Deputy Health and Nutrition Program Manager

About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 24 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 50 countries, our 8,300 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

Action Against Hunger USA is part of the Action Against Hunger International network. As an independent NGO, Action Against Hunger USA currently manages operations in 8 countries: Kenya, South Sudan, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia and Haiti. Action Against Hunger-USA has over $100 million in programs, and approximately 1,800 permanent staff based in New York City, Washington D.C, Nairobi, and country offices. Additional growth is anticipated.

I.  Summary of position

The Deputy Nutrition and Health Program manager under the direct supervision of the Nutrition and Health Program Manger provides technical support and follow- up of the health and nutrition projects in respective operational area. S/he will supervise and train health and nutrition team as well as frontline health workers to ensure delivery of quality CMAM/IMAM, IYCF, IMNCI and other high impact RMNCH and Public Health Emergency Services in line with FMoH, Donors, Action Against Hunger and Humanitarian standards, protocols and guidelines. S/he is also expected to establish and maintain productive working relationships with her/his line manager, project staff, local government authorities and project beneficiaries to ensure effective coordination, collaboration, transparent and accountable program delivery mechanism at project operational areas and to build trust. Additionally, s/he will represent Action Against Hunger in local level Nutrition and Health sectoral/cluster coordination platforms and fora.

The role’s purpose, engagement and delivery are:

Objective 1: Ensure compliance to quality standards in Health and Nutrition project activities:

Delivery: (The focus on the execution of the work and the role on the team for supporting business/operational functions in terms of timeliness and quality)

Key activities & responsibilities to achieve this objective:

• In collaboration and working with the Health and Nutrition PM and other team members, analyze capacity building needs and gaps in the operational areas and propose trainings accordingly.
• Ensuring quality implementation of health and nutritional packages, including CMAM/IMAM, IYCF, IMNCI, RMNCH, DHIS2 and IPLS in project supported health facilities through regular supportive supervision and monitoring activities.
• Ensure the availability of health and nutrition standard protocols/ guidelines in all Action Against Hunger supported health facilities and service delivery sites and assist in strict applications.
• Provide the necessary technical guidance and support to Action Against Hunger field team, including H & N Supervisors, MHNT HO and FSL project officer in a manner that supports the growth of internal capacity.
• Make sure that all Health and Nutrition interventions are adapted to COVID-19 infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, there is adequate integration of risk communication, and community engagement activities as essential mitigate and control measures in operational areas.
• Coordinate with local health authorities and ensure the availability of essential medicines and supplies requires to render continues health and nutrition services.
• Observe and support field level activities to determine the team's specific training requirements to improve understanding of care practices and organize the appropriate training in response.
• Analysis and follow up of the health and nutrition situation and health emergencies in operational areas, that could potentially affect the health and nutrition status of the population in the operational areas and provide regular technical insights and updates to the NHPD to help make informed decisions.
• Ensure timely and quality implementation of planned health and nutrition activities within and alerting the Health and Nutrition PM to any challenges faced in project implementation.
• Strengthen, creating and developing service referral linkages and network for the detection and early referral of clients, notably by the use of W/HDAs and community mobilization techniques.

Objective 2: Contribute to the Health & Nutrition country strategy and project development as well as support in direct program operations at base level:

Purpose: (The substantive focus of the job encompassing scope, depth and difficulty of work both conceptual and applied)

Key activities & responsibilities to achieve this objective:

• Develop annual health and nutrition master beneficiaries and BoQ in close coordination and consultation with line manager as well as local health authorities.
• Identify and propose the development of new innovative health and nutrition programs and projects in collaboration with Health and Nutrition PM and capital based technical advisers.
• Assist and support the NHPM in review the overall project work plans and budgeting for field activities associated with donor requirements and provide guidance to the Health and Nutrition team in their delivery of those requirements.
• Review project reporting schedules, templates, and requirements, and guide the Health and
• Nutrition team in the field to fulfil requirements and respect reporting deadlines in line with Action Against Hunger and donor standards.
• Make close follow up of project budget utilization status through close monitoring of BFUs and specific grants spending status and addressing challenges on timely manner in close consultation with line manager.
• Prepare Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) and APRs for health and nutrition projects in close consultation with line manager and other team members.
• Ensure and support the implementation of activities according to the Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP).
• Participate in regular base level BFU and APR meetings; provide inputs that would enhance the timely and effective project implementation and completion.
• Support the line manager in preparing quality grant (Narrative and Qualitative), including APR narrative and quantitative reports, both for internal and external purposes in line with agreed timeframes and standards.
• Ensure quality monthly nutrition and health cluster updates are developed and shared with Health and Nutrition Program Manager and capital based TAs.
• Coordinate with other sectors and thematic areas in Action Against hunger such as WASH, FSL and Protection Gender MHPSS/ program managers and ensure effective integration of interventions at different levels of engagements.
• Check the team’s Procurement Requests according to the needs, available stock and budget availability, and submit to Health and Nutrition PM for validation
• Coordinate and ensure timely delivery of health and nutrition supplies to the health facilities in coordination with zonal and woreda authorities and Health and Nutrition PM.

Objective 3: Participate and supervise Health and Nutrition Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) activities:

Key activities & responsibilities to achieve this objective:

Engagement: (The focus of interaction both internally and externally needed to deliver a service seek collaboration and build effective partnerships)

• Participate in various health and nutrition assessments, including annual needs assessments, SQUEAC, SLEAC, BNA and SMART nutrition surveys as required in collaboration with AAH Nutrition Survey Manager and MEAL department.
• Ensure that project staff are adhering to the standard reporting and recording system of Action Against Hunger and Project MEAL plan as well as donor visibility/communication policies.
• Support and contribute to providing quality health and nutrition data for monitoring and evaluation purposes.
• Ensure Health and Nutrition activities are running with recommended and agreed Indicators, put recommended action plans for improvement, and suggest any other solution toward program target achievements.
• Participate in the evaluation of Health and Nutrition interventions.
• Collect, analyse, interpret the necessary health and nutrition program (epidemiological) data in close consultation with MEAL department on regular basis and communicate timely key findings for advocacy as well as program implication purposes.
• Contribute to and ensure the generation, documentation and dissemination of evidences, good program implementation practices, experiences, lessons at field and regional level in collaboration with other AAH staff, hired contractors and departments.

Objective 4: External coordination, representation and communication in the field of Health and Nutrition at regional and local level.

Key activities & responsibilities to achieve this objective:

• Participate in the different external coordination mechanisms at woreda and zonal level when required in collaboration with Health and Nutrition PM.
• Provide updates on Action Against Hunger health and nutrition activities in the different external coordination meetings when required in collaboration with Health and Nutrition PM-
• Liaison with international and local partners regarding health and nutrition activities
• Provide support to health and nutrition team on external partners’ (including donor visits) field visits - represent Action Against Hunger, development of briefing papers etc. when required in collaboration with Health and Nutrition PM.
• Share minutes of meetings attended including summary of action points.

Objective 5: Human Resource Management and staff development

• The Deputy Health and Nutrition Program Manager is responsible to:
• Support evaluation of the skill level and technical competence of team members, usually under direct supervision.
• Identify training needs of health and nutrition staff and organize oriented trainings on the basis of skills assessments and observation in collaboration with Health and Nutrition PM.
• Management of his/her teams motivation, inspiration, commitment and wellness from leadership, capacity and other competency perspectives.
• Taking part in the recruitment of staff in line with HR procedures and in consultation with Health and Nutrition PM and Base Admin/HR.
• Conduct staff appraisals and development of work/action plans for your team (supervisors, officers, nurses).
• Organize (in collaboration with PM) monthly team meetings to identify challenges and track progress in the Program implementation at the different centers and develop action plan and follow up accordingly.
• Identify and report any issues in the team to Health and Nutrition PM and propose a way forward to address the issues.
• Follow up on staff leave planning, absence, late coming in collaboration with Nutrition and Health PM and HR.
• Take the responsibilities and tasks assigned by PM/FC during PMs absence.

II.  Supervisory Responsibilities

• Acting as the direct technical supervisor for Health and Nutrition Supervisors based in district levels.

III.                Gender Equality Commitments  

• Foster an environment that supports the values of women and men, and equal access to information.
• Provide a work environment where women and men must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance.
• Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, children (boys and girls) regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion. Race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status.
• Value and respect all cultures. 

IV.  Fiscal Responsibility

• Budget follow up (BFU) regularly and ensure the utilization of allocated budget in timely manner to ensure accurate and effective use of funds.
• Update the monthly BFU and facilitate the monthly cash needs forecast ensuring adequate funds are always available.
• Ensure that budget is implemented in compliance with Action Against Hunger and donor regulations.
• Developing annual financial plans of the program and ensure that these financial plans are implemented in accordance with annual physical/activity plans.

V.  Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit for long periods and to concentrate on work, including typing, and turn out heavy volumes of work accurately, within short time frames under stressful situations in the context of a moderately noisy office with many interruptions. Must be able to proofread own work accurately so that only minor corrections are needed on an infrequent basis.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

VI. Working Conditions, Travel, and Environment 

• The duties of the job require regular job attendance at least five days per week. Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required.
• Must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business purposes. While performing the duties of this job in the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high-security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well as to infectious diseases. 

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, Nursing, Nutrition, Food Security and other health related field of studies.
• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in public health, nutrition, RH and epidemiology is preferable.

Required Skills & Experiences

• 5+ years of professional experience and 3+ years of relevant experience in managing Nutrition and Health relief and development programs.
• Well trained on high impact health and nutrition interventions.
• Familiarity with key donors funded project requirements and procedures.
• Exposure to national and subnational health and nutrition sectoral/cluster coordination platforms and different TWGs.
• Good strategic and analytical ability with strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Embracing Diversity, Self-Awareness and Self-Regulation, good experience in staff management and capacity building.
• Strong flexibility in terms of mobility and working hours as well as ability to work both independently and as a member of a team.
• Desirable project management skill, quality report writing skill and capable of working in team.
• Experience in organizing and participating in field-level data collection as part of a research study or program monitoring and evaluation.
• Strong interpersonal communication skill, networking and representation skill.
• Knowledge and skills of MS Office Suite is required and skills on other statistical software (Epi Info 7, ENA for SMART, and SPSS) is desirable.
• Ability to take initiative and prioritize multiple tasks with minimum supervision.
• Genuine interest in and commitment to the mission and principles of Action Against Hunger.

Languages:

• Fluency (written and Spoken) in English and Oromiffaa Languages are required.
• Knowledge of more than one local language is a plus.