Kenya: HEAD OF DEPARTMENT HEALTH AND NUTRITION

Organization: Action Against Hunger

Country: Kenya

Closing date: 16 May 2016

Specific Responsibilities
Objective 1: To contribute actively to the definition of the overall Country strategy and vision for ACF Kenya and lead the Health & Nutrition sector strategy within the Country Strategy

 Ensure a clear vision for health and nutrition department that incorporates government, donor and nutrition sector needs plans and strategies both at the county and national levels.

 Ensure that the health and nutrition field team and respective Heads of Region (HOR) fully understand and know how to implement the country strategy objectives relevant to Health & Nutrition as well as the cross-cutting issues stipulated within the mission documents.

 Participate in monthly/quarterly program strategic review meetings and ensure that clear vision of Health & Nutrition sector is articulated in the different areas of implementation. This will involve presenting the analysis of the lessons learnt from field visits, recommendations from various reports with the aim of identifying opportunities that will strengthen the Health & Nutrition approaches and strategies to support the Health & Nutrition vision.

 Lead the Health & Nutrition Nairobi and field teams in the review of the country strategy and ensure integration with other Sectors and articulation of emerging current issues to maximize on creating impact in ACF programming.

 Ensure that the Health & Nutrition team provide feedback on strategic issues during health and nutrition team quarterly managers review meeting

Objective 2: To enhance integrated, innovative, effective, inclusive and cost-effective programme/project designs

 Ensure that information sharing on new program development acquired from the meetings and technical forums is shared adequately with respective teams and it is applied accordingly by various recipients.

 Actively participate in liaison with CD and DCD in analysing calls for concepts and proposal and reaching on a go/no-go decision.

 Assist in interpreting call for proposal requirements to the Nutrition and Health department technical members, HORs and other departmental technical team members in the case of multi-sectoral calls.

 Participate in the designing Nutrition and Health proposals and concepts and ensure involvement of other departments such as WASH, FSL, Finance, logistics and field teams. The design should ensure that the needs are representative of the community and incorporates county development integrated plans and other views of the communities per the needs.

 Responsible for developing sound, innovative and sound theories of change for the health & nutrition project designs.

 Liaise with HORs and other departments (programmes, finance human resources and logistics) in putting together proposal design.

 Assist in technical justification of new nutrition programs/activities as needs arise in collaboration with the DCD, technical advisor and CD.

Objective 3: To provide technical guidance, oversight and validation of all health & nutrition technical elements including specific strategies, methodologies, TOC, designs, technical approaches, etc.

 Liaise with HoRs on all technical elements of project designs and project implementation

 Maintain constant communication with Health & Nutrition field team as to provide technical direction and support to the Nutrition and Health field team to ensure technically sounds implementation of the activities of the health and nutrition program.

 Provide technical direction on Project Management Committees as required.

 Ensure external documents and reports developed (monthly technical coordinators report, donor reports, evaluation reports, assessment reports among other documents) are technically sound and adhere to ACF internal guidelines, to donor’s rules and regulations and program’s proposal objectives.

 Provide technical direction and support to the Nutrition and Health field team to ensure technically sounds implementation of the activities of the health and nutrition program.

 Holding the technical accountability of the Health & Nutrition activities implemented

Objective 4: To position and represent the organization in external and internal fora at global, regional and country levels

 Contribute in building technical credibility and recognition of the organization amongst all stakeholders

 Maintain good relationship with Health & Nutrition donors and ensure that any critical information affecting the program is communicated accordingly in close liaison with DCD and CD.

 In relation to Health & Nutrition, establish and maintain good relationship and regular communication with donors and other strategic partners

 Ensure ACF is represented and active in Health & Nutrition technical meetings and working groups are attended and updates from the meetings are provided in a timely manner.

 Ensure that viable linkages are established with other nutrition sensitive platforms and fora e.g WASH, agriculture, livestock, gender, environment.

 Support in development and negotiation of MoUs at the county, country and regional levels where necessary.

 Liaise with the advocacy unit and HORs in ensuring that ACF ideas are integrated in health and nutrition discussions at various platforms at the county, country and regional levels where necessary.

 Participate in other coordination meetings with strategic partners on need basis

Objective 5: To ensure program integration with FSL, WASH and other cross cutting issues with the aim of ensuring an integrated and holistic approaches

 Represent/lead the health and nutrition team in multi-sectoral initiatives and designs.

 Ensure the project design reflect high level of synergies with other sectors and contributing to a common goal/vision of the organization.

 In liaison with the DCD, organize together with the WASH, FSL heads of departments lessons learnt forum to exchange information on the situation analysis, assessment recommendations, new donor strategies and other emerging issues to support integration opportunities and identify connectors for quality programing.

 Ensure that adequate feedback by other sectors (WASH and FSL) is given during nutrition assessments with the aim of ensuring that the tools, procedures and findings are well triangulated and reflect the true picture of the situation on the ground.

 Ensure that health and nutrition department is well represented in fora, workshops and meetings that involve integration of activities and clear lessons drawn to improve programs

Objective 6: Enhance effective relationship and integration with support departments in Nairobi (Finance, Logistics and Human Resources)

 As required, assist the HOD finance and DCD to communicate outstanding financial and operational issues to the donors during the implementation of projects

 Liaise with the HOD logistics, HORs and the Nutrition and Health team to re-inforce adherence to logistics procedures and requirements.

 Liaise with the Nutrition and Health team in identifying key areas of training and provide recommendation to human resource department.

 To participate in recruitment of key health and nutrition positions and others with high level of integrity based on competencies.

Essential Qualifications

 Master of Science (MSc) in nutrition, public health or related field (must be registered with Kenya nutrition and dietetics Institute)

 At least 7 years’ experience as a senior nutrition program manager or a senior technical specialist

 Demonstrated experience on Maternal, Neonatal, children health programming and Health Systems Strenthening (HSS).

 Demonstrated experience on county government engagement.

 Excellent analytical, organizational and coordination skills.

 Experience in team management including capacity building, supervision and performance evaluation

 Fluency in English with good verbal and written communication skills.

 Ability to communicate and negotiate effectively. Communication skills ( written, oral and cross cultural)

 Experience working with regional, national and sub-national (county)

Previous experience with ACF preferred though if not available strong experience with an international humanitarian agency would be acceptable.

What ACF will offer:

Remuneration package: Very Competitive salary package with additional benefits that include:

• Career development opportunities with ACF


• Comprehensive medical cover for self and dependents


• Individual training and capacity building budget


• Opportunity to work in a nice and friendly environment with a dynamic and motivated team

 Duration of contract: 12 months, renewable depending on performance and funding availability

 Start date: As Soon as Possible (ASAP)

How to apply:

Interested candidates should forward their applications including a cover letter and curriculum vitae. to: www.myjobsinkenya.com/action Certificates will be required later on in the recruitment process by of Close Business 16th May 2016, applications received past the deadline will not be processed. Please indicate the position on the subject line of the email.

NB: Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis.
Application open to Kenyan nationals only