Technical Officer III, Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition (MCHN) Advocacy Specialist in Washington, DC

FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. Our staff includes experts in Health, Education, Nutrition, Environment, Economic Development, Civil Society, Gender, Youth, Research and Technology– creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today's interrelated development challenges. FHI 360 serves more than 60 countries, all 50 U.S. states and all U.S. territories. We seek qualified candidates for the position of Technical Officer III, Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition (MCHN) Advocacy Specialist in Washington, DC.

Position Description:

Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance III (FANTA) improves nutrition and food security policy, strategy and programming, and provides technical support to USAID and its partners, including host country governments, international organizations and PVO implementing partners. Focus areas for technical assistance include maternal and child health and nutrition, HIV and other infectious diseases, community-based nutrition programs and interventions, food security and livelihood strengthening, and emergency and reconstruction. FANTA 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.

Based in Washington, DC, the MCHN Advocacy Specialist provides nutrition technical support for USAID-funded activities at global and country levels, particularly activities in Bangladesh, Ghana, Guatemala, Mozambique, Uganda, Haiti, Tanzania and Ethiopia and any new countries that are added to FANTA’s activities. The MCHN Advocacy Specialist provides technical and programmatic guidance based on state-of-the-art knowledge in advocacy related to MCHN, gender, and food security and assists in the development and review of strategies, policies, proposals, position papers and related documents. The MCHN Advocacy Specialist manages in-country technical assistance to host country governments and USAID implementing partners on advocacy, and design of nutrition and food security programs, particularly in the area of social and behavior change communication (SBCC). The MCHN Advocacy Specialist also provides technical input to USAID/Washington and supports development of technical resource materials and tools to support USAID nutrition strategies and programs.

The Technical Officer III, Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition (MCHN) Advocacy Specialist will:

• Manage specific MCHN activities in countries such as Bangladesh, Ghana, Guatemala, Mozambique, Uganda, Haiti, Tanzania and Ethiopia. Activities may include nutrition advocacy processes, strengthening government coordination of nutrition initiatives, development of SBCC strategies and providing technical assistance for implementation of SBCC activities at the country-level, development of national nutrition policies and strategies, and integration of nutrition SBCC components into USAID health partner activities. Specific tasks may include writing or reviewing nutrition and SBCC policy or strategy documents, facilitating technical or training workshops, writing or reviewing training materials, conducting assessments or program reviews and writing reports of results, working with partners to design SBCC nutrition interventions, preparing programming tools, and management tasks such as identifying and managing consultants and partner organizations.
• Support and as needed lead the analysis and presentation of quantitative impacts of malnutrition using tools such as PROFILES. Strategize, plan and support the implementation of a broader set of nutrition advocacy activities beyond PROFILES, such as working with policymakers, parliamentarians, politicians, media, civil society, religious leaders and other stakeholders to generate awareness about nutrition issues and create a critical mass of nutrition advocates at national, regional and district levels in countries. Lead the process to develop consultative advocacy materials for target audiences, as needed.
• Provide technical input, analysis and information on MCHN and SBCC issues to the USAID Office of Health, Infectious Disease and Nutrition (HIDN), Office of Food for Peace (FFP), and country missions. Support USAID in strengthening the quality of nutrition activities supported through the Feed the Future initiative and strengthening the integration of nutrition interventions with health, food security and agriculture activities.
• Review Title II Multi-Year Activity Program (MYAP) proposals and provide comments and feedback to USAID, and participate in review meetings.
• Develop technical resource materials and programming tools to support MCHN programming, particularly in the area of advocacy and SBCC (e.g., assessment, program design, training, quality improvement, monitoring or costing tools). Materials would also include documentation of lessons learned.
• Respond to requests from USAID/Washington, Missions, and implementing partners on MCHN and SBCC topics for specific technical information, programming experience, and evidence-base about areas spanning prevention to treatment of malnutrition.
• Work with other members of the FANTAMCHN cluster to identify priority areas for technical assistance in MCHN.
• Collaborate with other FANTA technical clusters, such as Nutrition and Infectious Diseases, Nutrition and Agriculture Linkages, Acute Malnutrition and Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) and Global Leadership, on activities of joint relevance.
• Collaborate with other FHI 360 projects as needed, based on synergies among activities and technical areas.
• Work with project management to maintain up-to-date workplans, budgets and progress reporting for prioritized activities.
• Manage FANTA consultants, and participate in the recruitment of new FANTA staff.
• Perform other job-related activities, as assigned.

Minimal Requirements:

• Master’s Degree in nutrition, public health, or related discipline required.
• At least 7 years of relevant experience in advocacy, maternal and child health and nutrition or other related work, with a minimum 5 years of experience specifically in international advocacy and SBCC, preferably in the context of MCHN.
• Experience with USAID-funded activities, especially advocacy and SBCC related to MCHN, child survival, and food security programming.
• Field experience in a developing country working on nutrition and advocacy is highly desirable.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Strong skills related to the delivery of technical assistance to host country governments and USAID implementing partners.
• Ability to write concisely and clearly in English with demonstrated ability to write effectively for a range of audiences and purposes.
• Superior presentation skills, both written and oral.
• Ability to conduct trainings, facilitate workshops, and moderate online discussions.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, problem-solving, and team-work skills.
• Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and ability to work with partners and colleagues with a range of technical backgrounds and work styles.
• Knowledge of USAID and USG policies, programs, and initiatives, especially those related to health, nutrition, and food security (e.g. USAID Forward, Feed the Future).
• Knowledge of SBCC theories/frameworks, approaches and methods, especially in the area of advocacy.
• Ability to prepare and manage budgets and workplans
• Demonstrated ability to initiate and manage significant technical activities, including designing activities, identifying and managing partners, and reporting;
• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with partner organizations, e.g. PVOs, UN agencies, government bureaus
• Ability to undertake problem analyses and organize diverse information in a systematic way while thinking creatively to propose approaches to improve program design, implementation and results reporting
• Ability to translate technical information into practical guidance and tools and effectively communicate these using print, electronic, and presentation media
• Proficiency in French, Spanish or Portuguese

Interested candidates may register online through FHI 360's Career Center at www.fhi360.org/careercenter or through the Employment section at www.fhi360.org. Please submit CV/resume and cover letter including salary requirements. Please specify source in your application.

AA/EOE/M/F/V/D