Senior Advisor, Capacity Strengthening

Note: This position is advertised through multiple USAID Advancing Nutrition consortium partners and is fully seconded to the project. Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply through the single (1) organization they are most interested in working for. Submitting applications through more than one (1) consortium partner is prohibited and could result in disqualification.

Scope and Purpose

The Senior Advisor, Capacity Strengthening will provide technical leadership and strategic guidance for the design and implementation of capacity strengthening activities across the USAID Advancing Nutrition portfolio, with a strong focus on food systems and diet quality. S/he will provide technical leadership for designing capacity strengthening activities that reach specific audiences through courses, mentoring programs and organizational capacity development. Working collaboratively with other technical experts, s/he will also play a critical role in supporting the design of needs assessments and measurement approaches for capacity strengthening activities. The Senior Advisor will collaborate with technical experts across project teams to ensure expert implementation and quality. The Senior Advisor reports to the Director for Capacity Strengthening and is based in Arlington, VA.

Advancing Nutrition is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

ESSENTIAL AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

• Provides leadership and oversight in strengthening capacity for a range of actors addressing food systems and healthier diets through multi-sectoral nutrition efforts.
• Leads the design of capacity strengthening activities, develops appropriate program guidance, and provides technical assistance.
• Provides technical support to USAID and priority countries through capacity development efforts including training, webinars, briefs and other capacity development activities in nutrition.
• Collaborates with technical advisors and other staff to design and develop improved training curricula for a range of users including USAID, governments, implementing partners and community organizations.
• Supervises or mentors junior staff to facilitate professional growth and development.
• Creates up-to-date, evidence-based technical documents related to capacity strengthening that are useful to USAID priority countries.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Participates in program design meetings and contributes to the development of activities with a strong capacity strengthening focus across the USAID Advancing Nutrition portfolio, as appropriate.
• Creates and leads training for project staff to build understanding project-wide of effective capacity strengthening for USAID Mission staff, government stakeholders, civil society, and implementing partner staff.
• Actively contributes to the project’s technical direction by developing strategies and partnerships to increase program coverage, visibility, and resource availability.
• Contributes to the development of team (both global and country) work plans and budgets, ensuring consistency with project direction and strategy.
• Other duties as assigned.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Education: Master’s degree in education, adult learning, instructional design, nutrition, food security, public health or related field.

• Experience: Minimum 15 years of experience in international public health programming with an emphasis on capacity strengthening, project learning and adaptation, adult learning methods, training and facilitation, civil society strengthening, or a related field.

• Technical expertise in a range of effective capacity strengthening methods, including pre-service training, curriculum development, mentoring program design and organizational capacity development.

• Solid understanding of quantitative and qualitative approaches to measuring the outcomes of capacity strengthening activities for individuals and organizations.

• Strong interpersonal skills and experience working effectively in teams and cross-cultural settings, with demonstrated ability to deliver technical assistance for global audiences.

• Ability to direct multiple long and short-term activities simultaneously with minimal supervision.

• Knowledge of USAID and other donor policies, strategies, and program priorities preferred.
• Experience designing capacity strengthening programs of various types for USAID missions.
• Demonstrated ability to work with local partners, including work on the New Partnerships Initiative or similar organizational capacity strengthening program targeting small and medium size organizations.
• Technical background in food systems, health systems strengthening, nutrition and/or food security.
• Extensive experience working with a range of in-country partners, including USAID missions, government, implementing partners and local organizations.
• Excellent time management and personal organization skills.

• Languages: English fluency required. French or Portuguese preferred.

• Travel: Ability to undertake field travel (approximately 30%)

DESCRIPTION:

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Advancing Nutrition project is the Agency’s flagship nutrition project, led by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI), and a diverse group of experienced partners. Launched in September 2018, USAID Advancing Nutrition provides and implements technical support to nutrition interventions across sectors and disciplines for USAID and its partners. The project’s multi-sectoral approach draws together global nutrition experience to design, implement and evaluate programs that address the root causes of malnutrition. Committed to using a systems approach, USAID Advancing Nutrition strives to sustain positive outcomes by building local capacity, supporting behavior change and strengthening the enabling environment to save lives, improve health, build resilience, increase economic productivity and advance development.