Nutrition Coordinator

Job Description

THE IRC IN YEMEN

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and regain control of their future. The IRC Yemen began its programs in October 2012. The country has been engaged in an armed conflict since 2015 and is regularly characterized as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Infrastructure has been destroyed by years of war and 67% of the population needs humanitarian assistance. The IRC currently operates in the south and north of the country through direct programming and local partnerships, with main offices in Aden and Sana’a and field offices in Abyan, Al Dhale’e, and Hodeidah governorates.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Nutrition Coordinator is responsible for the strategic direction, leadership, and quality implementation of all nutrition activities in Yemen, inclusive of outpatient community management of acute malnutrition (CMAM), infant and young child feeding (IYCF), and inpatient therapeutic feeding center (TFC) services. The Nutrition Coordinator will ensure effective project management, manage program budgets, monitor and strengthen technical quality, coach and mentor project staff, and maintain effective working relationships with external actors.

The Nutrition Coordinator reports to the Head of Health & Nutrition Programs and manages a team of three managers to implement activities across Aminat al Asimah, Aden, Abyan, Al Dhale’e, Lahj, Hodeidah, and Shabwah governorates. The role is based in Aden and frequent travel to program sites across Yemen is required, including to remote and insecure locations.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Development and Management

· Lead the nutrition team to implement timely, effective, and relevant activities in line with identified needs and established objectives.

· Develop actionable plans to ensure that stated project objectives are regularly evaluated and achieved.

· Coordinate closely with the Head of Health & Nutrition Programs and grants department to ensure timely and responsive grant management and compliance with donor requirements.

· Produce and utilize regularly updated project management tools, including workplans, implementation plans, procurement plans, and accurate financial forecasts.

· Oversee timely, relevant, and responsible management of project funds.

· Coordinate closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) department to develop effective monitoring tools and collect relevant data.

· Ensure that all internal and external reports are submitted on time and to a high-quality standard.

· Lead or play an otherwise active role in the project design process for any new nutrition programming, including the development of budgets, proposal narratives, logframes, and other supporting documents.

· Work with the Head of Health & Nutrition Programs and Deputy Director for Programs to define and implement the strategic direction of nutrition programs in Yemen in line with the overall country program strategy.

Technical Quality

· Ensure that nutrition programs utilize standardized protocols, policies and guidelines, as outlined by the MoPHP and WHO. Ensure that all nutrition activities are consistent with established best practices.

· Monitor evolving needs of target communities, conduct assessments on nutrition needs in new project areas, and ensure that IRC nutrition programs evolve in response to identified needs.

· Regularly review MEAL data and apply indicator findings to improve program quality. Ensure all programs are data-driven.

· Ensure that programming adheres to the IRC’s Outcome and Evidence Framework to achieve outcomes, ensuring the use of evidence-based theories of change and project approaches/activities.

· Liaise with the Nutrition Technical Advisor on a regular basis. Stay abreast of developments in the IRC Health Technical Unit and global working groups related to new tools and guidelines.

Team Leadership and Management

· Coach, mentor, and lead the nutrition teams to implement programs to a high standard of quality.

· Oversee the timely recruitment, comprehensive onboarding, and the sustained professional growth of team members.

· Ensure all team members are well-versed in job expectations and have clear performance objectives. Conduct regular management meetings with all direct reports and ensure the same is done throughout the team management structure.

· Identify training needs and develop capacity building plans for nutrition staff.

· Promote and monitor staff care and wellbeing.

Coordination

· Ensure consistent IRC representation in the Nutrition Cluster and other relevant technical bodies.

· Oversee regular communication, negotiations, and engagement with government entities and other partners, including the Ministry of Population & Public Health (MoPHP) in both north and south and WFP

· Work closely with field managers and the humanitarian access & security team to ensure concerns and challenges at the service delivery level are addressed appropriately.

· Proactively collaborate with other IRC sector technical leads to promote program integration and ensure effective internal referrals.

Other

· Other relevant duties as assigned by supervisor to further IRC programs.

Qualifications

· Minimum of five years of experience managing nutrition programs in a humanitarian setting.

· Medical doctor or other medical professional with advanced technical knowledge of service delivery for populations with malnutrition in conflict-affected and low-resource settings, including CMAM, IYCF, and TFC approaches.

· Prior experience and demonstrated competency in the management of a multi-donor grant portfolio required, including experience developing project proposals, reports, and other donor documents.

· Financial management skills, including budget development and management and oversight of spending plans.

· Demonstrated experience in a leadership position required, including training, coaching, motivating, and mentoring large teams.

· Experience building and sustaining strong relationships with the MoPHP and other government partners

· Strong verbal and written communication skills in both Arabic and English required

COMPETENCIES

· Strong cross-cultural communication skills and eager to work as part of a diverse team. Sensitive to interpersonal differences and a range of viewpoints.

· Able to effectively prioritize and follow multiple activities and deadlines simultaneously.

· Analytical, strategic, and able to proactively develop solutions to complex challenges.

· Reliable, patient, and able to work independently in a fast-paced environment.

Professional Standards

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation