Nutrition Advisor, USAID/Nepal Integrated Nutrition Activity (INA)

Summary

Save the Children is seeking a Nutrition Advisor for the anticipated five-year USAID-funded Integrated Nutrition Activity (INA) program in Nepal. The program will focus on strengthening the government of Nepal’s (GON) commitment and capacity to improve nutrition outcomes and to ensuring a healthy and productive workforce. This senior leadership position will provide overall strategic direction in the design, management, implementation, and overall quality assurance of the project. The Nutrition Advisor will report directly to Chief of Party and ensure implementation of high impact, quality programming, and proven interventions that meet stated goals and reporting requirements. The position will be located in Kathmandu.

This position is contingent upon donor approval and funding.

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

Nutrition Strategy and Leadership (35%)

• Provide technical leadership for the overall of nutrition into project design and approach, including issues of food security, WASH, gender mainstreaming, and social and behavior change (SBC).
• Lead the rapid start-up and implementation of integrated nutrition and SBC activities in collaboration with partners and government stakeholders.
• Work with the MEAL Director to oversee and coordinate formative and evaluative research using participatory methodologies to build local capacity and to design high impact interventions based on the social and cultural context in target areas. Lead development of the nutrition strategy and ensure integration of nutrition analysis recommendations into project plans.
• Update the nutrition strategy annually alongside the project work plan using formal and informal feedback.
• Coordinate with project staff, including managers and technical specialists, to ensure the implementation of the nutrition strategy into project activities.

Project Implementation & Quality Assurance (50%)

• Design and conduct nutrition components of assessments or standalone nutrition assessments as appropriate, ensuring use of findings to adapt project implementation.
• Based on research findings and stakeholder consultations, coordinate with the technical team to lead the development of evidence-based nutrition tools and materials.
• Provide technical oversight for the design, development, and implementation of all nutrition tools and training materials in collaboration with partners and stakeholders to maintain a quality and consistent approach across all target areas and technical interventions.
• Support project reporting, ensuring that updates and progress on related indicators and successes are included in project reports and annual work plans.
• Work with and support the MEAL team to develop context-specific indicators for nutrition, measure outcomes, and collect and analyze data.

Coordination & Capacity Building (15%)

• Build capacity of project and partner staff in nutrition principles.
• Represent nutrition aspects of the project to external stakeholders, such as the donor, governments, and partners; disseminate learnings and best practices; and participate in technical working groups.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher in nutrition, public health, or in a closely related field.
• At least seven years of experience designing, implementing, or supporting nutrition programming, preferably in South Asia. Experience in Nepal is highly desired.
• Prior experience delivering large-scale nutrition (nutrition-specific and sensitive) or multi-sectoral projects of similar or related nature, size, and complexity and demonstrated experience managing large interdisciplinary teams.
• Strong technical skills in multi-sectoral nutrition programming, including health, WASH, and food security.
• A history of providing technical assistance to governments to improve nutrition through governmental health systems, processes, and service delivery models.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to lead and work effectively in team settings.
• Strong working familiarity with USAID requirements, regulations, and policies.
• Demonstrated ability to address behavior change issues in improving household nutrition status.
• Experience in nutrition research, indicators, monitoring and evaluation.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English. Nepali language proficiency preferred.