define personnel needs for field level activities and develop job profiles. Assist recruitment efforts through planning and interviewing of candidates.
• Lead and manage project staff, encouraging effective team work and providing supervision and guidance.
• Identify the team’s training needs build their capacity by providing formal and informal training sessions to improve awareness and skills with respect to implementation of health and nutrition activities and provide on-going mentoring.
• Ensure regular performance appraisals of directly supervised staff, encourage personal development plans, and assist in the identification of training needs. Responsible for follow up of disciplinary measures, in collaboration with the Admin/Finance Manager.
• In collaboration with the Admin/Finance Manager, assure the planning of annual leave and R&R for directly supervised staff.

Coordination    

• Work in close collaboration and consultation with the MoH, other health and nutrition stakeholders and other government counterparts and ensure the regular exchange of information on project achievements and challenges.
• Regularly discuss with the Field Coordinator to ensure health and nutrition needs are integrated to WASH project components for the better health and nutrition outcome.
• Ensure detailed procurement plans and quantities and specification for all required nutrition materials are specified well in advance and ongoing liaison with logistics and other relevant staff taking place to ensure appropriate supplies and materials delivered effectively and in a timely manner.
• Work with all relevant authorities at the sub-county and community level (civil, religious, and all other services) to improve implementation, acceptance and ownership.
• Ensure an optimal level of communication with UNICEF Nutrition focal point in Garissa County.
• Create the conditions for a good flow of operational information within the team and with the senior management.
• Disseminate technical reports to the project team and the local counterparts.

Representation    

• Attend or delegate attendance to appropriate external meetings at sector level, in order to ensure Tdh’s aims and activities are shared with partners, with a special focus on meetings in Modogashe and Garissa.
• Network with other NGOs and entities in the interest of information sharing and best practices.

Reporting   

• Prepare and submit a monthly report on the activities implemented, in line with the project logframe and the work plan, using agreed format and including pictures and videos to promote the work of Tdh. 
• Using field perspective, integrate context assessment of Garissa County into reporting and communications.
• Support the Field Coordinator and the Country Representative during the drafting of donor reports.
• At the request of the Field Coordinator or the Finance and Admin Manager, participate in financial reports.
• Upon completion of the assignment, submit detailed handover notes.

Security    

• Comply and ensure all Nutrition project staffers comply with Tdh Security Regulations and the indications provided by the Field Coordinator on security.
• Report any security/safety incident and/or risk to the Field Coordinator, in his absence, to the Country Representative.

Child Protection Policy    

• Commit to respect Tdh Child Protection Policy.
• Commit to inform the Field Coordinator and/or the Country Representative of any case of any allegations or possibility of transgression, even potential, of the Child Protection Policy.

Others    

• Undertake all other duties that may be determined by the Field Coordinator and/or Country Representative and that are compatible with the job.
• Maintain and ensure a culture of strict confidentiality - inter Tdh staff and between Tdh staff and non-Tdh individuals.

The Nutrition Project Manager is responsible to provide a plan of action that details the objectives of the job description.

This job description may change based on the situation in the field. Any change to the proposed tasks and activities will be discussed with the Field Coordinator and the Country Representative. A high degree of flexibility on the part of all staff is expected.

Person Specification:
 

Essential

• Masters in Nutrition, Public Health or equivalent qualification.
• At least 5 years’ relevant experience with an INGO, preferably in Kenya ASAL, with significant familiarity in developing and managing health and nutrition projects in collaboration with the local duty bearers.
• Experience in strategic development of nutrition projects and supporting health programmes.
• Knowledge and experience in the most common assessment and survey methodologies such as SMART and SQEAC and related software.
• Proven analytical, communication and negotiation skills.
• Excellent report writing and computer skills.
• Capacity to work in a challenging environment and spend most of the time in the field.
• Capacity to work in a participative manner involving the community and the MoH.

Desirable

• Qualified medical doctor or nurse.
• Experience in community mobilization / behavioural change strategies.
• Experience working with Maternal Child Health related projects.

Application Modalities: Qualified and interested candidates should submit covering letter and CV to Kenya@tdh.ch specifying the position in the title. Please DO NOT attach academic and professional certificates at this stage.

Closing date for these positions is 28 November 2014.

Only those shortlisted will be contacted for interview.

Tdh’s recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to protect children’s rights, which includes the prevention of all forms of child abuse.

Tdh is an equal opportunity employer.

 Female candidates are encouraged to apply.