Health and Nutrition Officer

Volunteering Crisis & Emergency Response Medical & Health

Overview

Support health and nutrition programs in Hurricane Melissa response.

You have:

• 3 years of general experience, including at least 1 year in public health/nutrition planning and management, maternal and neonatal health care, or health emergency/humanitarian preparedness.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered an asset.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered an asset.

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

Background:

In late October 2025, Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica with devastating force, causing catastrophic flooding, landslides, and widespread damage to health, education, and WASH systems. More than 100 health facilities, 400 schools, and 300 community water systems were severely affected, disrupting essential services for hundreds of thousands and exposing deep structural vulnerabilities. Severe impacts are confirmed across Hanover, Manchester, St. Elizabeth, St. James, Trelawny and Westmoreland, including extensive flooding, landslides, collapsed roofs, hospital and school damage, and prolonged power and communication outages.

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Purpose for the job:

The Health and Nutrition Officer (UNV) is to be based in one of the hubs in St. James or Saint Elizabeth in Jamaica where the health and nutrition Programmes are important components of the Hurricane Melissa Response.

The Health and Nutrition Officer (UNV) reports administratively to Chief of Field Office and technically/programmatically reports to the Health Specialist for close guidance and supervision.

The Health Officer (UNV) provides professional technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the programming process through the application of theoretical and technical skills in researching, collecting, analyzing, and presenting technical programme information while learning organizational rules, regulations and procedures to support the development and formulation of the Health Programme within the Country Programme.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Support to programme development and planning
2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results
3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation
4. Networking and partnership building

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

6. Support to programme development and planning

• Research and analyze regional and national political, social, economic development trends. Collect, analyze, verify, and synthesize information to facilitate programme development, design and preparation. • Prepare technical reports and inputs for programme preparation and documentation, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and relevancy of information. • Facilitate the development and establishment of sectoral programme goals, objectives, strategies, and results-based planning through analysis of health needs and areas for intervention and submission of assessments for priority and goal setting. • Provide technical and administrative support throughout all stages of programming processes by executing and administering a variety of technical programme transactions, preparing materials and documentation, and complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support programme planning, results based planning (RBM) and monitoring and evaluation of results. • Prepare required documentations and materials to facilitate the programme review and approval process.

2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to collect, analyze and share information on implementation issues; suggest solutions on routine programme implementation and submit reports to alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level intervention and/or decisions. Keep records of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned. • Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with governments and other counterparts and prepare minutes/reports on results for follow up action by higher management and other stakeholders. • Monitor and report on the use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets), and verify compliance with approved allocation and goals, organizational rules, regulations, procedures, as well as donor commitments, standards of accountability, and integrity. Report on issues identified to ensure timely resolution by management and stakeholders. Follow up on unresolved issues to ensure resolution. • Prepare inputs for sectoral programme donor reporting.

3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation

• Undertake field visits and surveys, and share information with partners and stakeholders to assess progress and provide technical support and/or refer to relevant officials for resolution. Report on critical issues, bottlenecks and potential problems for timely action to achieve results. • Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners, and other country office partners/donors on the application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes, and best practices on health-related issues to support programme implementation, operations and delivery of results.

4. Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with health sector government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to enhance programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to deliver concrete and sustainable results. • Draft communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances, and support fund raising for health programmes. • Participate in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) on health programmes to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on UNDAF operational planning and preparation of health programmes/projects, and to integrate and harmonize UNICEF’s position and strategies with the UNDAF development and planning process. • Research information on potential donors and prepare resource mobilization materials and briefs for fund raising and partnership development purposes.

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Identify, capture, synthesize, and share lessons learned for knowledge development and to build the capacity of stakeholders. • Apply innovative approaches and promote good practices to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results. • Assist with oversight of research and ensure results are available for use in knowledge products. • Participate as a resource person in capacity-building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients and stakeholders.

Impact of Results

The efficiency and efficacy of support provided by the Health and Nutrition Officer (UNV) to programme preparation, planning and implementation facilitates the delivery of concrete and sustainable results that directly impact the improvement of the health of the most marginalized and vulnerable women and children in the country. This in turn contributes to maintaining and enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to continue to provide programme services to protect the rights of children, and to promote greater social equality to enable them to survive, develop and reach their full potential in society.

• Care • Respect • Integrity • Trust • Accountability • Sustainability • Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1) • Works Collaboratively with others (1) • Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1) • Innovates and Embraces Change (1) • Thinks and Acts Strategically (1) • Drive to achieve impactful results (1) • Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

3 years of general experience, including at least 1 year in public health/nutrition planning and management, maternal and neonatal health care, or health emergency/humanitarian preparedness.

Experience working in a developing country is considered an asset.

Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered an asset.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 6 months ago - Updated 6 months ago - Source: unv.org