Health and Nutrition Specialist at Save The Children

Role Purpose

• The Health and Nutrition Specialist will provide technical support for the implementation of health and nutrition projects in Nigeria. The Specialist will be responsible for providing technical inputs in program, design, technical assistance for project implementation, implementation, and capacity building of SCI and partner staff. The Specialist will also ensure delivery according to the Country Strategic Plan and the existing response strategy and in line the Save the Children Common Approaches and globally endorsed recommendations. The Health and Nutrition Specialist will work with all relevant stakeholders, both internally and externally, relevant clusters, and SCI and partner staff. The Specialist will represent Save the Children country office in relevant forums and mechanism.
• The Specialist works closely with other Specialist and other program staff to contribute to the research agenda in Save the Children’s Health and Nutrition thematic area, knowledge management, and development of integrated approaches.

Scope Of Role

Reports to: Head of Health and Nutrition

Staff directly reporting to this post: No staff reporting but consequent coordination with other specialists, field managers and programme managers.

Key Areas Of Accountability

• Strategy, Integration and Proposal Development.
• Support design and implementation of the nutrition strategy for the Nigeria Country Office (CO).
• Monitor that projects are designed and implemented by the Country Programme follow agreed and approved Strategies and Plans and meet recognised international standards.
• Promote coordination and collaboration in implementation of activities that are related to or impact the Health and Nutrition work.
• In collaboration with the Head of Nutrition, develop proposals for funding both to maintain and expand Save the Children’s work and influence within the Health and Nutrition sector.
• Programme Support.
• Have a clear understanding of all Health and Nutrition projects in the CO.
• Provide support and guidance in terms of Strategy, Health and Nutrition technical aspects to all Save the Children health and nutrition projects or activities implemented by the Country Programme through close collaboration with key technical project managers and TAs.
• Support training of Save the Children staff on Health and Nutrition related topics.
• Participate on technical meetings related to the Health and Nutrition projects.
• Carry out frequent field visits to the programmes, presenting a report with recommendations.
• Keep updated on research and Health and Nutrition programming at the national and international level and share with field staff.
• Support recruitment of technical staff for Health and Nutrition projects, as necessary and support recruitment or request of Health and Nutrition related TA coming either from internal Save the Children or consultants.
• Advise on budget requirements for nutrition programmes, ensuring effective use of Save the Children resources.
• Documentation and reporting.
• Ensure nutrition project teams produce timely, high quality, reports and documentation both to meet donor demands and to portray Save the Children’s experience within the Health and Nutrition sector in Nigeria.
• Reviews technical and programmatic contents of reports produced by the Country Office, either Donor reports, reports of Studies (carried out by SC or consultants), position papers and any document with nutrition content that is signed by the Country Office.
• Contribute to policy development relating to Health and Nutrition and ensure this is consistent with Save the Children overall approach.
• Representation.
• Link and coordinate with key players in the nutrition sector at Federal and State levels (Government, development agencies, other organizations and research institutes).
• Participate on the development and review of Health and Nutrition related national documents (guidelines, policies, etc.) providing technical inputs in line with Save the Children position paper, policies and evidence-based programme expertise.
• Represent Save the Children’s values and mission, as well as the Nigeria programme experience, at national - and when requested – international or regional fora related to the Health and Nutrition sector.
• Comply with the requirements of Save the Children’s child protection policies and other staff policies.
• Management and human resources development.
• Line manage staff, either directly or technically as defined by the Country Programme organogramme.
• Build capacities of the Health and Nutrition team across CO Programmes and promote team building and collaboration.
• Support learning and development for staff working in Health and Nutrition, by advising on learning needs, sharing training opportunities and encouraging the use of e-tools for self-learning.

Place of Work

• The post will be based in Abuja but will require approximately 30% time travelling in other States.

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)
Accountability

• holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition

• sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration

• builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity

• develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity

• honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

Qualifications And Experience

• Degree in Public Health, Medicine, Nutrition and other relevant field or have equivalent field experience
• Minimum 6 years of experience in Health and Nutrition, field experience in several, diverse acute emergencies as well as protracted crisis settings and 2 years at an advisory level
• Sound knowledge of H&N in humanitarian aid and development context.
• Experience in representing an organisation in the coordination mechanism in emergency contexts.
• Sound strategic thinking and planning skills, including ability to think creatively and innovate and to set priorities, manageable work plans and evaluate progress.
• Demonstrable ability to acquire a high level of thematic expertise on priority issues within health and nutrition.
• Experience in supporting development of national guidelines and policies.
• Strong skills in coordination and the ability to work effectively with a range of stakeholders, including health and nutrition clusters, partners.
• Strong communication skills at a level appropriate for high level external representation and ability to tailor communications to different audiences.
• Experience line managing staff.
• Experience in providing distance technical support.
• Proven capacity to write quality reports and proposals as well as briefing papers, presentations, and technical summaries.
• Practical experience in training and/or facilitation of groups and strong participatory facilitation skills.
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate and negotiate clearly and effectively at all levels.
• Proven capacity to deliver results against objectives, reporting schedules and workplans.
• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Proficient in word processing, presentations and spreadsheet computer packages.
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s values and mission.

Desirable

• Working knowledge of different regions in Nigeria
• Understanding of Integrated Programming - Food Security and Livelihoods, WASH, Gender and Disability Inclusion, Child Protection, Mental Health.