Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition Program Manager

JOB DESCRIPTION
Name of the position: Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition Program Manager-Nairobi
Country: Kenya	Base:  Nairobi
Direct line manager: Nutrition Coordinator Line management of:	Starting date: As soon as possible	Ending date:
Founded in 1979, ACF International (Action Against Hunger) is an international humanitarian organization that delivers programs in over 40 countries. Recognized worldwide as a leader in the fight against hunger, our mission is to save lives through the prevention, detection, and treatment of malnutrition, especially during and after emergency situations and conflicts. From crisis to sustainability, ACF tackles the underlying causes of malnutrition and its effects. By integrating our programs with local and national systems, we further ensure that short-term interventions become long-term solutions. With Head Offices in France, the United Kingdom, Spain, the United States and Canada, our international network shares its combined resources, breadth of experience and technical expertise in pursuit of a world without hunger. ACF is present in Kenya since 2001. Currently the mission is implementing program activities in West Pokot, Isiolo, Tana River, Garissa and Dadaab refugee camps. Summary Reporting to the Nutrition Coordinator, the incumbent will be responsible for offering technical support to maternal nutrition during pregnancy and Infant and Young Child Nutrition interventions in all ACF bases in Kenya. Ensure adequate monitoring, reporting, documentation and learning of all related Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) and Infant Feeding in Emergencies (IFE) activities. Represent ACF and advocate for MIYCN/IFE issues at the national level, county level and other relevant fora. Ensure CODE of breast milk substitutes sensitization, monitoring and reporting. Support integration of MIYCN into the routine health and nutrition services at the community and facility level. Provide technical support in the efforts towards integrating positive behaviour change communication in MIYCN interventions. Below is a summary of key specific duties: ü  Assist field teams in integrating MIYCN issues in the on-the-job training and mentorship curriculum. ü  Assist Dadaab team to develop capacity building/strengthening materials and curriculum for facility and community level trainings. ü  Assist the field teams in preparing and conducting Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative assessments. ü  Ensuring key messages for all high impact nutrition interventions are continuously integrated with MIYCN interventions ü  Ensure MIYCN indicators are well integrated in surveillance and surveys to ensure evaluation of interventions or changing needs of population and regular documentation of best practices. ü  Participate actively in the nutrition working group, MIYCN steering group forums, MIYCN coordination and other relevant meetings. ü  Attend national, regional and global meetings, training and workshops with the aim of representing IYCN and developing a brain bank. ü  Build a brain bank of best practices that can be emulated in other intervention areas. ü  Capitalization of good practices and lessons learnt are done periodically through quarterly reviews for improvement of current and future projects. ü  Support continuous documentation and dissemination of success stories, best practices and key lessons learnt will in all the bases to promote learning culture among the partners. ü  Liaise with the division of nutrition in developing content and materials on sensitizing health facility staff and the community on the code of marketing breast milk substitutes. . What ACF will offer: ü  Start date: As soon as possible ü  Duty station: Nairobi Office with frequent travel to the field bases. ACF will provide transport and accommodation plus meals when travelling to the field bases ü  Remuneration package: Competitive salary package with benefits to include learning and development opportunities, medical cover ü  Duration of contract: current contract will run until December 2013, renewable depending on funding availability and performance Closing Date:  30th June 2013 Interested candidates should forward their applications including a cover letter, curriculum vitae and telephone contacts and email addresses of 3 referees preferably former/current supervisors (certificates will be required later on in the recruitment process) to: EMAIL: recruit.ke@acf-international.org indicate the position on the subject line of the email.
QUALIFICATIONS
Qualifications and Skills required ü  Masters degree in nutrition or public health required (should be registered with nutrition and dietetics board of Kenya) OR similar nutritional degree with over 6 years’ experience in nutrition programming with focus on MIYCN. Specialization (Masters thesis) in MIYCN thematic area will be an added advantage ü  Over 3 years’ experience as a Nutrition Program Manager or a senior nutrition programme officer in running nutrition interventions such as MIYCN/IFE/ SC/OTP/SFP. ü  Sound expertise in advocacy and strengthening the capacities of nutrition and health personnel at the county and national levels ü  Experience working with national, provincial and local authorities in Kenya ü   Knowledge in SPSS, Ms Excel, ENA for SMART and Ms Word. ü  Proposal and grants writing and donor reporting skills will be essential ü  Budget management skills will essential (e.g. planning and follow up, HR, budgets, etc.) ü  Excellent communication, interpersonal, advocacy organizational and reporting skills. ü  Fluency in English, with good verbal and written communication skills. ü  Ability to work in a diverse environments, cultures with the ability to manage culturally sensitive issues. ü  Ability to work independently and in isolation and to work under pressure within strict time limits ü  High degree in motivation, result oriented creativeness and adaptability. What ACF will offer: ü  Start date: As soon as possible ü  Duty station: Nairobi Office with frequent travel to the field bases. ACF will provide transport and accommodation plus meals when travelling to the field bases ü  Remuneration package: Very Competitive salary package with additional benefits to include: §  Career development opportunities with ACF §  Training opportunities §  Comprehensive medical cover for self and dependants §  Opportunity to work in a good and friendly environment with a dynamic and motivated team ü  Duration of contract: Current contract will run until end of December 2013, renewable depending on funding availability and performance Closing Date:  30th June 2013 by Close of Business 5pm. Applications sent after the closing date and time will not be considered. Interested candidates should forward their applications including a cover letter, curriculum vitae and telephone contacts and email addresses of 3 referees preferably former/current supervisors (certificates will be required later on in the recruitment process) to: EMAIL: recruit.ke@acf-international.org  indicate the position on the subject line of the email.