Nutrition Program Officer Vacancy at Helen Keller International (HKI), Friday 4, May 2018 – Set up in 1915, Helen Keller International (HKI) attempts to spare the sight and lives of the most defenseless and impeded. We battle the causes and results of visual impairment and ailing health by setting up programs in light of proof and research in vision, wellbeing and nourishment. Headquartered in New York City, HKI as of now leads programs in 22 nations in Africa and Asia and in the United States.
NUTRITION PROGRAM OFFICER
VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION (VAS)
HKI works closely with the government of Nigeria to ensure high coverage of more than 80% of the target population with vitamin A. HKI also supports the training of health workers, program monitoring, community education and the delivery of vitamin A capsules. In 2001, HKI integrated vitamin A supplementation into Community Directed Treatment with Ivermectin (CDTI) as a cost-effective, sustainable strategy and a strong platform for community mobilization. Vulnerable groups, including children 6-59 months old and post-partum women within 8 weeks of delivery, were targeted. However, since 2009, HKI aligned with the Federal Government of Nigeria and adopted the bi-annual Maternal Newborn and Child Health Weeks (MNCH Weeks) as a high impact strategy to distribute Vitamin A capsules alongside other low-cost interventions that have been proven to be highly effective in reducing mortality rates and improving maternal and child health. HKI Nigeria currently supports the implementation of the MNCH Week in 3 states of the federation (Bauchi, Cross River and Kano) with funding from Nutrition International (formerly, Micronutrient Initiative).
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
Under the supervision of the Nutrition Program Manager, the Nutrition Program Officer implements, monitors and evaluate HKI Nigeria’s nutrition programs and projects in accordance with national protocols and policies.
Technical Capacity:
Liaise with the nutrition unit of the State Ministry of Health (SMOH) or State Primary Health Care Development Agencies (SPHCDA) to develop costed nutrition strategic work-plans
Provide technical assistance to and support implementation of nationwide bi-annual VAS through Maternal Newborn and Child Health Weeks
Maintain regular communication with other state nutrition program partners
Facilitate program planning and review meetings on vitamin A supplementation
Collaborate with partners to develop /roll out IEC / SBCC strategies and tools to support nutrition programs
Actively participate in key relevant national and state level nutrition technical forums
Work closely with State Nutrition Officers to strengthen technical reporting in accordance with defined reporting schedule and program indicators
Track program progress using mutually agreed indicators, targets, and recommend remedial action to keep programs on course
Contribute to and support the maintenance of an updated data base of technical program reports including site visits, monthly reports, quarterly and annual reports
Participate in research to increase VAS coverage and other nutrition interventions
Support the capacity building of nutrition program officers on relevant nutrition interventions
Support the implementation of other relevant nutrition activities such as healthy lifestyle project, infant and young child feeding e.t.c.
Perform any other duty as assigned
COMPETENCIES REQUIRED:
Demonstrates technical knowledge pertaining to job requirements
Prior experience working in the field of VAS will be an added advantage
Able to work under pressure minimal supervision and able to meet up deadlines
Ability to use computer software such as Microsoft office, internet
Must possess good interpersonal skills and a good team player
Demonstrated excellent personal integrity and confidentially
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
Minimum of Master’s degree in Nutrition, Food and Dietetics,
Or Bachelors in Nutrition plus a Master’s in Public Health or similar related field
Minimum of 4 years’ experience in nutrion implementation
APPLICATION METHOD
Interested persons may send a comprehensive resume with a cover letter as ONE MS Word document to [email protected] using the position title as the subject of the email. Note that applications will not be accepted after 5pm on Wednesday May 9th, 2018.
Note: There are no relocation allowances available for this position.
DEADLINE: 9 May, 2018
