Action Against Hunger Nutrition Program Manager Job in West Pokot, Kenya

Job Title: Nutrition Program Manager
 

Country: Kenya

Base: West Pokot
 

Direct line manager: Nutrition Head of Department
 

Line management of: Nutrition Program officers 

Starting date: 1st May 2014    

Founded in 1979, ACF International (Action Against Hunger) is an international humanitarian organization that delivers programs in over 40 countries. 

Recognized worldwide as a leader in the fight against hunger, our mission is to save lives through the prevention, detection, and treatment of malnutrition, especially during and after emergency situations and conflicts. 

From crisis to sustainability, ACF tackles the underlying causes of malnutrition and its effects. By integrating our programs with local and national systems, we further ensure that short-term interventions become long-term solutions. 

With Head Offices in France, the United Kingdom, Spain, the United States and Canada, our international network shares its combined resources, breadth of experience and technical expertise in pursuit of a world without hunger. 

ACF is present in Kenya since 2001. Currently the mission is implementing program activities in West Pokot, Isiolo, Tana River, Garissa and Dadaab refugee camps.

Summary: Action Against Hunger is looking for an enthusiastic, result oriented and experienced candidate to take on the position of a nutrition program manager West Pokot County. 

The nutrition program manager will be based in Kapenguria office in West Pokot County. He/she will be under the supervision of the Head of Nutrition Department. 

The manager will be directly responsible for overseeing the implementation of ACF nutrition activities in West Pokot County while working closely with MoH and key stakeholders in the county to ensure linkages between nutrition sensitive and specific interventions. 

Key activities of the manager will include; provision of technical support and oversight, representation of ACF in necessary fora, proposal formulation/writing, capacity building, monitoring, evaluation and reporting, budget management and staff management.

Objectives and detailed activities for the assignment include:

Objective 1: Program implementation and oversight

• Ensure adherence of all ACF activities to national and international guidelines
• Ensure and supervise directly the technical work of the nutrition team in West Pokot County
• Supervise and manage the implementation of capacity building activities through OJT in HINI and trainings in close liaison with the county health management teams.
• Ensure integration of IYCN activities to the component of the nutrition program in the camps.
• Ensure monthly meetings with the staff based in the field to review implementation progress.
• Participate and ensure the implementation of sporadic assessments, and actively participate to nutritional surveys and program coverage surveys, according to the needs.
• Ensure frequent  visits to the field to monitor activities, supplies, and general running of the programs
• In collaboration with the Nutrition Head of Department; Propose and initiate improvements according the analysis and findings of sporadic assessment that will contribute ACF strategy reviews and advocacy.
• In collaboration with Nutrition Head of Department adjust the program to any change in the context (location of the centers, number of staffs, and communication with the field…)
• Identify and participate in the nutrition and other related meetings with key stakeholders in the county
• Overall review of program performance as per stipulated standards and development of feasible action points thereafter

Objective 2: To coordinate activities within ACF and between partners/stakeholders

• Oversees the coordination of all the components of the HINI program in collaboration with the ACF team
• Coordinates nutrition activities, with other nutrition sensitive stakeholders in the county
• Plan field movement on a weekly basis and coordinate with logistics and finance department on purchase orders, cash forecast and BFU/PFU on a monthly basis.
• Works closely with logistics and administration to ensure timely delivery of supplies.
• Coordinates the orders and supply of food and non-food items with the organizations in charge of the supplies in collaboration partners if need be.
• Work closely with the Advocacy PM in follow up of relevant advocacy issues in the county

Objective 3: Reporting and documentation of all related nutrition activities

• Develop monitoring and evaluation plan as per ACF guidelines and follow up implementation of the same
• Develop and follow up on activity progress reports, evolution and monthly narrative report. This will entail monthly review of statistics and changing dynamics at the county level and advise coordination on any specific issues for consideration in West Pokot County
• Write the first draft of the proposals, project procurement plans and donor reports based on donor guidelines and timeframes. This will be shared by the line manager for further review and follow up till the final version is developed
• Review activity reports of staff and provide necessary feedback to the staff in West Pokot County.
• Actively contribute to surveys and assessments process and report writing
• Participate in the analysis and drafting of activity reports and evaluation of the project.
• Contribute in defining technical strategy and country strategy when required.
• Work closely with ACF team in West Pokot and Nairobi to include the advocacy PM in documentation of key activities, development of lesson learnt documents and other related advocacy issues

Objective 4: Budget management
 

The Nutrition PM will be directly responsible for monitoring of project activities in the area. 

He/She is the budget holder and will be responsible for the following specific issues with close liaison and authorization where necessary from the Nutrition Head of Department.

• Preparation of budget and budget narrative and project inception phase
• Development of spending plans based on activity plan
• Closely monitor project expenditure against stipulated deliverables and budget agreements/donor guidelines
• Have monthly review meetings based on budget follow up from finance departments and advise where necessary
• Closely liaise with the finance and logistics unit  to follow up expenses
• Prepare cash forecasts on monthly basis

Objective 5: Staff management  
 

This will be in line with ACF HR manual to include:

• Staff management of all nutrition staff in the area of operation to include identification of staff training needs, staff supervision, capacity building  and follow up
• Undertaking of staff evaluations
• Launch of staff requests, call for applications and recruitments of nutrition officers
• Staff motivation in close liaison with HR

Objective 5: Relations and others

• Representation of ACF in various meetings as stipulated above, to include creation of awareness of what ACF does in the region.
• Problem solving of any matters arising in the area related to the project in close liaison with the head of base and national team
• Adherence to ACF security guidelines and sensitization of staff on the same as per ACF SOP in close liaison with HOB

Objective 5: Any other duties 

• The job description is flexible as per existing duties and project needs. Various or additional duties may be assigned by the supervisors as per project needs

Qualifications

• Master of Science or Bachelor of Science (Foods, Nutrition and Dietetics) or a closely related field  (must be registered with the Kenya National Dietetics Institute)
• 2 years’ experience in HINI related  nutrition programs
• Over 3 years field experience as a Program Manager
• Experience working with national, county and local authorities in Kenya
• Previous experience with ACF preferred though if not available strong experience with an international humanitarian agency would be acceptable.
• Knowledge on basic computer applications such; excel, word, power point presentation.
• Knowledge on Maternal Infant Young Child Feeding
• Knowledge on surveys and assessments and data analysis.
• Fluency in English with good verbal and written communication skills.  Ability to communicate and negotiate effectively.  
• Communication skills ( written, oral and cross cultural)

What ACF will offer:

• Start date: 1st May 2014
• Duty station: West Pokot
• Remuneration package: Very Competitive salary package with additional benefits to include:
• Career development opportunities with ACF including expatriation
• Comprehensive medical cover for self and dependents
• Opportunity to work in a nice  and friendly environment with a dynamic and motivated team
• Individual training and capacity building budget

Closing Date: Friday 11th April 2014 by Close of Business 5pm. 

Applications sent after the closing date and time will not be considered.

Interested candidates should forward their applications including a cover letter, curriculum vitae and telephone contacts and email addresses of 3 referees preferably former/current supervisors (certificates will be required later on in the recruitment process) to: 

e-mail: recruit.ke@acf-international.org  indicate the position on the subject line of the email.

Position opened to Kenyan Nationals only