Health and Nutrition Capacity Building Officer - Anka at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Job Overview/Summary

Under the supervision of Health and Nutrition Manager through management in partnership, the Health and Nutrition Capacity Building  Officer will be responsible for all ECHO project in his/her Local Government Area and is expected to ensure integrity, high level transparency and commitment in the implementation of the project. He or she is responsible for overseeing all health and nutrition activities for IRC supported OTPs and Pediatric unit in Anka LGA of Zamfara state. The Health and Nutrition Capacity Building Officer will oversee and supervise supported Incentive Nurses/CHEWs,  SMOH OTPs staff/CHVs and reports to the Health and Nutrition Manager.

Major Responsibilities:

Program Management, Technical Quality, and Strategy

• Responsible for the implementation of the project activities at the field level to ensure the project achieves its objective of improving access to quality Health and Nutrition services.
• Using standard national or internationally endorsed protocols, ensure quality of clinical and non-clinical service provision in health supported facilities by assessing and monitoring performance against standards and guiding and motivating MoH staff to meet and maintain standards.
• Promote behavior, change by providing health and nutrition messages in the communities, in collaboration with community volunteers.
• Ensure adequate infection prevention and control standards are always maintained in the supported facilities.
• Ensure health and nutrition basic protocols and other IEC materials are well displayed in the supported facilities and outreach sites.
• Provide capacity building and on-the-job coaching to MoH and incentive staff on CMAM services, IMNCI guideline, Infection prevention and control, immunization, rationale drug prescription including IYCF best practices in supported facilities.
• Establish effective referral mechanism between the mobile clinics and the general hospital/IPD.
• The health and nutrition capacity building officer identifies and liaises with the Medical Doctor on need for referral to secondary care and prepares the patient for referral including referral notes, pre-referral treatment and arrangement of transportation.
• Work with the field-based health and nutrition staff and community health Volunteers to establish, implement and monitor community-based management of acute malnutrition activities, coupled with patient follow up, referrals and education for their better management at community level.
• Conduct nutritional surveillance in the program sites, including host community and internally displaced persons (IDPs)based on agreed methodologies including surveys, process monitoring, SMART, LQAS, SQUEAC and other rapid methods.
• Responsible for collection of success stories and photographs that demonstrate the positive impact of the project.
• Collaborate with other relevant sectors such as Women Protection & Empowerment, Child Protection and Environmental Health to ensure holistic service package is available in response to the needs.

Program Development / Grant Management

• Develop and conduct training for the OTP staff, MoH incentive staff and community health volunteers on clinical care, infection prevention and control, pillars of safe motherhood, infant and young child feeding practices, general childcare and hygiene promotion.
• Data Collection and compilation, timely preparation and submission of all internal reports including weekly and other associated monthly, quarterly reports.
• Maintain an updated record and compile and submit monthly reports of all services given.
• Monitor and ensure the proper usage of pharmaceuticals and other health program supplies.
• Prepare weekly workplans and ensure timely implementation of the project activities

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development:

• Monitor and supervise the stabilization center, OTP sites and pediatric units MoH staff to ensure that work is done properly and efficiently in accordance with the national guidelines.
• Routinely monitor MoH seconded staff at stabilization center, OTP sites and pediatric units ensuring performance according to their job description and provide written feedback in a timely manner.
• Develop ongoing education programs for MoH staff and conduct training and on-the-job training for health staff.
• Supervise and monitor Community health volunteers in the community.

Research, Learning and Analysis

• Monitoring health and nutrition program implementation
• Monitor closely the morbidity and mortality trends together with all the other health indicators to ensure that prompt actions are taken.
• Provide weekly activity reports to the health and nutrition manager.
• Monitor and promote integrated programming in a way that increases overall impact of health and nutrition program at the community level.

Coordination & Representation

• Attend all relevant meetings in relation to the health and nutrition program as may be required and feed in the IRC priorities during meetings.

Key Working Relationships

• Position Reports to:  Health and Nutrition Manager through management in partnership.
• Indirect/Technical Reporting:  Wash Manager, Child protection manager, HASS manager 

Qualifications

Education:

• Health professional (Registered Nurse, Nutrition and dietetics,) with strong Health and Nutrition background.
• A mature person of high professional discipline and moral integrity, able to work independently and under stress as the situation may dictate.

Work Experience:

• At least 3 years’ experience in managing and implementing Health and Nutrition programs.
• Able to lead a team and experience in staff management.
• Experience in outbreak response interventions
• Ability to work with displaced communities with diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
• Have experience in general management including, HR and logistics management.

 Demonstrated Technical Skills:

• Background in situation analysis, health assessments M&E and program implementation.

Demonstrated Managerial/Leadership Competencies:

• Flexible, diplomatic and have the ability and willingness live and work under pressure of workloads.

Languages:  English, ability to speak local languages in an added advantage.

Computer/Other Tech Requirements:

• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.