Nutrition Officer at the International Medical Corps (IMC)

International Medical Corps is a global, humanitarian, nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training and relief and development programs. Established in 1984 by volunteer doctors and Nurses, International Medical Corps is a private, voluntary, nonpolitical, nonsectarian organization. Its mission is to improve the quality of life through health interventions and related activities that build local capacity in underserved communities worldwide. By offering training and health care to local populations and medical assistance to people at highest risk, and with the flexibility to respond rapidly to emergency situations, International Medical Corps rehabilitates devastated health care systems and helps bring them back to self-reliance.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Nutrition Officer

Location: Damboa, Borno

Program Background

IMC has been implementing its curative and preventive nutrition intervention in 15 OTPs of Damboa, Jere, Konduga and MMC LGAs. The curative component targets children, 6-59 months with SAM. Community health volunteers screen and refer children with a MUAC <11.5cm or WHZ < -3 or those with grade + or ++ or edema to OTP sites for treatment. SAM cases are treated at the OTP using RUTF, deworming and Vitamin supplementation.
Children with severe acute malnutrition and medical complications or those <6 months are referred to stabilization centers.
In addition, caregivers of children 6-59 months are trained on how to measure MUAC. If a caregiver identifies a child with SAM these are re-assessed by the CHV and if confirmed, the child is referred to the OTP.
These children receive nutrition support through RUTF based on their weight, treated for infections using routine medication and screened and treated for malaria.
The severely acutely malnourished who are 24-59 months are de-wormed. All severely acutely malnourished without edema receive routine vitamin A supplementation and zinc supplements for those that present with diarrhea, whilst those presenting with malnutrition and medical complications are to stabilization centers for specialized treatment.

Job Summary

The primary functions of the Nutrition officer is to provide leadership and overall day to day management of all Nutrition Food Security programming at duty designation and state, participate in defining intervention priorities, develop necessary contacts and relationships with government, non-government, donors and UN agencies at the field level; Contribute to the development of strategies and manage existing programs and resources, and provide day to day supervision, management and coaching to a wide team of Nutrition Food Security in the operation areas.
Ensure that International Medical Corps program is delivering the highest level of quality of nutrition services in line to national and international guideline.

Main Responsibilities

Effective implementation of IMC’s Emergency Nutrition Projects within the frame work of pertinent national policy, strategy and guidelines
Ensure observance, respect the dignity of beneficiaries and members of the community at all times
Participate in any nutrition sector-specific assessments and make technical recommendations for appropriate activities, both for initial disaster response phase and for longer-term disaster risk reduction and transition phase.
Determine the cause of malnutrition in the emergency response and formulate appropriate responses that will address the cause.
Assess the immediate lifesaving nutrition interventions needed (such as CMAM) in addition to the prevention activities (ENA, IFE) that need to be implemented at the same time.
Provide direct hands-on technical support to Nutrition Staffs and IMC partners to effectively and innovatively manage emergency nutrition projects with focus on key technical areas
Ensure that emergency nutrition and related projects are technically sound, environmentally friendly, socially and cultural acceptable
Actively represent International Medical Corps in nutrition sector discussions and activities, serve as an International Medical Corps nutrition sector resource person, and display technical and organizational leadership in sectorial activity commensurate with the role as a primary resource person for International Medical Corps in your working areas.
Manage International Medical Corps’ nutrition response and recovery activities across a wide range of actors within International Medical Corps, donors, host governments, UN and NGO partners to ensure consistency of programming.
Strong negotiation skill with the partners, host community and government officials.
Actively participate and represent IMC in State and LGA nutrition CMAM Cluster meetings.
Assist in development of, or provide technical review for, emergency response proposals to be submitted by International Medical Corps to ensure that proposed activities and programs align with best practice in the nutrition sector. As appropriate, suggest new developments in the nutrition sector to International Medical Corps programming.
Be fully aware of national policies, strategies and other initiatives and developments by government and other stakeholders in the area of nutrition. Regularly assess the implications for IMC’s programme and priorities of any changes in the operating environment in this sector and report on these to the emergency program Coordinator and Nutrition Coordinator as required
Actively participate in surveys done at the Community level (KAP, SMART, Causal Analysis, Barriers, Coverage)
Ensure development of core skills and competencies in Nutrition and Food Security among IMC staff in the project offices
Provide technical support and training where required to all team members and partners
Build the capacity of Technical, Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) and committees to deliver quality service and undertake participatory monitoring of the implementation of the project works and record lessons and reports.
Prepare quarterly and annual reports to donors, line departments and sectors
Strengthen partnerships, institutional linkages and working relationships
Other duties as assign.

Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse:

Actively promote PSEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) standards within International Medical Corps and amongst beneficiaries served by International Medical Corps.
Any other duties that may be assigned from time by supervisors
Compliance & Ethics: Promotes and encourages a culture of compliance and ethics throughout International Medical Corps. As applicable to the position, maintains a clear understanding of International Medical Corps’ and donor compliance and ethics standards and adheres to those standards. Conducts work with the highest level of integrity.

Qualifications and Experience

Master’s in Public Health, Nursing, Nutrition or equivalent
Minimum 3 years’ experience in nutrition work and implementation of nutrition intervention programs, including community mobilization, monitoring and evaluation aspects.
Significant experience on community management of acute malnutrition and Infant feeding in Emergency in host communities/ IDP camp setting
Understanding of nutritional surveillance and information systems
Proven ability and experience in planning and conducting formal training session on nutrition including CMAM and IYCF
Proven capacity to supervise, train and coach local staff and community workers.
Excellent communication skills and a willingness to be respectful, kind, sensitive and empathize with children and their care takers
Willingness and capacity to be flexible and accommodating when faced with difficult and frustrating working conditions
Ability to deal with relations with local authorities as a Nutrition representative of IMC in the working areas
Ability to integrate into the local environment including awareness of political, religious and economic aspects of the community
Excellent inter and intra personal skills to ensure consistent positive relations with key stakeholders
Strong report writing and computer skills
Fluent in written and spoken English and Hausa
Commitment to and understanding of IMC’s aims, values and principles.

Key Competencies:

Strong communication skills: oral, written and presentation skills.
Should be a team player and culturally sensitive.
Demonstrated proficiency in computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, email and utilization of the internet
Strong leadership, team building, conflict resolution and ability to deliver IMC’s strategic objectives.
Extremely flexible, and have the ability to cope with stressful situations

Application Closing Date
27th September, 2019.

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