Jobs at Mercy Corps

General Position Summary

The Senior Program Officer – Nutrition and Food Assistance provides field-level managerial and technical oversight to the day-to-day implementation, coordination, supervision and provision of technical support including capacity building to the program team, He/She will work closely both with management and support staff (including finance, operation, MEL, CARM, Protection and program) in Gwoza and Maiduguri to ensure the day to day activities are implemented according to schedule, budget and required quality.

Essential Job Responsibilities

STRATEGY & VISION

• Collaborate with other team members for effective integration between other services like Nutrition and health services
• Collaborate with Local authorities and other partners to harmonize different efforts for better impact and sustainability.
• Able to learn and update his/ her information or knowledge to adapt to the changing situation and context.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Manage the food and nutrition activities implemented in assigned LGA and ensure that staff are effectively engaged in their tasks.
• Supervise day to day field level implementation of food and nutrition activities i.e. management of uncomplicated SAM cases through established OTP services, Nutrition surveillance activities i.e. community nutrition screening, nutrition surveys and assessments and IYCF promotion and support, Food Vouchers redemption i.e dry, fresh and fleshy food redemption.
• Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to established vulnerability criteria.
• Raise procurement requests to initiate procurement process following MC policy and periodically evaluate and update project procurement and supply needs.
• Draft monthly financial forecast and quarterly financial need forecast in line with the detailed project activity plan/Monthly activity plans and send it to Program Manager
• Consolidate and submit quality food and nutrition and related activity reports (including success stories and lessons learned reports).
• Closely collaborate with other sector teams at the field level to ensure an integrated Food and Nutrition approach internally with MC sectors and externally with complementary activities implemented by other nutrition actors.
• Discuss and follow up on any technical problems related to food and nutrition programming and brainstorm solutions.
• Conduct and facilitate regular food redemption and Post Distribution Monitoring.
• Ensure sound monitoring and joint supervision of program activities in close collaboration with other programs.
• Actively participate in area-level nutrition, food security and Health sector meetings.
• Serve as technical focal person for all field-level engagements.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

• Track project teams’ daily attendance and validate monthly attendance for supervisees.
• Communicate with HR for necessary staff meetings, performance reviews, appraisals
• Work with the team to develop a detailed project implementation plan and orient the project teams on their roles and responsibilities
• Identify specific technical gaps in project implementation teams and in liaison with the Technical Advisor organize internal training for them.
• Organize LGA-level weekly nutrition team meetings and provide feedback on improvements, gaps and standardization of the service provision and reporting

FINANCE & COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION

• Train and support community nutrition Monitors and make sure they transmit/convey messages clearly to the community.
• Creates and maintain relationships with local health and other authorities to link services with the existing health structure smoothly,
• Upholds the image and values of Mercy Corps at all times,

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Organizational Learning 

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
• Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Supervisory Responsibility

• Food Assistance and Nutrition Officer, Clinical Officer, Nutrition Counselor, & Pharmacist Assistant.

Knowledge and Experience

• Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition, Food Security, Agriculture or other related fields, a relevant master’s degree is a plus.
• Minimum (4) years experience in nutrition and/or food security and livelihood programming, policy or research, with at least two (2) years experience in a resource-challenged setting.
• Substantial hands-on experience in social and Behaviour change programming and or CMAM programming is required.
• Familiarity with the intervention areas
• Knowledge of nutrition assessments and surveys is a plus.
• Microsoft Office Skills (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Word).
• Excellent analytical, written and oral communication skills.
• Willing and able to be based within remote areas, where services are limited.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team, including cross-cultural teams.
• Fluency in Hausa, Kanuri and English.

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General Position Summary

The Clinical Officer will be responsible for the day-to-day implementation and delivery of quality Outpatient Therapeutic Program (OTP) services in Gwoza LGA. He /She will provide technical support for medical consultation, outreach EPI, health/ nutrition education, sanitation and child health as per standard protocols/ guidelines. He/ She is expected to provide supervision, technical assistance, build the capacity of program staff and all OTP-related reporting

Essential Job Responsibilities

STRATEGY & VISION

• Collaborate with other team members for effective integration between other services like Nutrition and health services
• Collaborate with Local authorities and other partners to harmonize different efforts for better impact and sustainability.
• Able to learn and update his/ her information or knowledge to adapt to the changing situation and context

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Coordinate and facilitate implementation of OTP services, site selection and prepare weekly movement plan.
• Ensure that mobile/ outreach OTP sites have all the nutrition and medical supplies, tools/ items necessary for the management of uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition.
• Provide basic health services including consultations for SAM cases, emergency services, referrals, health education, and EPI as per standard guidelines.
• Ensure admitted SAM patients receive necessary routine medication, immunization is up to date, and health and nutrition education given.
• Ensure admission and discharge criteria for SAM patients are respected as per the national CMAM guidelines.
• Ensure referral of children with complicated SAM to SC and those with MAM are referred to TSFP for appropriate nutrition care.
• Facilitate training and closely work with MOH staff at Health centres within the catchment areas.
• Organize daily, weekly and monthly overviews and reports of consultations, EPI and health education.
• Ensure referral system and linkage between SC, OTP and TSFP services at the community and at the health facility level.
• Adherence to medical and nutritional treatment protocols and procedures for children and infants.
• Participate in capacity-building training, health education sessions and IEC/BCC application.
• Follow up absentees/defaulters and keep a current record of both beneficiaries and the staff.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

• Makes sure that team participate in the daily routine work for sustainability and smooth phase-out strategy.
• Provide on-the-job training and capacity building for OTP staff with support and liaison with the line manager.
• Supports the integration of program activities with those implemented at Health Facilities in the catchment areas, through regular liaison, information sharing and on-the-job training and supervision.

FINANCE & COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION

• Train and support community nutrition Monitors and make sure they transmit/convey messages clearly to the community.
• Creates and maintain relationships with local health and other authorities to link services with the existing health structure smoothly,
• Upholds the image and values of Mercy Corps at all times,

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Organizational Learning 

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
• Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Supervisory Responsibility

• Mobile/ Outreach OTP team

Knowledge and Experience

• BSc. in nursing or medicine with a minimum of two years’ work experience in an NGO environment in clinical setups.
• Previous experience treating patients with severe acute malnutrition is a MUST.
• Familiarity with the intervention areas.
• Microsoft Office Skills (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Word).
• Willing and able to be based within remote areas, where services are limited.
• Fluency in Hausa, Kanuri and English.

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General Position Summary

The Nutrition and food assistance Officer is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day implementation of food and nutrition activities in Damboa and Dikwa under BEGE Program. S/he will work closely with other sectors such as MEL, CASH, and Livelihood ensuring smooth project implementation and delivery of program objectives.  Activities will include Promotion / supporting adoption of recommended maternal and Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices, distribution of Food Vouchers to target participants, food redemption monitoring, regular vendors review meeting, monitoring and supervision of community-level nutrition screening including the rollout of Mother Led MUAC approach and as well participation in planned nutrition surveys and assessments.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Implement all Food and nutrition assistance activities within the work plan and offer technical guidance to the team.
• Support the implementation of Food and nutrition assistance activities and ensure smooth coordination across sectors.
• Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to vulnerability criteria.
• Conduct monthly food redemption across communities within the LGA.
• Collaborate with other team members for effective integration between other services like Nutrition and health services.
• Collaborate with local authorities and other partners to harmonize different efforts for better impact and sustainability.
• Able to learn and update his/ her information or knowledge to adapt to the changing situation and context.
• Provide technical inputs on the execution of the implementation of Food assistance activities in a timely manner.

Program Management

• Coordinate with other sectors (Cash, Livelihoods, Shelter, MEL, WASH) and support units to ensure activities are conducted within MC policy and with the maximum benefit to the program.
• Provide inputs to the design and implementation of training in any areas related to the program activities for staff, communities, and program beneficiaries.
• Supervise community mobilization and sensitization activities aimed at promoting appropriate Maternal, Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices and Fresh Food Vouchers to improve Household dietary Diversification.
• Regularly monitor and supervise redemption exercise as well as beneficiary targeting.
• Ensures beneficiary complaints mechanisms and Accountability to the Affected Population are addressed in the appropriate way that does not discredit the image of Mercy Corps.
• Spearhead the rollout of the Mother Led MUAC approach i.e., coordinate with community structures and any other key stakeholders, organize necessary materials/ tools required for the training, and lead the training sessions.
• Participate in nutrition assessments and surveys planned in the catchment area.
• Actively participate in area-level nutrition, food security and Health sector meetings.
• Ensure timely submission of quality weekly and monthly nutrition activity reports.
• Ensure that key learnings are extracted from Food assistance implementation and incorporated in Food assistance implementation and staff development processes.
• Regularly monitor and ensure that the nutrition team in the field has the necessary tools (i.e., data collection tools, job aids, IEC materials etc.) and supplies required for quality implementation of planned nutrition activities.
• Maintain filing of all Mercy Corps beneficiaries, and ensure all lists are well captured electronically and manually.
• Facilitate and co-facilitate community meetings, events and training as required.
• Build and maintain good external relationships and coordination with relevant food assistance actors within and out of Maiduguri.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
• Any Other duties as assigned.

 Team Management

• Identify technical gaps among staff line managed and in liaison with the line manager provide on-the-job training and/ support supervision.
• Participate in developing detailed project implementation plan and orient the line managed on agreed actions.

Finance & Compliance Management

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.

Influence & Representation

• Creates and maintain relationships with local health and other authorities to link services with the existing health structure smoothly.
• Always upholds the image and values of Mercy Corps at all times.

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Organizational Learning

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Supervisory Responsibility

• Transaction monitors.
• Community Nutrition Mobilizers.

Knowledge and Experience

• BA/Sc. in Nutrition, Agriculture or any related discipline.
• 2 years of experience working on the development, implementation, administration and compliance of a field-based international development or humanitarian program; general gender and protection mainstreaming experience & knowledge required.
• At least 2 years of experience implementing Food Assistance and Nutrition programs in the Northeast of Nigeria.
• At least 1 year of experience implementing Supplementary Nutrition Assistance/fresh food and vegetables.
• Experience using voucher modality and knowledge of Nagis platform.
• Experience working with local partners, especially market vendors is required. 
• Demonstrated strengths in analytical skills, monitoring and evaluation, and report writing.
• Strong interpersonal, intercultural and communication skills.
• Excellent oral and written skills and computer skills.
• Fluency in English and Hausa is required.