Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition Specialist

Job Description:

Project Summary:	FANTA-2 works to improve nutrition and food security policies, strategies and programs through technical support to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and its partners, including host country governments, international organizations and NGO implementing partners. Focus areas for technical assistance include maternal and child health and nutrition, HIV and other infectious diseases, food security and livelihood strengthening, and emergency and reconstruction. FANTA-2 develops and adapts approaches to support the design and quality implementation of field programs, while building on field experience to improve and expand the evidence base, methods and global standards for nutrition and food security programming. The project, funded by USAID, is a five-year cooperative agreement.
Position Summary:	Based in Dhaka, the Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition (MCHN) Specialist will serve as the MCHN Advisor working with other FANTA-2 staff to provide technical assistance to USAID/Bangladesh and its partners, including supporting coordination mechanisms, advocacy processes and policies related to nutrition; strengthening the capacity of service providers in maternal and child nutrition, Essential Nutrition Actions, and infant and young child feeding practices; assisting USAID partners to integrate and strengthen nutrition components in health systems; and strengthening monitoring and evaluation of nutrition interventions.
Essential Job Functions:	Technical Duties • Provide technical leadership for the implementation of FANTA-2 technical assistance in Bangladesh. • Advise USAID/Bangladesh on MCHN activities and respond to requests for technical inputs to strategies, programs and policies on nutrition-related issues. • Work with the FANTA-2 Country Manager, Bangladesh to provide periodic updates to USAID/Bangladesh and complete reporting requirements for FANTA-2 activities. • Facilitate dialogue among partners to coordinate efforts and build consensus for MCHN programming in Bangladesh. Liaise with UN and other international and bilateral institutions to ensure coordination of FANTA-2 activities with related activities, and to establish collaboration where needed. • Participate actively in nutrition working groups in Bangladesh. Manage and oversee implementation of integration of MCHN activities into existing programs, including USAID-funded programs, and national programs. Support and strengthen monitoring and evaluation for these components. • Work with FANTA-2 technical staff and partners to implement an advocacy strategy to strengthen the enabling environment for nutrition programs and policies. • Identify and manage consultants to support technical assistance activities in Bangladesh. This includes development of Scopes of Work, technical management of activities, ensuring activity timeframes and budgets are met, and review and finalization of consultant products. • Draft technical materials including guidelines, training manuals, reports, concept notes and other materials as needed. Review and refine materials produced by consultants and other FANTA-2 staff. • Work with USAID/Bangladesh and FANTA-2 technical staff to identify and plan future nutrition activities supported by USAID in Bangladesh. Prepare concept notes, workplans and budgets for FANTA-2 technical assistance to these activities, as needed. Areas for possible support include maternal and child nutrition, social and behavior change communication in MCHN, infant and young child feeding practices, community management of acute malnutrition (CMAM), Essential Nutrition Actions, and support to the Title II program. • Work closely with the Country Manager, the Senior Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition Advisor and other FANTA-2 staff to coordinate FANTA-2’s Bangladesh nutrition activities with the project’s other MCHN activities and with other technical clusters. Share key developments and experiences with FANTA-2 staff working in other countries or globally through periodic written and verbal updates and discussions. • Participate in regular FANTA-2 activities such as staff meetings, retreats, and technical update sessions. • Carry out other technical tasks as needed. Leadership and Management Duties • Serve as the point person for FANTA-2 with USAID/Bangladesh. Identify and manage partnerships with local institutions working with FANTA-2. • Ensure that FANTA-2/Bangladesh operations are in compliance with USAID and FHI360 policies and procedures. • Manage imprest account funds and approve expenditures up to signature authority level in accordance with AED and USAID procedures, cost principles, and regulations, following closely and in a timely fashion, the working budget of project funds. Work with the Finance Associate to prepare projections for imprest account wires. Approve petty cash payments prepared by Finance Associate, based on monthly petty cash projections, and implement spot-checks of the accuracy of petty cash logs. • Assist with or provide input for the development of a FANTA-2 Field Manual for Bangladesh. • Assures that cost share is obtained and properly accounted for. • Provide guidance and input for FANTA-2 project-wide workplanning, quarterly and annual reporting and budgeting exercises. • Ensure the fundamental elements of safety and security management are fulfilled, including a basic level of training for all staff. Informs FANTA-2/Washington of the current security situation, possible scenarios and any anticipated concerns for safety and security. Update the Safety and Security Contingency Plan (SSCP) for Bangladesh, as needed and circulate to FANTA-2/Bangladesh staff and FANTA-2/Washington Operations Team. • Report regularly to FANTA-2/Washington on administrative and financial issues. • Supervise FANTA-2 staff in Bangladesh. Respond to personnel and performance issues in an effective and professional manner, when needed. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with a job.
Education:	Masters in one of the following or related fields: Nutrition or Public Health required or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
Experience:	11 year(s) of relevant experience required Specific Knowledge Requirements: • At least eleven years work experience in MCHN or other related work, with a minimum 5 years experience specifically in MCHN programs in developing countries. • Technical expertise and program experience in nutrition is required; deep knowledge in MCHN, anthropometry and anthropometric techniques, and state-of-the-art community health and nutrition programming. • Experience working with government stakeholders in integrating nutrition activities; experience working with USAID and partners is highly desirable. • Demonstrated experience managing teams and to catalyzing the work of other technical specialists for program planning and implementation. • Experience in technical areas such as infant and young child feeding, child survival, nutrition and food security, essential nutrition actions, micronutrients, monitoring and evaluation, and behavior change communication. • Must understand food security concepts and design of effective food security programs to improve food availability, access and utilization, and decrease risk and improve livelihoods among families, especially women and children, in resource poor, shock-prone areas. • Expertise with monitoring and evaluation methodologies, including design of indicators, surveys, sampling, monitoring and evaluation systems, and data analysis and presentation, including the use of qualitative and quantitative techniques, • Experience operating in a USAID-funded field-office setting; Knowledge of technical requirements, policies and procedures of USAID-funded programs, including reporting requirements. • Experience with administrative and financial procedures for development and processing of consultant scopes of work, purchase orders and activity budgets. • Must be trained on USG finance regulations and have demonstrable skills in record-keeping and project financial oversight. • Experience providing technical assistance, program design and management, research, or policy development and analysis is preferred.
Special Requirements:	This job will require a criminal background check.
Skills:	• Excellent English writing skills, with demonstrated ability to write effectively for a range of audiences and purposes, e.g. tools and materials for health service providers, guidelines, work plans, training materials, and reports. • Ability to translate technical information into practical guidance and tools for program managers and service providers. • Strong oral presentation skills on technical topics for varied audiences, including policy makers, program managers, service providers, and technical experts. • Strong analytical skills; demonstrated ability to learn new areas of work quickly. • Ability to work independently, assess priorities, problem solve, multitask, and manage a variety of activities while collaborating with a broad coalition of partners. • Ability to facilitate multi-stakeholder processes and effectively implement activities within bureaucratic government systems. • Self-initiating and able to effectively work independently and in a team consisting of people with different technical backgrounds and with varying levels of technical training. • Demonstrated ability to initiate and manage significant technical activities, including designing activities, identifying and managing partners, and reporting.
Additional Information:	Supervisory Responsibilities: Supervise up to 5 staff members Equipment To Be Used: Typical office equipment Typical Physical Demands: Typical office environment. Working Conditions including Travel and Overtime: Up to 30% travel.
Interested applicants should apply online or send resume with cover letter referencing position #BB11147 to: FHI360/HR, 1825 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20009; For additional information, visit our website at http://www.FHI360.org. We thank all individuals for their interest in FHI360, however only those selected for interviews will be contacted. Individuals responding to job postings are considered applicants for a particular position only after they have been invited to complete the company's official printed employment application form.

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