Food Security and Nutrition Manager , Arlington, VA

Food Security and Nutrition ManagerArlington, VA

Established in 1915 with Helen Keller as a founding trustee, Helen Keller International (HKI) works to save the sight and lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged.  Headquartered in New York City, HKI offers programs in 21 countries in Africa and Asia as well as in the United States.  The organization combats the causes and consequences of blindness and malnutrition by establishing programs based on evidence and research.  Each year, our programs directly benefit millions of people, and children are a primary concern.  HKI programs address malnutrition, cataract, trachoma, onchocerciasis, refractive error and diabetic retinopathy.  HKI has over 600 staff and an annual budget of over $57 million.

Strengthening Partnerships, Results and Innovations in Nutrition (SPRING) is a five-year cooperative agreement funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to provide state-of-the-art technical support and facilitate country-led, regional, and global programs to improve the nutritional status of women and children. The SPRING implementation team consists of JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (the Prime), Helen Keller International (HKI), The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Save the Children (SC), and The Manoff Group (TMG). SPRING builds on past USAID investments and its partner expertize to deliver high impact nutrition interventions, such as infant and young child feeding, control of micronutrient deficiencies, and maternal nutrition practices focusing on the first 1,000 days of life. SPRING is also leading efforts to strengthen the evidence base and to build on, clarify and strengthen understanding, application and use of the most promising nutrition-sensitive agriculture interventions. In support of this, SPRING builds capacity and creates dialogue and evidence through exchange of ideas across stakeholders through a platform for Knowledge Management to share Agriculture/Nutrition related learning. SPRING, as designed, provides an opportunity for USAID bureaus and missions worldwide to invest and access its technical services and resources.

HKI is seeking a Food Security and Nutrition Manager to join the SPRING team.

Scope of the Position

The Food Security and Nutrition (FSN) Manager will be responsible for linking the technical and research based agriculture/nutrition activities and outputs with USAID and through the Knowledge Management team of SPRING. S/he will play a key role in ensuring the smooth functioning of the agriculture/nutrition team operations, timely implementation of activities and communications. S/he will also coordinate resource requirements and assignments for technical activities/products in collaboration with the Food Security and Nutrition (FSN) Director.  The FSN Manager will share the communications functions with the FSN Director, representing the project in lieu of the FSN Director to internal and external audiences, as requested. S/he will report to the FSN Director.

Primary Responsibilities

• Under the direction of the FSN Director, support the smooth functioning of the agriculture/nutrition team operations and the coordination and timely implementation of activities.
• Lead in the development, maintenance and support of SPRING’s agriculture and nutrition communications strategy.
• Backstop the FSN Director’s regular, responsive communications with the Bureau for Food Security and USAID Mission Feed the Future (FTF) points of contact, among others.
• Support communications with the broader agriculture/nutrition community in its efforts to strengthen investments to achieve nutrition outcomes, especially within/among food security and agricultural programs worldwide.
• In consultation with the FSN Director, identify and collaborate with SPRING’s technical advisors to design activities, develop products and/or undertake evidence-based research (such as technical briefs, consultations or KM platforms, etc.) and ensuring quality of technical outputs, guidance and reports prior to dissemination.
• Re-package technical materials and/or develop agriculture and nutrition technical content for products to reach a range of target groups ensuring broader dissemination and capacity building applications.
• Support technical collaborations with key multi and bilateral partners, and in-country stakeholders surrounding emerging topics on agriculture and nutrition.
• In collaboration with the SPRING knowledge management (KM) team, provide appropriate copy editing and dissemination planning to support the sharing of information related to agriculture and nutrition interventions, research and guidance.
• Under the direction of the FSN Director, liaise with SPRING’s Strategic Information team and the Country management team to support monitoring, tracking, coordinating, and reporting of information on SPRING’s agriculture and nutrition activities with USAID and/or other key stakeholders ensuring SPRING’s agriculture/nutrition portfolio objectives are achieved. 
• Supervise the Project Officer and direct the activities of the Project Coordinator to ensure appropriate and timely support is provided for the implementation of activities.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Minimum of a Master’s Degree in food security, international development, communications or a related field.
• At least 8 years of experience in a role responsible for supporting or implementing multi-sectoral programs, program reporting and donor compliance and development communications.
• A demonstrated understanding of the technical components of agriculture and nutrition work including but not limited to multi-sectoral program design, monitoring and evaluation, health communication
• Experience interacting with U.S. Government agencies and USAID Missions, host country governments, partners, and other relevant stakeholders. Knowledge of Feed the Future and USAID’s Bureau of Food Security, a plus.
• Excellent written and oral communications and negotiating skills.
• Proven writing and editing skills with strong experience in interpreting technical materials to reach a range of target groups ensuring broader dissemination and capacity building applications.
• Strong initiative and self-motivation required, with a commitment to teamwork and effectiveness within a nonhierarchical, participatory management environment.

Requirements

• Minimum of a Master’s Degree in food security, international development, communications or a related field.
• At least 8 years of experience in a role responsible for supporting or implementing multi-sectoral programs, program reporting and donor compliance and development communications.
• A demonstrated understanding of the technical components of agriculture and nutrition work including but not limited to multi-sectoral program design, monitoring and evaluation, health communication
• Experience interacting with U.S. Government agencies and USAID Missions, host country governments, partners, and other relevant stakeholders. Knowledge of Feed the Future and USAID’s Bureau of Food Security, a plus.
• Excellent written and oral communications and negotiating skills.
• Proven writing and editing skills with strong experience in interpreting technical materials to reach a range of target groups ensuring broader dissemination and capacity building applications.
• Strong initiative and self-motivation required, with a commitment to teamwork and effectiveness within a nonhierarchical, participatory management environment.

To Apply

Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter and resume tohkihr@hki.org noting the position title in the subject line.

(SPRING uses multiple partners to find candidates for a job.  Therefore, candidates may see several advertisements from different partners for the same position.  Applications submitted to any partner organization will be considered for the position.  Applicants should only apply to one partner organization.)