Nutrition Coordinator Job in Kenya - Merlin South Sudan Programme

Merlin (UK) an International Non-Governmental Organization specializing in the provision of health care worldwide, is looking for qualified candidate with strong experience in Nutrition to fill the following vacant post.

Job Title: Nutrition Coordinator

Line Manager: Country Health Director

Staff Directly Supervised: Nutrition Officers in Merlin SS Projects

Relationships Internally: PHC Supervisors, Reproductive Health program supervisor, Nutrition focal persons in facilities, Project Coordinators, Logistics staff, Finance, Staff, Data Officers, Pharmacy Assistants, PHCCs / PHCUs staff

Relationships Externally: MoH (Nation & State level), County health departments, NGO
Partners, Community volunteers

Main Purpose of the Role

The overall objective of the position is to develop and maintain all nutrition aspects of Merlin’s projects in the RSS.

The post holder will work under the supervision of the Country Health Director and in close collaboration with Senior Health Coordinators, Project Coordinators as well as partners at all levels, including government and other agencies.

Overall Objective

• Coordination and Implementation of the Outpatient Therapeutic Programme
• Support and supervision of nutrition activities in all Merlin Projects in the RSS
• Training and capacity building of staff in nutrition
• Management of Nutrition data/ information

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Programme Implementation

• Ensure that the implementation of the Outpatient Therapeutic Programme (OTP) and Stabilization Centre (SC) activities conform to internationally accepted standards and country guidelines
• Provide support and supervision on nutrition activities to those staff implementing health and nutrition programmes in Merlin South Sudan projects
• Provides guidance to staff implementing health and nutrition programmes on the integration of a nutrition component into the overall primary health care programmes and curative services
• In collaboration with partner agencies (UNICEF and WFP) support field sites with the organization of the logistics of food commodities
• Together with Project health coordinators and country health directors ensure that there is proper Communication, coordination and harmonization of tools with the different stakeholders involved in food/nutrition activities (UNICEF, MSF, ACF etc)

Training and Capacity building

• Conduct training of community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) for project staff and MOH counterparts implementing health and nutrition programmes in Merlin South Sudan programme area
• Ensure the establishment and strengthening of nutrition monitoring activities and train health staff (Merlin and partners) in case-detection and referral mechanisms
• Conduct and train health staff on surveys, causal analysis and other assessments of nutritional status of target groups

Information Analysis and Management

• Ensure proper collection and analysis of data form field sites and participate in the creation of a nutrition data base for Merlin projects in Southern Sudan
• Ensure the establishment and proper use of nutrition monitoring and evaluation framework
• Review the outreach and appropriateness of activities for different livelihood groups
• Ensure the capture and dissemination of lessons learnt and good practice relating to successful integration of nutrition components within existing primary health care services
• Submit relevant reports and documentation to the Country Health Director

Other

• Represent Merlin at appropriate co-ordination and health and nutrition programming and collaborate with organizations working in food/nutrition
• Flexible and able to take on other tasks as might be required
• Carry-out any other duties and/or responsibilities assigned by line manager

Person Specification

Essential

Qualifications, experience and competences

• Degree/ Diploma in Nutrition
• Strong previous field coordination and management experience in community-based management of acute malnutrition
• Experience of gathering and analyzing nutritional data
• Supportive personnel management style and ability to manage teams
• Experience of training and capacity building
• Strong leadership skills
• Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English
• Confident and proficient in the use of MS Office
• Experience of establishing strong working relationship with colleagues from different functions and cultures
• Previous experience of working and living in insecure contexts
• Experience of a flexible approach to managing and prioritizing a high workload and multiple tasks in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines
• Experience of proactively identifying and addressing issues
• An understanding of and commitment to Merlin’s mission and values

Desirable

• Previous use of SMART nutrition survey methodology
• Previous experience in support provision to primary health care projects
• Qualification in Public/Community Health and/or Development studies
• Good experience in humanitarian programming

Closing date for receipt of applications will be 25th January 2012.

Applications should be sent to the following by e-mail: hr.manager@merlin-southsudan.org

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.

Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be short-listed on a regular basis.

Merlin South Sudan Programme is an equal opportunities employer.

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