Sr. Manager, Maternal, Child Health & Nutrition

Description

We are recruiting for this role in Addis Ababa. However, we would be willing to consider basing this role in Nairobi should a candidate with all of the relevant skills and experience apply. We are therefore willing to also accept applications from candidates based in Nairobi.

Main purpose of the role

As a recognized leader in your field, you will contribute to the development of cutting edge and evidence-based strategies, plans and investments that ensure CIFF’s work across maternal, child health and nutrition (MCH+N), with a particular emphasis on advancing nutrition outcomes and systems, achieves transformational and lasting change. You will bring deep expertise and networks in nutrition to complement the team’s strong maternal and child health leadership, ensuring integrated and synergistic MCH+N programming.

Your responsibilities encompass the development and management and oversight of a comprehensive portfolio of investments aimed at advancing MCH+N sector priorities in alignment with CIFF's Africa Strategy, Resilient Communities Framework, and MCH+N Missions. These efforts are crucial to meet the corporate objectives set by the CIFF Board. Operating within a dynamic and fast-paced environment, your role will be multifaceted and diverse. These responsibilities require a high level of proficiency in visual communication, including the ability to translate insights into high quality and strategic presentations for both internal and external audiences.

Your expertise and contributions play a vital role in supporting CIFF and its partners in the implementation and refinement of strategic initiatives within the portfolio. By leveraging your insights and leadership, you will actively shape the strategies that drive positive outcomes and inform future directions, thus ensuring the continued success and impact of CIFF's efforts in driving impact for MCH+N in Africa.

Role’s responsibilities

Strategy & planning

• Independently or with minimal assistance, undertake meticulous preparation and delivery of top-tier analyses and research tailored to inform strategic objectives and operational plans effectively.
• Facilitate the collaboration of diverse stakeholders, encompassing governmental bodies, donor partners, and implementing agencies, to gather valuable insights and inputs for shaping strategic priorities.
• Contribute strategic insights to enhance CIFF’s MCH+N portfolio, identifying partnership and co-creation opportunities to propel both CIFF’s MCH+N initiatives and the broader MCH+N ecosystem forward, particularly, but not exclusively, in nutrition and food systems.
• Collaborate closely with the Director, Maternal, Child Health and Development to craft sustainable MCH+N financing mechanisms in Africa, pioneering innovative approaches that inform CIFF's strategy and contribute to the advancement of the broader ecosystem.

Programme development, delivery & performance

• Develop a robust pipeline of potential investments aligning with the MCH+N mission.
• Collaborate within the Resilient Communities team and with colleagues in Girl Capital and FABA to spearhead, shape, execute, and scale integrated investments addressing holistic issues in line with our Africa strategic priorities.
• Conduct regular reviews of investment progress and performance, identifying problems and delays and work with partners to develop effective solutions (escalating issues to the Director for support and intervention, when necessary).
• Identify and embed appropriate monitoring and evaluation processes to all proposals and programmes.
• Lead the design of investments, identification and selection of suitable grantees, securing approval within CIFF, and overseeing program implementation following CIFF procedures.
• Adhere to established due diligence and risk management procedures throughout proposal development and execution to safeguard the Foundation's interests and reputation.
• Identify synergies and promote program integration, fostering connections with complementary projects and suggesting methods for aligning diverse interventions.
• Identify opportunities for improving processes, procedures and programme management within and outside the team, enhancing operational efficiency and effectiveness.
• Collaborate closely with Finance and Legal teams to coordinate the development of grant agreements, forecast and process grant disbursements, and ensure effective grant management and reporting.
• Serve as the ‘lead’ of CIFF's online grants management system (Fluxx) within the team, ensuring adherence to corporate requirements for MCH+N.
• Assist in crafting concise and high-quality summary reports, board reports, and investment portfolio reports, meeting stringent deadlines without compromising quality

Sector knowledge and profile-building

• Stay abreast of developments in MCH+N and allied sectors especially in nutrition, food systems, and community-based delivery models within the realm of international development, establishing robust networks and channels for gathering pertinent information to deepen professional knowledge, skills, and opportunities for both CIFF and our grantees.
• Contribute, as needed, to the formulation of thought leadership, public relations, marketing, and advocacy materials, supporting CIFF's ambitions to scale-up, mainstream, and secure additional support for its initiatives.
• Collaborate with Directors to delineate and shape outward-facing advocacy and policy agendas to influence the MCH+N sector, including but not limited to nutrition policy, governance, and financing.
• Conduct thorough assessments of relevant academic research, policies, and governmental initiatives, offering recommendations to address identified gaps and foster improvements.
• Represent CIFF at conferences, workshops, and professional events to disseminate insights, establish connections, and promote CIFF's mission and initiatives on a global scale.

Stakeholder and partner management

• Conduct rigorous research and evaluation of potential partners, employing established corporate protocols and methodologies to assess their suitability and credentials for collaboration on CIFF initiatives.
• Apply CIFF's designated account management and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) disciplines and approaches in all dealings with programme partners and stakeholders, to ensure productive and professional relationships in maintained in a coordinated and strategic manner.
• Assist in the development of strategic partnerships, under the guidance of senior colleagues, to support the adoption, replication, co-funding, or scaling-up of CIFF programmes.
• Serve as a knowledgeable resource on CIFF's programs and priority areas for various external audiences.
• Foster open and constructive dialogue with relevant governmental ministries, agencies, and stakeholders at both central and state levels to ensure effective programme implementation and sustainable outcomes.

Membership of the team

• Act as a role model to CIFF values and leadership behaviours.
• Manage Analysts and/or M1s as required in strategic, programmatic, and sector-related capacities, ensuring alignment with CIFF Africa objectives.
• Provide ongoing support to all MCH+N team members, ensure high performance is enabled through the establishment of objective setting, clear accountabilities, and regular reviews.
• Provide coaching and mentoring to colleagues as required, to help build skills, confidence, and enhancing capabilities in various areas, processes, or procedures

Requirements

Skills & Experience

• Possess a post-graduate degree or equivalent experience, with a preference for specialization in medical sciences, nutrition & food systems, public health & epidemiology, or related fields.
• Bring demonstrated technical depth technical expertise in nutrition—including an understanding of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions, and how these intersect across CIFF Africa priority areas.
• Have a strong track record of synthesising complex information into compelling strategic insights and deliverables, and exceptional visual storytelling and presentation skills that drive decision-making and communicate impact.
• Exhibit comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the African context, international development, and global health.
• Demonstrable experience in analysis and due diligence; policy, planning and programme delivery, including field experience, all within international development and global health.
• Showcase experience in formulating and executing investments with the ability to speak and write articulately and credibly about programmes for children.
• Have knowledge of and experience in evidence-based programme design targeting MCH+N and health system strengthening
• Possess strong understanding of impact measurement, programme monitoring, and evaluation methodologies.
• Demonstrate an innovative and solution-oriented mindset, coupled with practical problem-solving skills.
• Possess strong relationship-building skills, capable of influencing others and fostering collaborative efforts across different cultures and groups with shared objectives.
• Display exceptional verbal and written communication skills in English, the business language of CIFF, and proficiency in IT, particularly in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Experience working within government systems and/or experience influencing the policies of government agencies, private sector organizations or donor organisations
• Capacity to work in a range of cultural and socio-economic contexts, adapting style and approach appropriately and in a culturally sensitive manner to maximise effectiveness
• Show evidence of being a proactive self-starter, able to work with speed and resilience in dynamic environments.
• Willingness to travel regularly as part of the role's requirements.

Benefits

The starting salary for this position is USD 92,000. If the successful candidate is based in Nairobi, our starting salary would be KES 13,200,000.

CIFF operates a hybrid work policy across all locations, meaning employees work from home some of the time. We are happy to provide more information on this as part of the recruitment process.

Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a generous benefits package here at CIFF that includes, but is not limited to the following.

• Annual leave - 25 days per annum. Increasing by 1 day after each year of service, to a maximum of 30 days.
• Bonus - CIFF currently operates a discretionary bonus scheme.
• Pension
• Private medical insurance
• Training allowance
• Wellbeing allowance
• Life insurance

Please submit your application on or before 8 November 2025. CIFF reserves the right to close the job advert early if we receive a high number of suitable applications.

Skills Required:

• Food / Technology / Science / Engineering
• Health / Medical