Nutrition Specialist

UNICEF SOMALIA

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT REF: UNSOM/2010/032

Title: Nutrition Specialist
Category and Grade Level: National Officer – NOC
IMIS NO: 68624
Type of Contract: Fixed Term – 1 Year
Organization Unit: Accelerated Child Survival and Development
Duty Station: UNICEF Somalia - (USCC, Nairobi)
Date of Issue: 19 October 2010
Closing date of Application: 31 October 2010

If you are qualified Kenyan National and looking for a chance to make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable Somali children while gaining opportunities for career growth, you are invited to apply for the post of Nutrition Officer, with UNICEF Somalia, to be based in USSC, Nairobi with travel to Somalia.

If successful, you’ll be part of a dynamic and passionate team in Somalia and Nairobi that works together to improve the health, nutrition, water, sanitation, hygiene, and basic education of Somali girls and boys and protect them from violence, exploitation and abuse.

The successful candidate will be offered a Fixed Term Appointment for one year. Further extensions will be based on organizational needs, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

Purpose of the Post:
Under the supervision of the Senior Nutrition Manager, contribute to programme planning, administration, implementation and evaluation of programme/project activities, data analysis and progress reporting.

Major duties and responsibilities:

1. Provide technical leadership to UNICEF zonal offices and partners in expending interventions for the management of acute malnutrition - Stabilization Centre (SC), Outpatient Therapeutic Care Programme (OTP) , Supplementary Feeding Programme (SFP) and nutrition information management.

2. Ensure a strategic review of the most critical needs in management of acute malnutrition that can be addressed in the current context and devise a programmatic response (with the nutrition cluster/partners).

3. Provide day-to-day continuity and support in the management of the UNICEF national programme, including financial, administrative, and logistical support (with support from zonal Nutrition Specialists and the Senior Nutrition Manager).

4. Identify gaps in data collection and ensure that necessary evidence is collected, interpreted and used for program management as well as shared with partners.

5. Ensure experience, lessons and evidence is documented and disseminated within Somalia nutrition cluster/partners as well as regional and global forums.

6. Identify needs for specialized technical assistance/consultancy and initiate and manage consultancies (e.g. for program communication, development of training materials, e.t.c.)

Qualifications, Experience and Attributes

• Advanced university degree in nutrition i.e. public health or other related field
• A minimum of 5 years of progressive experiences at national and international level in program management and planning
• Knowledge of the local working language of the duty station is required.
• Fluency in English required both oral and written
• Knowledge of global human rights issues, specifically relating to children and women.
• Knowledge of latest development and technology in the health and nutrition field
• Proven ability to conceptualize, plan and manage programs as well as transfer of skills to others. Drive for results.
• Extensive and proven experience in influencing and establishing public nutrition interventions including management of acute malnutrition
• Intimate knowledge of global strategies and tools for the management of acute malnutrition
• Facilitation and training skills
• Leadership skills, effective communication and negotiation including advocacy skills
• Analytical ability, maturity, ability to work in a team, copes under stressful and difficult work condition. Ability to work in an international or multicultural environment
• Good knowledge of computer management and applications.

QUALIFIED FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY UNICEF IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT