Nutrition Programs Manager Job in Helen Keller International Kenya

Established in 1915 with Helen Keller as a founding trustee, Helen Keller International (HKI) works to save the sight and lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. 

Headquartered in New York City, HKI currently conducts programs in 21 countries in Africa and Asia as well as in the United States. 

HKI is known for sustainability, reliability, efficiency and the highest level of technical expertise in fighting and treating blindness and malnutrition. 

To accomplish its work, HKI builds the capacity of local governmental, civil society and private sector systems and infrastructure, and promotes the development of sustained, large-scale programs that deliver effective preventative and curative services for nutrition, control of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and eye health . 

The hallmark of the organization’s work is its proven effectiveness in developing, testing and scaling-up health interventions, and integrating them within government and community structures. 

HKI is initiating program activities in Kenya and intends to build the program incrementally from the base of our strong partner network and experience in supporting response to the 2011 crisis.

Functional Relationship

The Programs Manager reports to the Deputy Regional Director East, Central and Southern Africa for HKI. 

S/he serves as the senior programs management specialist and is responsible for the overall leadership, design, management and operations of HKI Kenya Programs. 

He/she is the liaison and first-line of contact with HKI Kenya’s key partners and stakeholders including the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation Department of Nutrition. 

The Programs Manager has the primary responsibility for determining overall project strategy, design, goals, and objectives, in consultation with HKI’s partners and managing the implementation of program deliverable.

Specific Responsibilities

• Provides overall leadership, direction and guidance to HKI Kenya’s programs and coordinates with HKI Kenya Office and partners in defining and implementing all program activities to ensure achievement of outcomes and impact.
• Serves as HKI’s program and technical representative to partners, donors and stakeholders in Kenya including the Ministry of Sanitation and Public Health, Department of Nutrition, international and national NGOs, donors, and UN agencies.
• Increases support and provides strategic guidance for the use of nutrition best practices by advocating to key partners and stakeholders, collaborating with implementing partners and advancing country learning through strategic knowledge management.
• Represents HKI at established Nutrition, NTD control and Eye Care forums; networks with key stakeholders within the Kenyan Ministry of Health and Sanitation, the Department of Nutrition, National Eye Care, international organizations, NGO’s, and Bi-lateral Donors to remain aware of key issues and activities in nutrition and eye health;
• Provides support to government partners to coordinate inputs and quality assurance from all collaborators, ensuring transparency, strong communication, and organizational and staff development.
• Identifies/creates innovative programmatic opportunities and project designs aligned with HKI’s Mission and Strategic Plan in Nutrition, NTD control and Eye Health- Vitamin A Supplementation (VAS), Child-Health Days, Food-Fortification and Mass Drug Administration (MDA) for NTD control.
• Ensures that project designs and collaborations with partners/stakeholders comply with agency over-arching themes – evidence-based/reasoned designs, generates knowledge, uses integrated approaches to maximize impact, quality and high potential to scale-up, strengthens capacity, and advocates for sustained systematic change:
• Works closely with the HKI regional and HQ-based nutrition, NTD, and eye health staff to contribute/ develop concept papers, proposals and budgets for donor funding or in response to donor requests for both Kenya-specific and regional initiatives that include Kenya
• Ensures the integrity and quality of project management process for the HKI/Kenya project portfolio – design feasibility, measurable objectives and impact indicators, implementation planning and management; maintains high standards for project monitoring and evaluation, donor reporting, and impact assessment;
• Contributes to the writing of professional papers that supports HKI’s evidence-based approach and advocacy initiatives: the strengthening relevant government institutions in the implementation and monitoring of nutrition/eye health initiatives at the central and district level;
• Actively participates in HKI/Kenya strategic and annual planning and budgeting process;
• Supervises the performance of two direct reports and implements the HKI performance management system for key reporting staff;
• Interfaces with HKI/Kenya finance and operations managers to ensure the timely provision of support services that support programmatic outputs;

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in management, nutrition, public health, social sciences, international development communications or a related field.
• At least 7 years’ experience in developing, leading, managing and implementing large national projects, specifically with experience in two or more of the following areas: management, nutrition, health policy, health systems strengthening, behavior change communication, community development, food security or agriculture.
• Broad understanding of public health in particular in the area of nutrition; knowledgeable about the relevant socioeconomic, institutional policy issues that influence nutrition.
• Professional experience interacting with the government, partners and other relevant stakeholders;
• Effective team leadership and management skills;
• Demonstrated experience working in partnership with international donors and agencies
• Excellent English written and oral communications skills;
• Effective Grant-Writing skills;
• Strong initiative and self-motivation with well-established and practiced organizational and planning skills;
• Comfortable working within participatory management environment, with a commitment to a teamwork approach to work;
• Computer Literate and Proficient in Microsoft Office including Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook;
• Willingness to travel within Kenya and occasionally to external meetings and forums within the region/continent;

How to apply:

If you meet the above requirements, please send a detailed CV, Application letter stating clearly the position that you are applying for as the subject line, names and contacts of three references, a daytime telephone/ mobile contact to rkatana@hki.org by the close of business on 15th June 2012.