Health and Nutrition Coordinator at Save The Children

Save the Children invests in childhood – every day, in times of crisis and for our future. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. By transforming children’s lives now, we change the course of their future and ours. Please give monthly and support our mission.

Save the Children is working to strengthen health systems and support maternal and child health in four northern states. Much work needs to be done for Nigeria to deliver its promises on Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 (which aim to reduce child mortality and improve maternal health) before 2015.

Facts About Nigeria
More than 173 Million people live there
The average girl stays in school only until she’s 9
123 out of 1000 children die before their 5th birthday
A parent earns an average of just $4 a day

Our Work

Save the Children has been working in Nigeria since 2001. We’re helping to improve health systems in northern Nigeria to delivery maternal, newborn, and child health services, including the revival of routine immunization.KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: 

Program Development

Establish and build capacity of the field-based health and nutrition staff in prioritized health and nutrition interventions within SC programs. 
Work with the project Manager in strategic planning for future health and nutrition programs 
Work with the project Manager, New Business Development, and Program Operations team to draft concepts and proposals for future funding following protocols and formats of each relevant donor 
Work with the project Manager to ensure that field-based health and nutrition teams integrate different health-related sectors (mental health, WASH, and GBV) into the proposed program

Program support 

Manage and coordinate all activities under the health and nutrition component across the implementation areas such as Maternal and Newborn health services, IMAM, MIYCN and MAMI services  
Lead the development of project implementation tools e.g DIP, project workplans, procurement plans  
Facilitate the implementation of monthly work plans for health programs in liaison with field-based health staff 
Support in organizing and coordinating technical review meetings with field-based staff on a quarterly basis 
Participate in relevant monthly technical working group meetings scheduled by MOH. 
Ensures quality clinical consultations, treatment, referral, and follow-up activities follow the National and WHO protocols 
Work closely with the health and nutrition MoH team in the field to improve routine disease surveillance monitoring in the catchment areas by building their capacities. 
Monitor and promote the integration of health and nutrition activities for maximum impact 
Facilitate collaboration and integration between Health, Nutrition, WASH, and FSL in project development and implementation 
Support health and nutrition related operational research as required 
In collaboration with field-based health and MEAL teams contribute to documentation and dissemination of lessons learned and best practices 
Work in collaboration with Health and Nutrition officer as well as MoH staff in the development of case studies and success stories on a monthly basis 
Work closely with Health and Nutrition officer and ensure quality benchmarks are utilized in service delivery 
Contribute to the achievement of CO health and nutrition-related KPI

Advocacy and coordination 

Representation of SCI in relevant platforms as delegated by the Health and Nutrition Manager (Child Health Technical Working Group, Disease Surveillance platforms, Disease Outbreaks, Emergency responders, and others) 
Represent the organization to the UN, health cluster, international and national NGOs, and Ministry of Health at health and nutrition coordination meetings as well as other meetings that are relevant to country programs and enhance the organizations' visibility 
Participate in SC regional and global technical meetings focusing on child survival, maternal newborn health, adolescent health, IMAM, MAMI, MYCN, clinical governance, and all relevant Community of Practice meetings. 
Ensure appropriate and consistent health and nutrition-related education and advocacy messaging to key actors including donors, Cluster, SCI staff, partners, mothers, and other carers at all programming contact points.
Training and capacity building 
Provide technical guidance on child health (IMCI, IMAM, MIYCN), disease outbreaks response and IPC, etc. to MOH facility staff and SCI field office clinical staff. 
Participate in training to improve medical performance for SCI staff and/or partners 
Build capacity among SCI and MOH staff to accurately compile monthly activity reports and, together with pharmacy specialist, assist with stock consumption/distribution plans. 
Provide technical guidance to field-based health staff on clinical governance tools for clinical service delivery 
Work with and liaise with field-based health and nutrition teams in conducting monthly and quarterly assessments in the facilities utilizing the approved checklists 
Facilitate supportive supervision of field-based health teams in collaboration with relevant government stakeholders 
Facilitate and lead in the quarterly assessments of clinical services using the approved clinical quality scorecard
Quality Assurance, Performance management, and capacity building 
Work with the MEAL team to develop and operationalize quality benchmarks including beneficiary feedback mechanisms and accountability to the communities, being mindful of cultural norms and practices 
Work with the health and nutrition officer to ensure that there is a Quality Assurance Scorecard system in place to monitor and course correct practices, as needed. · 
Create and maintain a positive working relationship with the health and nutrition team as well as MoH staff 
Assist in the selection and training of qualified health and nutrition staff. 
Ensure professional development for national health and nutrition staff through assessment of training needs and capacity-building activities. 
Overseeing training of all MOH healthcare and nutrition staff, including Doctors, nurses, CHEWs, and other technical staff to ensure that the provided training is of acceptable quality and addresses the identified needs and ensure the sustainability of programs
Health Information Management 
work with field-based HMIS officers in timely reporting of data into the national health management system DHIS2 on a monthly basis. 
work with the MEAL team to develop performance trends for key service delivery performance indicators 
Facilitate nutrition data validation and review meetings with the teams in reviewing periodic progress against prioritized key performance indicators in child health, maternal newborn health, nutrition outcome, and disease surveillance

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

develops and encourages new and innovative solutions willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

QUALIFICATIONS:  

Medical doctor (MBBS) or public health specialist (with clinical background)
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
At least 5 years’ experience in primary health care and general practice.
Extensive knowledge of emergency nutrition and health interventions.
Previous supervisory experience and experience managing budget
Work experience in humanitarian emergencies
Work experience with International Non–Governmental Organization ((INGO)
Strong interpersonal and communication skills
Ability to work as part of a team and demonstrate flexibility, motivation, and maturity
Ability to work within a tight timeframe and willingness to travel extensively in the field.
Good knowledge of quality standards and quality controls related to medical practice.
Experience in nutrition project data management and IMAM programming 
Having an operational experience will be a plus advantage.
Demonstrable experience in M&E.
Good presentation and facilitation skills
Proven conceptual skills and an ability to think and plan strategically
Good communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to train and mentor staff
Proven ability to manage a complex and demanding workload
Excellent spoken and written English and local language (Northeast of Nigeria)
Good computer skills (particularly Excel, Word, and databases)