Head of Nutrition

JOB PROFILE
Job Title: Head of Nutrition
Place of Work: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Grade: 3.1
Reports to: Head of Hunger Reduction
Line management responsibility: (Currently) 1 Nutrition Technical Manager/Advisor and 1 Nutrition Project Manager
Budget Responsibility: To be confirmed
Child Protection Level: 3

Introduction:
Save the Children UK has been operational in Ethiopia since 1973 and the organisation has developed into one of the largest international NGOs in the country. Currently Save the Children UK operates a programme that involves work in both development and humanitarian relief, and the relationship between. Programmes encompass four thematic areas: Hunger Reduction, Health and HIV/AIDS, Education, and Emergencies. Save the Children UK works to ensure quality programming on the ground forms the basis upon which to advocate for changes in policy and practice by key duty-bearers at regional, national and global levels.

The Save the Children UK Ethiopia Country Programme is organised into four departments: Policy and Programmes, Programme Operations, Finance and Grants, and Human Resources & Administration. The Head of Nutrition is housed within the Policy and Programmes department. The purpose of this department is to guide change for children in all programmatic areas, and through successful advocacy and communication of evidence-based learning, to contribute to the achievement of the organisation’s global and national objectives.

Job Purpose:
This is an exciting time to be joining Save the Children in Ethiopia. Save the Children UK has a long-standing reputation for innovative work in nutrition (in Ethiopia and globally) and now is the opportunity to shape the future direction, scope and scale of the nutrition work. The postholder will also have the opportunity and responsibility to build the contribution and profile of the nutrition work within Save the Children’s EVERY ONE campaign, both in Ethiopia and globally.

The Head of Nutrition in Ethiopia is responsible for leading the Nutrition and related food security programme of Save the Children UK in Ethiopia. S/he will be expected to play a leading role in designing and growing our nutrition programme work, and producing and utilising high quality research and advocacy to influence government policy and practice. This is a management position and is responsible for managing technical managers as well as some project managers.

The post holder will be responsible for ensuring that key organisational principles and approaches (such as child participation) are well integrated throughout the project cycle and in advocacy. The post holder will also be responsible for ensuring that lessons derived through implementation of projects are well articulated, documented and disseminated both internally and externally and fed into strategic development of the hunger reduction portfolio.

Key accountabilities:
Strategic Programme Development
• Provide overall leadership for the strategic development and implementation of Save the Children UK’s Nutrition and related food security programme. This includes leading the development of strategic plans and fundraising for the portfolio of projects, research and initiatives required for achievement of strategic objectives and outcomes. This requires ambitious and innovative thinking and the ability to negotiate multiple internal and external positions and viewpoints to ensure a common vision and concrete actions are achieved. One key programme is the Productive Safety Net Programme, being implemented by Save the Children UK in both highland and pastoral areas, and the links to other nutrition related complementary programming.
• Lead the Nutrition contribution to annual operational planning and regular internal programme planning and review meetings, as well as related inputs to quarterly and annual Save the Children UK reports.
• Serve as the thematic focal point for regular liaison and communication with relevant staff in Ethiopia, at the Save the Children UK Regional Office and head office in London. Ensure proposed work in country is understood, in line with, and contributes to the fulfilment of global objectives and advocacy efforts. Identify technical support requirements, inclusive of field visits, as and when necessary.
• Document and communicate programme achievements against agreed strategic objectives and milestones for a wide range of internal and external audiences. Ensure the nutrition and food security key strategic documents are understood and internalised by those who are either contributing to the evidence base or responsible for representation of organisational objectives at district, regional or national level.
• Within the Policy and Programmes department, actively communicate and coordinate with the other section heads and relevant technical managers to ensure an integrated approach across themes.
• Serve as the senior thematic lead for all relevant external representation requirements on nutrition.
Policy Analysis, Policy Engagement and Advocacy for Policy Change
• Develop policy briefs and position papers related to the nutrition programmes, ensuring the inclusion of technical input from the relevant technical and project managers.
• Support the implementation of the Hunger Reduction Advocacy Plan, the purpose of which is to positively influence duty-bearers to change the lives of children. Direct nutrition and food security-related advocacy efforts (objectives, messages, targets, approaches), and manage the achievement of each specific objective. Determine and oversee key advocacy opportunities, methods and events to support advocacy objectives, taking advantage of key opportunities in Ethiopia.
• Regularly assess and communicate the implications for Save the Children UK’s programme and priorities of any changes in the operating environment relevant to this theme in close collaboration with the relevant technical staff.
• Support the development and implementation of the nutrition-related components of the EVERY ONE Campaign Plan, under the overall leadership of the Ministry of Health.
• Identify and develop good relations with all key stakeholders in the sector, particularly those government departments and donors identified as key in achieving agreed Save the Children advocacy outcomes.
• Lead in networking and articulating Save the Children UK’s position, policy and strategy in national forums and meetings. Engage in key debates related to issues covered in advocacy plans, in coordination with technical managers and other relevant staff.
• Ensure that the voices of children guide advocacy and policy change objectives and related activities.

Programme Effectiveness:
• Ensure projects and research are technically managed to a high standard. This involves both direct technical support, as well as supervision of Technical Managers to provide support to projects at key stages in the project cycle. The minimum support requirements are detailed in the Technical Managers job description and include the development of realistic and timely M&E plans, detailed implementation plans, and conducting baseline and endline evaluations.
• Ensure that regular field based project review meetings take place and are attended by the relevant technical managers. At these meetings the technical support and capacity building needs of project staff should be identified and agreed between the Technical Manager and Project Manager.
• Ensure that Technical Managers guide project staff in the use of key generic and Save the Children tools and guidelines to ensure the quality of work. These include among others, child participation, child right programming and mainstreaming of gender, diversity and HIV/AIDS. Particular emphasis should be on ensuring that children are actively involved and participate in all stages of project cycle management.
• Oversee the recruitment and subsequent management of external consultants (local or international) who are contracted to technically support projects, in collaboration with relevant project managers, and in accordance with the consultancy guidelines. At times directly manage such consultants.
• Lead the development of evidence-based learning to support advocacy objectives and overall implementation of the nutrition programme. Ensure that lessons learned are properly documented, effectively disseminated and, where appropriate, incorporated into wider advocacy initiatives (cross-theme as well as globally).
Strategic Fundraising
• Analyze donor priorities and positions on issues related to nutrition. In collaboration with Save the Children UK headquarters and other relevant Ethiopia based staff, identify institutional and other funding opportunities. Develop and maintain contacts with relevant staff of current and potential donors, partners and key technical agencies, in coordination with the Policy and Programmes Director and other relevant staff.
• Identify funding opportunities to explore with other stakeholders and consortia, including multi-country and inter-agency proposals to expand and strengthen evidence based and to advance advocacy and policy change objectives.
•Build on technical knowledge, research and current/previous programming to lead development of proposals for new programme initiatives or projects in close coordination with the relevant technical and project staff. This includes all aspects of proposal development, such as concept notes, grant amendments, etc.
• Ensure quality of donor reports through periodic review of such reports and make recommendations on how these reports could be improved. Provide support where necessary to improve report writing skills.
• Support donor meetings and visits. This can include, but is not limited to, briefings, relevant programme materials, field travel, etc.
Staff and Budget Management
• Manage the technical managers required to support all aspects of this thematic sector.
• Manage project staff as required.
• Develop and manage budgets for staff under line management, advocacy, consultancies and research, as required.
• Conduct regular performance management. This includes work plans and performance reviews.
• Support staff learning and development.
• Act as recruiting manager for all staff under line management.
Other
• This post holder may be responsible for additional tasks and duties as and when required to support the overall Country Programme, regional and head office priorities.

Working contacts:
External: High level regular involvement with senior government officials in relevant departments at national and regional levels. Attendance at regular and ad hoc senior technical and policy level meetings. Senior level involvement with representatives of donors, international agencies and local civil society. Frequent interaction will be required with the SC International on relevant issues. Serve as focal point for regular liaison and communication with London based objective teams, relevant Regional Office staff and counterparts in other Save the Children Country Programmes globally.

Internal: The Head of Nutrition reports to the Head of Hunger Reduction, who reports to the Director of Policy and Programmes, and line manages technical managers and a project manager. Work is closely coordinated with the other thematic teams to enhance cross-fertilisation and ensure integrated programming. Collaboration with all departments, and support of overall aims of the country programme, is also essential.

Budget:
Limited to funds earmarked for staff, advocacy, research and consultancy work.

Person specification:
Essential
• Advanced degree in nutrition, public health or a related field
• A minimum of 5 years experience in working in nutrition and food security development programmes
• Proven advocacy skills and experience.
• Proven record of managing and undertaking research
• Technical survey experience including: designing questionnaires, conducting random sample surveys and analysing both quantitative and qualitative data; preferably with experience of working in nutrition surveys
• Strong analytical skills
• Experience in monitoring and evaluating development and research programmes
• Excellent written and verbal English appropriate for external representation (lobbying, presentations, donor reports).
• Strong personal communication skills
• Commitment to Save the Children UK’s mission values and approach, including child protection and participation. Willingness to comply with the requirements of Save the Children UK’s child protection policies and other staff policies.

Desirable
• Understanding of social protection, food security and/or livelihoods
• Experience working in nutrition programmes in Africa
• Experience in emergency nutrition interventions
• Proven understanding of development issues in Africa
• Experience in working with partner agencies, including local partners
• Experience working in Ethiopia in development or humanitarian assistance
• An understanding of child rights programming

Child Protection:
The responsibilities of the post may require the postholder to have regular contact with children or young people. In the overseas context all posts are considered to be level 3 posts in view of potential situations which may allow unsupervised access to vulnerable children and young people.

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