Assistant Technical Officer – Nutrition & Dietetics (ATO-ND) at Nigerian Red Cross Society

Job Purpose

Under the direct supervision of the Field Operations Team lead, the ATO-ND is expected to support the implementation of the nutrition components of the intervention.

Job roles and responsibilities

• Member of the health outreach team working collaboratively to ensure integration of nutrition services are provided for refugees and host communities in settlements and PHCs
• Identify training needs and build technical capacity of PHC nutrition unit, support mothers club, group promoters and Community IYCF.
• Support CMAM and IYCF services including Growth Promotion and Monitoring, organize and participate in food demonstration sessions periodically, conduct regular focus group discussions with beneficiaries to assess barriers and effective referrals
• Ensure monthly physical inventory of all nutrition supplies ensuring stock levels are accounted for and adequate for the outreach teams and PHCs.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to health workers in PHCs on nutrition services
• Organize and participate in food demonstration sessions periodically in supported PHCs, communities and settlements
• Work with the Mothers Club (MC) volunteers to identify locally available nutritional foods for prevention of malnutrition and community management of acute malnutrition.
• Support the MCs in setting up nutrition and hygiene promotion related livelihood initiatives such as backyard gardening, saponification etc
• Conduct regular focus group discussions with beneficiaries to assess barriers to optimal IYCF uptake
• Ensure Gender mainstreaming in nutrition, and integration of other sectors
• Engage in community dialogue, sensitize stakeholders/community on IYCF-E activities and specific humanitarian programs implemented by NRCS.
• Lead the conduct of nutrition assessment surveys such as SMART, SENS etc
• Support the team in the development of Terms of References for planned activities such as capacity building, missions, meetings, stakeholder engagements etc.
• Review the teams weekly, monthly and quarterly project reports
• Review retirements and other financial documents before submission to NHQ
• Submit reports of Project activities to the NHQ

Duties applicable to all staff

• Actively work towards the achievement of the NRCS goals
• Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross Fundamental Principles and NRCS Statutes
• Show capacity to assist other members of staff and management, aptitude for maintaining cooperation and team spirit necessary to achieve the objectives of the National Society
• Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by Line Manager

Essential Skills and Competencies

• Good leadership and accountability skills
• Strong judgment and ability to identify and analyse problems and to think strategically to anticipate, interpret and develop strategic responses to issues
• Ability to persuade, influence, negotiate, manage and sustain effective, successful strategic relationships both internally and externally
• Proficiency in the use of MS Office tools
• Fluency in written and spoken English

Desirable attribute

Understanding of NRCS Fundamental Principles and Code of Conduct

Behavioural Competencies

• Communicating, and a curious and effective listener
• Ability to protect the reputation of NRCS through the quality of work, knowledge and experience
• High ethical standards and honesty in handling the organizational resources and zero tolerance to corruption
• Culturally sensitive, globally minded and showing respect to the views and opinions of others
• Ability to collaborate and work well in a team
• Ability to work under pressure