Deputy Chief of Party/Technical Director of Maternal and Child Nutrition,

Description

The Action Against Hunger network is comprised of four operational headquarters (France, India, Spain, and USA) and four supporting organizations (United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and Italy). Action Against Hunger is a global humanitarian and development organization which originated in France and is committed to ending world hunger. Our work includes lifesaving activities in 50+ countries, 8,000+ field staff assisting more than 17 million people and more than 40 years of expertise responding to emergencies caused by conflict, natural disasters, and food crises. Collectively the network manages more than $660 million of programmatic aid.

Action Against Hunger-USA is part of the Action Against Hunger International network. As an independent NGO, we currently manage operations in Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Zambia, and Haiti. Action Against Hunger-USA has over $75 million in programs, and approximately 1,600 permanent staff based in New York City, Washington D.C, Nairobi, and country offices. Action Against Hunger uniquely operates at the nexus of both humanitarian and development programming. Our research and innovation divisions are critical players to our success both in the region and within national programs.

Position Overview

Action Against Hunger – USA seeks an experienced Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP)/Technical Director of Maternal and Child Nutrition for the anticipated USAID/Ethiopia Feed the Future Community Nutrition Activity (CNA). The purpose of the Community Nutrition Activity is to is to improve appropriate nutrition behavior and utilization of nutrition services to improve the nutritional status among women and children in Ethiopia. While the Chief of Party (COP) will be responsible for the overall management and operations of the USAID Community Nutrition Activity, the DCOP/Technical Director will be responsible for the overall technical excellence of the project. This role will lead a team of technical experts who maximize the impact and effectiveness of the project by responding to the needs of the implementing team and maximizing integration across the project’s strategies and approaches. The DCOP/Technical Director guarantees that the project is guided by global best practices as well as current nutrition research, community engagement and advocacy for healthier lives within the Ethiopian context. Reporting directly to the Chief of Party (COP), s/he will provide technical leadership in the development, management and support of a cohesive, technically rigorous project theory of change and work plan. The DCOP/Technical Director holds the representational responsibilities in technical arena. This position is contingent upon award and will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Primary Duties

• Works closely with the Ministries of Health, Women’s, Children and Youth Affairs, Finance, etc. from the Government of Ethiopia and other coordinating bodies such as the Ethiopia Nutrition Coordinating Unit at all levels including 2nd and 3rd tier cities.
• Provides technical leadership to increase sustained adoption and practices of appropriate nutrition behaviors.
• Ensures high quality technical deliverables—including regional workplans and reports—are developed, submitted, and approved on schedule and within budget parameters.
• Ensures all activities are compliant with the award agreement, USAID regulations, and Action Against Hunger’s policies.
• Provides technical leadership to increase nutrition literacy and demand for quality nutrition services.
• Provides technical leadership in the development and/or use of innovative delivery approaches, programming standards, guidance, tools and training on nutrition interventions to maximize program impact.
• Provides direct technical direction and supervision of project staff at the regional and national levels.
• Manages the relationship with all sub-partners on technical matters related to maternal and child nutrition.
• Provides technical leadership that ensures smart investments in country-owned, community-led nutrition investments, especially among under-represented or marginalized populations.
• Responsible for finalizing the technical publications, briefs, donor reports and resources developed by the project.
• Establishes and implements capacity strengthening strategies for local organizations to influence and advocate for responsive nutrition systems and services.
• Collaborates with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Director for the documentation and sharing of knowledge and emerging lessons from the application of high impact practices.
• Ensures robust representation of the project in national and sub-national level coordination groups, forums and initiatives, including technical forums of relevant communities of practice and be accountable to the Chief of Party (COP) on the delivery of strategic program objectives, with regular reporting on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis.
• Is accountable to community leaders, local government and other key stakeholders ensuring continuous engagement and information sharing, as well as building capacities in use of evidence base to inform decision making.
• Represents or carries out any duties that may be assigned by the COP.
• Ensures that gender and other cross cutting issues are well integrated and mainstreamed in the project and desired results are measured periodically to inform subsequent strategic program actions.
• Works closely with senior project SBCC advisor and other project staff to design and implement appropriate SBC strategy for the project and ensure appropriate translation of the strategy into action.
• Ensures a functional partnership and strategic interface with other Feed the Future projects in Ethiopia.

Requirements

Mandatory Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher required in public health, social sciences, nutrition, or a related field.
• At least ten (10) years of experience in the successful implementation of international development activities for USG-funded projects or other internationally funded programs, with preference given to work experience on nutrition programs in both development and humanitarian settings.
• At least eight (8) years of experience working in maternal and child nutrition, including a minimum of 5 years of management and supervision experience.
• Demonstrated technical expertise in maternal and child nutrition, including nutrition in emergencies.
• Demonstrated abilities in coordinating and leading nutrition surveillance, SMART survey and quantitative/qualitative study design and implementation, nutrition and social behavioral change program evaluation.
• Experience managing staff, consultants, and subcontractor organizations.
• Demonstrated experience working with disadvantaged, marginalized or otherwise under-represented communities, including internally displaced persons, women and girls.
• Demonstrated experience developing institutional capacity in government institutions in Ethiopia or similar context.
• Strong analytical skills and clinical experience.
• Fluency in English (oral, writing, and reading).
• Ability to reside and work in Ethiopia full time.
• Ability to travel within Ethiopia and internationally.

Highly Desirable Qualifications

• Fluency in Amharic and other local languages (oral, writing, and reading)
• Good knowledge of the current political, social, and economic context and landscape of Ethiopia. Well acquainted with the current global, continental and national health and nutrition policy and strategies.
• Women and Ethiopian nationals are encouraged to apply, and will be given preferential review

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Pending the final project structure this position is expected to oversee project technical staff.

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 interruptions.
• To travel to the field, the employee must attest to a level of physical fitness capable of enduring physically difficult, highly stressful situations which may include the necessity to walk long distances, to eat a limited diet and/or to reside in potentially uncomfortable housing or tents.
• 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.

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 by contact with the missions, mission security, or other obligations.
• Must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business travel as well as to the missions if appropriate. While visiting 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 is to infectious diseases.

Gender Equality Commitments & Zero Tolerance to Abuse

• Foster an environment that reinforces 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.
• Promote a safe, secure, and respectful environment for all stakeholders, particularly for children, beneficiaries, and members of staff.
• Help to prevent any type of abuse including workplace harassment and sexual abuse and exploitation.
• Respect beneficiaries women, men, children (boys and girls) regardless of gender, sex orientation, disability, religion, race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status.
• Value and respect all cultures.

Benefits

Action Against Hunger-USA provides all staff with an attractive salary & benefits package. We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees & qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Action Against Hunger-USA complies with all applicable laws governing nondiscrimination in employment..