Nutrition Officer at International Rescue Committee

Nutrition Officer

Employer: International Rescue Committee

Employment: Full-Time | Contract

Place of Work: Shire, Tigray Region - Ethiopia

Posted date: 9 months ago

Deadline: Submission date is over

Job Description

The IRC has a focus on narrowing the gender gap in humanitarian aid and ensuring that we contribute to gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in both our programs and operations by working to establish a context where our clients (including those from minority groups) enjoy the same rights and opportunities as well as equal access to services. The IRC also has a strong commitment to creating an equitable and inclusive culture, where safeguarding is upheld in our workplace and programs. We are determined to protect our clients and staff from safeguarding violations through prevention and, where misconduct is alleged, to address it without fear or favor.

Job Overview:

The nutrition officer oversees the targeted supplementary feeding program (TSFP) and ensures the effective implementation of the Emergency Nutrition Response Project at the woreda (district) level. Their focus is on both the host community and IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) sites. They coordinate and implement the TSFP program in alignment with organizational and international standards. Furthermore, the officer provides ongoing technical support to government healthcare providers, including nurses, midwives, public health officers, and Health Extension Workers. This position will be based at different districts/woredas under our field office and will directly report to the program manager.

Major Responsibilities

• Take charge of planning and coordinating field-level TSFP activities, which include tasks such as preparing and estimating administrative costs for direct distributions. Additionally, submit operational requests to the program manager.
• Prepare distribution plans providing estimates of the proposed number of beneficiaries and how distribution shall be affected.
• Timely submission of the Food Distribution Plans to WFP for approval.
• Lead the scoping/distribution planning community sensitization missions.
• Prepare all TSFP tools required before each distribution and alert volunteers/ensure they are trained to undertake distributions.
• Prepare food returns documentation from direct distributions- explained and documented.
• Collaborate with the MHNT in Woreda to create joint work plans that connect the TSFP with the HMNT Community Case Management of Malnutrition (CMAM) activities.
• Act as the link between the TSP team and the zonal/woreda administrations, WoHo, and service recipient community.
• As and when required actively represent IRC nutrition coordination cluster.
• Verify, compile, and share complete timely reports of the TSFP activities to Woreda and, IRC Health and manager nutrition managers in Shire.
• Prepare and submit on time to the WFP Shire office the weekly, and monthly TSFP beneficiary reports, and monthly distribution reports including the waybill tracking sheets, and the monthly report invoice.
• Participate in the preparation of the weekly Nutrition cluster 5Ws report on TSFP.
• Develop a TSFP process monitoring checklist in collaboration with M&E
• Undertake regular TSFP monitoring field visits to provide on-the-job training, identify capacity gaps, and material needs, and collect TSFP activity reports from the field.
• Review existing TSFP training packages and adapt (as required)
• Mentor and coach, the Nutrition Assistants and Screeners.
• Conduct TSFP and other nutrition-related training for HEWs and Health Development Army (HDAs) and Health workers in the Woredas.
• Consistently and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of the team; promptly report concerns or incidents to IRC management and liaise with community leaders and other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment for IRC programs.
• Perform any other related duties as required.

Safeguarding Responsibilities:

• Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion, and cohesion in IRC [team/office].
• Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue, and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies.

Qualifications

Job Requirements

Educational Requirements

• Diploma/BSc/MSc or equivalent experience in Nursing, Public Health /MD
• Minimum work experience of 5 years for a Diploma, 2 years for a BSc, and 1 year for MSc/MD.

Preferred experience & skills:

• Excellent communication skills as well as an overall ability to be clear and concise in all communications.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills; proven track record to prioritize and deliver on time.
• Strong analytic problem-solving skills
• Excellent working both independently and in a dynamic, cross-functional team structure.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office suite
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with partners.
• Ability to manage and work through change proactively and positively Meets timelines for all reporting and delivery of outputs.
• Results-based attitude, as well as excellent organization skills, are a MUST.
• Excellent digital literacy, with a good knowledge of MS-office Windows including Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Access would be an advantage.
• Demonstrated behavior of professional and personal ethics, clarity, and willingness.
• Basic supervisory/managerial skills with strong interpersonal skills.
• NGO experience in emergency health response project activities is preferable.
• Demonstrable experience in working with communities in participatory approaches and capacity building of health centers.
• Ability to plan, coordinate, and supervise the implementation of health emergency intervention projects.
• Good technical and report writing skills with computer skills and knowledge.
• Excellent written and verbal skills.
• Self-motivated, honest, highly responsible, and punctual, with and ability to constructively address gaps and weaknesses.
• Proficiency in handling pressure in remote locations and a deep understanding of the cultural nuances.

Language Skills:

Excellent verbal and written communication in English is mandatory and the local language is advantageous.

Certificates or Licenses:

• Renewed professional license.

IRC is an equal employment opportunity employer. IRC considers all applicants based on merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability.

IRC strives to build a diverse and inclusive team at all levels who as individuals, and as a group, embody our culture statement creating a working environment characterized by critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity for us to achieve our aspirations as a team and deliver the best possible services to our clients.