Advisor, Global Nutrition Technical Unit, Intl

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

International Medical Corps, which has a history of providing healthcare services and training in Ukraine that dates back to 1999, is expanding its activities in the country and the surrounding region in response to the war there.

The situation throughout Ukraine is deteriorating rapidly as the conflict intensifies, prompting a sharp increase in humanitarian needs as access to essential services and supplies are disrupted and more and more people flee their homes. In addition, millions of Ukrainians have fled to neighboring countries, including Moldova, Poland and Romania, increasing pressure on host governments as they work to provide shelter and essential services to the new arrivals.

Our response activities will include operation of mobile medical teams and providing emergency and primary health services, mental health and psychosocial support, gender-based violence services, child protection, nutrition, and water, sanitation and hygiene. If requested, we also are prepared to deploy our Emergency Medical Team and mobile health facility to provide emergency and primary healthcare wherever it is needed.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Nutrition Advisor, Global Health Technical Unit work collaboratively within the multi-disciplinary technical team to continuously improve program quality through: developing and contributing to technical documentation, providing onsite and virtual technical assistance, assisting with resource mobilization and proposal development, support to partnership building, and strategic and operational planning. The Nutrition Advisor will be the lead nutrition advisor for regional meetings with donors and other partners.

Position includes travel in Ukraine and border countries.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical Support to Nutrition Program Design and Implementation

• Provide technical support expertise to the country programs to align field health programs with IMC and international pillars of standards.
• Develop, adapt and implement guidelines, protocols and standards for nutrition interventions, including roll-out at field level in order to achieve the highest quality of program interventions.
• Support country teams to design, conduct and analyse nutrition assessments, surveys and evaluations.
• Work with country teams to design appropriate nutrition prevention and response programs, including approaches for implementation, program timelines, staffing structures, and required budgets.
• Provide regular input and review of concept notes, proposals and program reports.
• Contribute to the development of regional strategy by providing analysis of the regional nutrition context and identification of potential opportunities.
• Contribute to the development of policy and strategy documents, such as the Nutrition Technical Unit Sector strategy and workplan.
• Support development of management and accountability mechanisms to ensure coherence between global, regional and national health policies and strategies and International Medical Corps work.
• Contribute actively to the design of integrated programming for all Technical Unit sectors (e.g. Health, MHPSS, GBV, WASH, Nutrition, FSL, etc.) in collaboration with HQ technical team and field staff.
• Ensure incorporation of innovative tools and strategies in new project and proposal development.
• Participate in and contribute to regular regional team meetings, and undertake visits to provide technical support to country teams in the assigned countries.
• Provide technical input for new proposals, reports and external communications for International Medical Corps global.
• Contribute to internal and global evidence building through the production and dissemination of case studies, promising practices, lesson-learned documents, and by identifying and pursuing funding opportunities for innovation and learning.

Emergency Response Support

• When needed, deploy to international emergency responses as part of initial ground team to conduct nutrition assessments, contribute to concept notes, proposals and reports, represent International Medical Corps at coordination meetings and ensure integrated response programming.
• Contribute to emergency preparedness such as development of Mission Ready Packages (MRPs) and mechanisms for vetting of emergency response roster staff.
• Explore opportunities for evolving the emergency response and transitional health programming to include operations research, learning and innovation, including identifying partnerships and collaborations with government and civil society agencies.
• Contribute to advocacy for attention to infant and young child feeding (IYCF) in new emergencies.

Capacity Building and Mentorship

• Employ a variety of methods to foster an exchange of knowledge and learning between countries.
• Develop and deliver technical trainings for field staff, volunteers, and partner organizations.
• Design and deliver in-house nutrition orientation for International Medical Corps non-nutrition staff.
• Respond to specific nutrition related requests and enquiries from country programs by undertaking relevant research, identifying appropriate technical expertise from within or external to the organization, undertaking capacity building of team members during field visits, and providing remote support through distance learning modalities.
• In coordination with other nutrition advisors and relevant technical staff, develop key documents in the areas of standards and approaches, core competencies, and learning. These will be in the form of technical briefs, technical guidelines, case studies and cape statements in order to promote high quality programming and strategic partnerships. Contribute with the dissemination plan for all guidelines and tools throughout the organization using platforms available (e.g. intranet, newsletters, trainings, etc.).
• Identify and facilitate recruitment of nutrition candidates for country technical program positions in collaboration with the field teams and relevant HQ staff.

Representation and Partnerships

• Represent International Medical Corps in the international emergency and development community through actively participating in, and contributing to key nutrition related technical and programmatic coalitions and global networks.
• Participate in relevant coordination forums.
• Represent IMC nutrition programming in donor meetings.
• Keep abreast and contribute to global discussions of nutrition issues and donor nutrition strategies.
• Organize and present nutrition program information and lessons learned to donors, partners and technical forums at country, regional and international level working with respective departments.
• Participate in networking on technical issues with other nutrition and related NGOs with a view to identifying and facilitating partnership opportunities.
• Contribute to development of technical guidance notes, minimum standards, case studies and other documentation based upon collective priorities identified.

Perform other duties as assigned. The duties and responsibilities listed in this document are representative of the nature and level of work assigned and not necessarily all inclusive.

Minimum Requirements

• Graduate degree in Nutrition or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Seven or more years managing international nutrition projects; experience in emergency and transitional context.
• Demonstrated significant experience and understanding of Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies.
• Experience leading nutrition assessments.
• Proven experience in capacity building through training and mentorship.
• Experience in supporting emergency response by deploying or providing remote support as needed.
• Familiarity with international humanitarian operations, coordination structures, and the mandates of donors, UN agencies, and other NGOs in relation to the nutrition sector.
• Outstanding communications skills including the ability to write technical documents and deliver high level presentation.
• The ability to effectively analyze complex problems and suggest solution that would have positive impact on the organization needs.
• Ability to use initiative and independent judgment, identify and resolve problems, and strong negotiation skills.
• Fluency in written and spoken English; fluency in Ukrainian or other languages advantage.
• Commitment to be deployed at very short notice to respond to field or other international travel (up to 75%).

JOB DESCRIPTION *

JOB SUMMARY: The Nutrition Advisor will be a member of the Technical Unit and will provide technical support and guidance to the design and implementation of International Medical Corps nutrition programs. The Nutrition Advisor will support relevant emergency response operations. The Advisor will work closely with International Medical Corps field offices, the Emergency Response Unit, and other HQ departments to support the roll out of quality standards, and development of nutrition tools and guidance. The Advisor will also contribute to resource development, global projects, inter-agency nutrition coordination and representation, and advocacy initiatives.

The Nutrition Advisor is expected to travel regularly for direct operational support, as well as representation at relevant forums.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function with or without reasonable accommodation:
MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical Support for Program Design and Implementation
• Support teams to design, conduct and analyze assessments.
• Work with teams to design appropriate nutrition prevention and response programs, including approaches for implementation, program timelines, staffing structures, and required budgets.
• Provide regular input and review of proposals and program reports.
• Explore and encourage integration of nutrition activities into multi-sector existing or planned programs.
• Maintain regular contact with program teams in select countries, as well as relevant regional platform, to stay abreast of issues, program concerns and needs for assistance.
• Conduct field visits to select countries to provide support, guidance, and recommendations for improved programming.
• Develop and deliver technical trainings for field staff, volunteers, and partner organizations.
• Support the recruitment and retention of nutrition specialists to lead country operations.
• Contribute to the development of guidance notes, tools, and resources for HQ staff and field teams.
• Contribute to knowledge management through the production and dissemination of case studies, promising practices, lesson-learned documents.

Emergency Response
• Provide remote or direct technical support to new emergency response operations, where relevant.
• Support program design and proposal development for new emergencies.
• Coordinate with national/regional/global partners and experts to support new emergencies and recruit staff.
• Contribute to advocacy for attention to infant and young child feeding (IYCF) in new emergencies.

Representation and Other Responsibilities
• Meet with partners and donor representatives as necessary.
• Participate in relevant coordination forums.
• Support the development and implementation of global nutrition projects, as relevant.
• Contribute to maintenance of good working relations within and between International Medical Corps’ departments and offices.
• Remain flexible in adopting additional responsibilities based on organizational and programming needs, in coordination with the Senior Nutrition Advisor and other members of the Nutrition Technical Advisory Team.
Perform other duties as assigned. The duties and responsibilities listed in this document are representative of the nature and level of work assigned and not necessarily all inclusive.
Code of Conduct
As applicable to this position, an individual must promote and encourage a culture of compliance and ethics throughout the organization and maintain a clear understanding of International Medical Corps’ and donor compliance and ethics standards and adheres to those standards.
If this is a supervisory position, one must set an example of ethical behavior through one’s own conduct and oversight of the work of others; ensure that those who report to you have sufficient knowledge and resources to follow the standards outlined in the Code of Conduct & Ethics; monitor compliance of the people you supervise; enforce the Code of Conduct & Ethics and International Medical Corps’ policies, including the Safeguarding Policy and the Protection from Harassment, Bullying and Sexual Misconduct in the Workplace Policy, consistently and fairly; support employees who in good faith raise questions or concerns.
It is all staff shared responsibility and obligation to safeguard and protect populations with whom we work, including adults who may be particularly vulnerable and children. This includes safeguarding from the following conduct by our staff or partners: sexual exploitation and abuse; exploitation, neglect, or abuse of children, adults at risk, or LGBTI individuals; and any form of trafficking in persons. Staff are also responsible for preventing violations to our Code of Conduct and Ethics, which may involve Conflicts of Interest, Fraud, Corruption or Harassment. If you see, hear or are made aware of any violations to the Code of Conduct and Ethics or Safeguarding Policy, you have an obligation to report.
Equal Opportunities
International Medical Corps is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran.

QUALIFICATIONS and EXPERIENCE
• Typically, a Bachelor degree in Nutrition or related field preferred. Master’s degree is preferred. Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
• Typically, 10+ years managing International Nutrition projects; experience in both emergency and development context
• Experience using nutrition assessment and survey methodologies.
• Strong training and mentoring skills.
• Strong written and oral communications skills including ability to write technical documents and give presentations to colleagues in and outside of IMC.
• Demonstrated skill in conducting analysis and evaluation of technical aspects of proposals and programs.
• Good understanding of current issues and emerging practices in nutrition programming.
• Familiarity with international humanitarian operations, coordination structures, and the mandates of donors, UN agencies, and other NGOs.
• Demonstrated flexibility and openness in responding to changing work priorities and environments.
• Strong interpersonal skills and experience in working effectively in an independent capacity and as a member of a team.
• Interest in international travel, including to remote and volatile locations, with expected 25% travel.
• Fluency in English; additional languages considered an advantage.

ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL OR LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Candidates will be required to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19, Measles and any other mandatory vaccine requirement (country dependent) prior to deployment. Reasonable accommodations will be considered on a case-by-case basis for exemptions to this requirement in accordance with applicable law. Applicants should be aware that for certain positions involving emergency deployments, accommodations that involve remaining unvaccinated against COVID-19 may not be deemed reasonable. International Medical Corps will engage in the interactive process on an individualized basis in light of each particular role.

Misconduct Disclosure Scheme

All offers of employment at International Medical Corps are subject to satisfactory references and background checks. International Medical Corps participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme from the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response (SCHR). In accordance with this, we will request information from an applicant’s previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.