Sr. Consortium and Project Director, Maternal Nutrition Africa at Nutrition International

About The Role

• The Sr. Consortium and Project Director provide overall leadership and accountability for a Maternal Nutrition project in Africa. This role will lead and oversee the management of all aspects of the project and is accountable for the overall project. This includes responsibility for day-to-day planning, grant management, and tracking progress against project deliverables, to ensure targets are met through the efficient and effective management of resources - for Nutrition International as the anchor partner, but also for the varied and vital sub-grantees.
• A key function of this leadership role will be to develop and steward excellent relationships with key stakeholders, including donors, United Nations agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), research bodies, and government.
• The job holder will lead a project team of 6 staff at Nutrition International and coordinate the tracking and reporting of investment deliverables from a range of implementing partners for this project. They will also collaborate with Nutrition International staff based in the Headquarters in Ottawa, Canada, Africa Regional Office in Nairobi, Kenya and country office staff as appropriate.
• The Sr. Consortium and Project Director will be an inclusive leader with a proven ability to manage large scale complex public health/ nutrition programs and lead and motivate teams and foster a respectful and innovative team environment. They will report to the Sr. Global Portfolio Director for Maternal Newborn Health and Nutrition and will work closely with the Sr. Global Portfolio Director for Health Economics and Nutrition Financing and the Sr. Director, Partnerships and Growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Project Management Lead the design and clarity of project goals, scope, and deliverables, ensuring full alignment across teams and partners. Co-create detailed annual workplans with government stakeholders and maintain smooth implementation. Drive innovation by introducing new ideas and fostering creative problem-solving. Oversee high-quality, timely execution of activities, manage consultants and service providers, and champion excellence throughout the project cycle.
• Partnership Management Build and sustain strong, collaborative relationships with government, implementing partners, and key stakeholders, ensuring clear communication and shared objectives. Identify and onboard new partners to enhance project delivery, address challenges constructively, and support partners in strengthening their capacity for sustainable, high-quality performance.
• Project Learning and Effectiveness Oversee robust monitoring and learning systems to ensure data-driven decision-making and timely course correction. Lead regular learning reviews with teams and partners, maintain clear documentation, and support effective communications that raise the project's profile. Prepare high-quality internal and donor reports highlighting progress, achievements, and impact.
• Team Leadership and Human Resources Management Develop and maintain a strong staffing strategy, oversee recruitment and consultant management, and ensure effective performance management across the project. Foster a supportive, innovative, and values-driven team culture through coaching, mentorship, and continuous feedback. Promote collaboration, well-being, and adherence to Nutrition International's standards.
• Financial and Grant Management Provide full financial oversight of the project, including budgets, sub-grants, and compliance with organizational and donor standards. Ensure strong financial systems, accurate cash flow and expenditure monitoring, and effective collaboration with Corporate Services. Maintain rigorous financial controls, risk management, and procurement practices to ensure transparent and accountable use of project funds.
• Thought Leadership, External Representation and Positioning Lead and contribute to regional and global working groups to influence dialogue and showcase Nutrition International's technical excellence. Drive project-level advocacy and communications strategies, represent the project in key external forums, and cultivate strong donor and stakeholder relationships to elevate the organization's profile and impact.
• Partnerships and Growth Cultivate and maintain strong donor relationships through regular engagement, transparent communication, and field representation. Strengthen collaboration with key stakeholders to align with government priorities and other donor initiatives. Respond promptly to donor inquiries, build trust at all levels, and consistently share project progress, learning, and challenges across the organization.
• Project Team Collaboration Promote regular, effective communication across the project team, partners, and leadership to enhance integration and proactively address risks. Foster a positive, collaborative work environment that reflects Nutrition International's values and supports successful project delivery. 

Requirements
Education/Professional Designations/Experience:

• A master's degree or equivalent experience in nutrition, public health, international development and/or a related field
• At least 15 years of experience in health, nutrition, or development programming, with a significant portion in senior leadership roles and in Africa.
• Proven track record of managing large-scale ($30M +), multi-country, multi-partner health and nutrition programs in Africa, Asia, or similar contexts
• Demonstrated understanding and commitment to Gender Equality and Safeguarding
• Strong experience in financial management, including budgeting, reporting, and ensuring compliance with donor requirements
• Strong experience in managing complex grants from institutional and private donors
• Demonstrated and successful experience in partnership building and brokering
• Positive experience in donor stewardship
• Extensive experience in managing teams in a cross-cultural, multi-regional environment
• Demonstrated experience of successfully presenting and engaging at high level meetings, conferences, advisory groups on behalf of the organization
• Strong ability to identify, rank and mitigate risks, and manage complex time sensitive problems
• Able to work as part of multi-cultural global team in a dynamic and growing organization

Skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint
• Superior communications skills (oral and written) including good technical writing and presentation skills
• Superior communications skills (verbal and written).
• Fluency in English - both reading and writing - is essential
• A working knowledge of French is an asset