Technical Officer III, Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition (MCHN) 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) 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 organization 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 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.

The MCHN Specialist provides nutrition program and technical support for USAID-funded activities at global and country levels, particularly activities in Bangladesh, Ghana, Guatemala, Mozambique, and Uganda. The MCHN Specialist provides technical and programmatic guidance based on state-of-the-art knowledge in nutrition, MCHN, behavior change, advocacy, gender, food security, and monitoring and evaluation and assists in the development and review of strategies, policies, proposals, position papers and related documents. The MCHN Specialist manages in-country technical assistance to host country governments and USAID implementing partners on nutrition advocacy, integration of nutrition services into health systems, and design of nutrition and food security programs, The MCHN Specialist also 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) will:

• Manage and coordinate the implementation of FANTA MCHN cluster activities in MCHN focus country or countries, in collaboration with in-country technical staff. Provide technical assistance to implementing partners; manage strong partnerships with USAID missions and implementing partners, coordinate with overall FANTA technical lead for that country as well as with other relevant FANTA clusters.
• Serve as a technical backstop for MCHN activities in Guatemala working in coordination and partnership with in-country staff.
• Provide technical support to nutrition advocacy activities in Guatemala, including the development of materials for key audiences and stakeholder’s in-country.
• Provide technical support to work in other countries such as Bangladesh, Ghana, Mozambique, and Uganda, as required, managing specific MCHN activities.
• Provide technical management and leadership in technical activities, including developing curricula and training workshops, developing and reviewing training materials and tools, TA, written guides, and documentation of lessons learned; writing or reviewing nutrition policy or strategy documents, program development and design, conducting assessments and writing reports, working with partners to design nutrition intervention, and preparing programming tools.
• Provide technical input, analysis and information to USAID/Washington including the office of Health, Infectious Disease and Nutrition, Office of Food for peace (FFP), USAID missions, host country governments and PVOs on issues related to food security and nutrition, development proposals and provide comments/feedback to USAID, PVOs, and attend review meetings.
• Respond to request from USAID/Washington, missions, and implementing partners on MCHN topics for technical information and assistance in areas such as, programmatic approaches to preventing malnutrition under the age of two, maternal nutrition, social and behavior change communication, and nutrition advocacy. Work with other members of the FANTA MCHN cluster to identify priority areas for technical assistance in MCHN.
• Develop technical resource materials and programming tools to support MCHN programming, for example assessment, program design, training, quality improvement, monitoring or costing tools.
• Collaborate with other FANTA technical clusters, such as Nutrition and Infectious Disease, Nutrition and Agricultural Linkages, Acute Malnutrition and Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) and Global Leadership clusters, 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 u-to-date work plans, budgets and progress reporting for prioritized activities
• Identify and report on cost share, if applicable.
• As needed, manage consultants, and participate in the recruitment of staff.
• Perform other job-related activities as assigned.

Minimal Requirements

Masters Degree in Nutrition, Public Health, or related discipline required.

At least 10 years of relevant experience in maternal and child health and nutrition or other related work, with a minimum 5 years experience specifically in international MCHN, especially technical areas such as infant and young child feeding, child survival, nutrition and food security, micronutrients, monitoring and evaluation, and behavior change activities. Technical expertise and program experience in nutrition is required.

Experience with USAID-funded activities, especially MCHN, child survival, and food security programming

Field experience in a developing country working on maternal child nutrition, social and behavior change communication, and nutrition advocacy, and related areas is high desirable. Experience working with an NGO doing international development in nutrition and/or food security.

Strong analytical skills

Strong skills related to the delivery of technical assistance to community-based organizations

Ability to write concisely and clearly in English

Superior presentation skills, both written and oral

Ability to conduct trainings, facilitate workshops, 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, program, and initiatives, especially those related to health, nutrition, and food security (e.g. USAID Forward, Feed the Future)

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, implantation and results reporting

Ability to translate technical information into practical guidance and tools and effectively comm8unciate these using print, electronic, and presentation media

Proficiency in Spanish is required, and proficiency in French or Portuguese is desirable

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.