Senior Manager - Health and Nutrition at Concern Worldwide

Job Summary:

Overall strategic management of Somalia nutrition and health programme, including emergency preparedness and response.

To manage and coordinate the design, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and technical support of Concern’s nutrition and health interventions in South-Central Somalia, including the effective scale-up of Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition including IYCF; and MCH services. The post holder will also be responsible for representing Concern and coordinating with key stakeholders in nutrition and health clusters at all levels. To lead in formulation of the country health and nutrition program strategies and participate in drafting of the national policies in the health and nutrition sector.

Main Duties &

Responsibilities:

Programme Development and Management:

• Participate and contribute to senior management team meetings and decision making process.
• Contribute and support to the development and roll out of the Country Strategic Plan.
• Contribute to the compilation of the Country Programme’s Monthly and Annual Reports.
• Manage and technically support the implementation of Concern’s health and nutrition programme and strengthen focus on the preventive aspects while maintaining quality treatment of SAM, MAM; and management of endemic and epidemic-prone communicable diseases in Somalia.
• Lead in development of timely and quality H&N project concept notes, proposals and budgets as needed, including building on lessons learned from past programmes.
• Effective management of nutrition and medical supplies to ensure there is no stock outs and minimal disruption of service delivery by maintaining continuous liaison with logistics and other relevant staff.
• Work closely with Finance to ensure proper management of donor budgets including DFID SNS, SNS+ and REFANI Consortia; ECHO; Irish Aid; and Concern’s own General Donations and any other funding that may be secured in the future. Liaise with the Finance and Grants staff to initiate and finalize budget revisions in a timely manner according to donor regulations.
• Assist in the capacity building of relevant health authorities in the country and Concern’s local implementation partners with a focus on the management and supervision of facility-based CMAM and MCH services and community based health interventions.
• Train and provide technical support to staff working in MCH/Nutrition centres to including nursing staff, CHWs and others in order to ensure quality MCH care is being offered
• Ensure that CHWs, Care Groups and other community based health structures are effectively trained, supported and providing effective maternal-child health and nutrition services in the community.
• Ensure standardization with and adherence to all national protocols and treatment guidelines stipulated by the Ministry of Health.
• Ensure integration of the health and nutrition programme with food security/livelihoods; WASH; Education and Resilience programmes in all regions.
• Work closely with the Senior Management team to regularly assess the needs of the target population and Concern’s capacity to expand operations maintaining quality programming
• Work closely with REFANI and other Concern’s Operations Research partners to achieve the set study objectives
• Develop monthly and quarterly work plans and monitor their implementation

Representation, Coordination & Liaison:

• Represent Concern at various coordination fora and directly engage with technical and other relevant staff of the Ministry of Health, donor organisations, Nutrition and Health Clusters, Consortium partners, other NGOs and UN agencies.
• Represent Concern in various SNS and SNS+ consortia Technical and MEAL Working Group meetings and coordinating with the consortia partners and third party monitors; prepare program briefs and matters of strategic concern to the CD and or PD for presentation in SNS and SNS+ Steering Committees
• Actively participate in the development of the next phase of SNS consortium applying the best practices and lessons learnt in the current phase
• Maintain Concern’s active engagement in various advisory and working groups e.g. Assessment and Information Management Information/AIM WG and taskforces in both nutrition and health clusters.
• Maintain strong links with Concern’s Health and Nutrition Advisors to ensure technical quality of the programme is maintained and support is brought in as and when needed.

Staff Management and Development:

• Manage the Programme Coordinator in Mogadishu and support him/her to manage the local health & nutrition staff effectively, whilst ensuring the HR manager is involved in all staff-related issues.
• Focus on building the capacity of the team as needed, to ensure improved program quality, staff capacity & technical knowledge and overall service provision. Carry out training directly at any available opportunity.
• Ensure recruitment of staff as needed and support their orientation, training, mentoring and supervision to help ensure quality health and nutrition programme intervention implemented.
• Manage the contracting of consultants and in-house technical support as needed, in consultation with the PD.

M&E, Reporting, Review and Supervision:

• Ensure a strong monitoring system is in place, which reflects the realities of the Somalia context, and that programme data on key health and nutrition indicators is collected and entered correctly, analysed, reviewed and responded to in an on-going basis.
• Prepare timely and quality reports (both narrative and financial) to fulfil internal (Country, Regional and HQ) and external (Ministry, Donors, Consortium and Cluster) requirements.
• Engage in analysis of the health and nutritional situation as part of the overall emergency response and participate in strategic planning & management discussions.
• Ensure Concern Somalia management and relevant HQ staff are fully updated on the unfolding health and nutritional situation and provided with the key findings from assessments, reports, external updates, etc.
• Undertake or manage health and nutrition surveys and other assessments as required, context permitting including SMART and Coverage Surveys, KAPC Surveys, Initial Rapid Assessments, Barrier Analysis etc. to inform programming
• Actively participate in Concern’s ongoing Operations Research including REFANI.
• Close monitoring and interpretation of FSNAU and other national or subnational survey findings and reports that relate to nutrition and food security to inform Concern programmes
• Provide regular recommendations and technical information to the PD and Country Director on the implementation of the program. Adapt and improve the existing programme in an on-going basis, based on careful review of monitoring and any evaluation findings.
• Any other relevant duties as may reasonably be requested by the PD or Country Director.

Responding to Emergencies:

• Participate and contribute as necessary towards Concern’s Emergency response as and when necessary
• Comply with Concern’s health, safety and security guidelines during emergencies

Programme Participant Protection Policy

• To adhere to the standards of conduct outlined in the Programme Participant Protection Policy and Concern Code of Conduct.
• To support and promote the standards outlined in the Programme Participant Protection Policy and Concern Code of Conduct to their team, partner organisations and beneficiaries, and be committed to providing a safe working environment.
• To contribute to the establishment of preventive measures to reduce the potential for abuse in Concern programme (as per P4 section 6).

Job Specification:

Education, Qualifications & Experience Required:

· MSc or degree in nutrition, reproductive health, public health or nursing with significant maternal-child health/child survival and nutrition programming experience in an emergency context.

· At least 6 years’ experience in health and nutrition programming, including IYCF / nutrition education promotion and maternal-child health programming. Experience of at least two of which must be managing a health/nutrition programme in an insecure emergency environment.

· Emergency experience is absolutely essential.

· Experience of remote management and monitoring.

· Experience in the supervision, training and mentoring of nutrition & health staff and partner organisations.

· Knowledge & experience of technical nutrition and health aspects – assessments, surveillance, surveys, protocols, etc.

· Good understanding of cross cutting issues- gender, HIV and AIDS, DRR, etc. and how to integrate them into public health/nutrition programmes.

· Excellent report and proposal writing skills.

· Experience in analyzing and interpreting data and writing reports to a high technical standard.

· Excellent communication skills – negotiation, networking, facilitating workshops at different levels, etc.

Special Skills, Aptitude or Personality Requirements:

· Flexible, reliable, culturally sensitive, ability to work extended hours and retain composure under pressure.

· Strong organisational, interpersonal, communications and networking skills. Strategic approach and demonstrated ability to engage with key stakeholders at all levels.

· Strong analytical skills and attention to detail. Able to produce high quality, timely written work and respect deadlines.

· Ability to work both as part of a team and on own initiative, be a self-starter, and work with minimal supervision. Ability to get on with people and get the best out of them.

· Willingness to travel to an insecure area.

· Fluency in English, spoken and written

DESIRABLE

· Knowledge of CMAM and best practice in this field as well as programmes addressing prevention of acute malnutrition including IYCF-E and Care Groups.

· Knowledge of MCH and best practice in maternal health particularly in the Horn of Africa

· Experience of working in a Consortium with other NGOs

· M&E experience and skills.

· Experience of designing, implementing and analysing nutrition surveys.

· Experience in food security programming and integration of nutrition & health with food security and other programmes.

· Previous experience working with Concern.

· Previous experience in Somalia/Somaliland.