Head of Health and Nutrition

Programme & Policy Medical & Health

Overview

Drive health and nutrition programming strategy and quality in Nigeria.

You have:

• Post-graduate, Master or equivalent in Nutrition, health, public health, or related field.
• At least 8 years’ experience in leading the design and implementation of humanitarian and development programs in Health and Nutrition.
• Direct experience in planning, implementing, and measuring the impact of health, hunger reduction, or other related programs including designing pathways to sustainable impact at scale.
• Successful track record of developing large-scale proposals ($ Im and above) and securing funding from donors.
• Clear commitment to, and experience of, developing and coaching staff, combined with the ability to give direct actionable feedback.
• Fluent in English and high level of English writing skills.
• Experience in context, capacity and policy analysis, influencing and advocacy at the regional/international level to hold duty bearers to account to realize children’s rights.
• Significant experience in training, capacity building, and mentoring.

The Organization We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard. We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

· No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday · All children learn from a quality basic education and that, · Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children.We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Application Information: Please apply using a cover letter and up-to-date CV as a single document. Please also include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations. A copy of the full role profile can be found at www.savethechildren.net/jobs We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

TITLE: Head of Health and Nutrition

TEAM/PROGRAMME: Programme Development & Quality (PDQ)

LOCATION: Abuja, Nigeria

GRADE: 2 (National)

Contract Length: 12 months renewable

CHILD SAFEGUARDING:

Level 3: the post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work country programs; or are visiting the country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Head of Health and Nutrition drives the strategic vision and delivery of high-impact health and nutrition programming in Nigeria. Combining deep technical expertise, contextual insight, and strong partnership skills, the role leads the development of strategies, technical designs, and quality program implementation across humanitarian, development and triple nexus contexts.

The role provides technical support to Health & Nutrition programs, strengthens advocacy efforts, expands strategic partnerships for business development, and ensures learning, evidence generation and use for Health & Nutrition programs. It focuses on building the capacity of project staff and local organizations, promoting sustainability and local ownership.

Serving as a key external representative, the Head of Health and Nutrition positions the organization’s work with donors, government, and partners. In major emergencies, the role holder adapts to ensure the continuity of critical health and nutrition interventions. Overall, the incumbent is responsible for advancing evidence-based, high-quality programming that improves outcomes for children and communities.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Deputy Director, PDQ

Staff reporting to this post: none

Budget Responsibilities: none

Role Dimensions: Save the Children has been actively working in Nigeria since 2001. Our program is implemented in various sectors including Health and Nutrition, WASH, Education, Child Protection, and Food Security & Livelihoods. We engage in humanitarian, development, and triple nexus programming., We work directly with families and communities, foster the participation of children, and partner with local organizations, UN bodies, International NGOs, and the Nigerian government to deliver results for children.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Strategy and Programme Quality (Design and Implementation)

• Lead the design, implementation, and monitoring of Save the Children’s Health and Nutrition Strategy, aligning with global and country strategic plans in collaboration with field teams, and senior management.
• Provide strategic leadership in the development of high-quality funding proposals, identifying opportunities for resource mobilization in alignment with organizational priorities and donor interests.
• Ensure technical oversight and continuous improvement of the health and nutrition programs, guaranteeing alignment with national standards and global best practices.
• Foster integration across all Save the Children health and nutrition projects, ensuring synergies and alignment with broader organisational goals.
• Collaborate with global technical advisors to ensure programme quality, support innovation, and facilitate learning uptake.
• Enhance cross-sectoral collaboration and integration with other technical teams to improve overall programme impact.
• Oversee the timely preparation and submission of high-quality donor reports and internal updates that reflect programme impact and learning.
• Strengthen team capacity in, technical delivery project management and compliance through ongoing mentoring, supervision, and tailored training opportunities.

Representation and Coordination

• Serve as the organisation’s lead representative on health and nutrition in national and sub-national technical platforms, building strong networks with government, UN agencies, donors, and implementing partners.
• Represent Save the Children’s health and nutrition work to donors, contributing to policy dialogue and advocating for increased support and policy reforms in favor of children’s health and nutrition. Facilitate the exchange of best practices and learning across country programs and with global and regional partners.
• Engage in high-level policy discussions with government and strategic stakeholders, contributing to national policy development and priority setting.
• Prepare briefing materials, and technical updates, and represent the organisation in meetings, workshops, and conferences on health and nutrition.

Knowledge Management and Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)

• Promote effective knowledge management systems within the Health and Nutrition team and ensure cross-learning between sectors.
• Support the establishment of robust monitoring and evaluation systems that assess quality including clinical quality assurance compliance, generate credible evidence to inform programming, advocacy, and reporting in collaboration with the MEAL team
• Promote and integrate beneficiary feedback mechanisms and accountability systems throughout all program cycles.
• Lead or support needs assessments, evaluations, and surveys, ensuring scientific rigor and timely dissemination of findings to inform programming and advocacy.

Programme Management and Administration

• Promote coordination between technical and operational teams to ensure efficient project delivery, effective resource use, and compliance with donor regulations.
• Support in overseeing financial and material resource management including pharmaceuticals across health and nutrition programs, ensuring accuracy, accountability, and value for money.
• Support the development of annual program plans and budgets, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and resource availability.

Advocacy and Policy Influence

• Lead advocacy efforts to promote policy and systemic changes that improve child health and nutrition outcomes.
• Apply evidence and learning from programs to influence national health and nutrition policies, guidelines, and funding decisions.
• Develop and implement strategies to engage stakeholders and policymakers in support of child survival and development goals.

Safeguarding

• Ensure adherence to Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding Policy, Code of Conduct, and child safeguarding commitments in all operations and interactions.
• Ensure safeguarding and safe programming is embedded in all Health & Nutrition program design and implementation.

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (SCI Values in Practice)

Accountability:

Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values.

Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development, and encourages others to do the same.

Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others.

Future orientated, thinks strategically.

Collaboration:

Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters.

Values diversity sees it as a source of competitive strength.

Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.

Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

Honest encourages openness and transparency

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Post-graduate, Master or equivalent in Nutrition, health, public health, or related field.

At least 8 years’ experience in leading the design and implementation of humanitarian and development programs in Health and Nutrition.

Direct experience in planning, implementing, and measuring the impact of health, hunger reduction, or other related programs including designing pathways to sustainable impact at scale.

Successful track record of developing large-scale proposals ($ Im and above) and securing funding from donors.

Clear commitment to, and experience of, developing and coaching staff, combined with the ability to give direct actionable feedback.

Successfully work with minimal administrative support.

Inter-personal skills to influence and guide the field team and other senior managers in identifying programming opportunities and resolving program and campaign challenges and working collaboratively within the Country Leadership Team.

Experience in context, capacity and policy analysis, influencing and advocacy at the regional/international level to hold duty bearers to account to realize children’s rights.

Skilled at networking, representation, and partnership development to promote learning, strengthen civil society, and mobilize resources.

Able to generate and use data and evidence to innovate, deliver, learn, and share what works and what doesn’t work for children.

Experience in supporting humanitarian preparedness, response, and recovery.

Significant experience in training, capacity building, and mentoring.

Fluent in English and high level of English writing skills.

Generic Competencies

Being the Voice of Children: Promotes evidence-based policy and public engagement that includes the voices of children and their communities.

Advancing Equality & Inclusion: Displays a commitment to ensuring everything we do considers the most deprived and marginalized children.

Building & Strengthening Partnerships: Promotes working with diverse partners as critical to delivery.

Child Rights: Promotes the rights of children in their own work and in work with colleagues and peers.

Additional Job Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Equal Opportunities

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI’s global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Gender Equality Policies, supported by relevant procedures.

Child Safeguarding:

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Safeguarding our Staff:

The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI anti-harassment policy

Health and Safety

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 1 month ago - Updated 26 days ago - Source: savethechildren.net