USAID Advancing Nutrition 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 implements and provides 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.
SUMMARY
The Technical Director will lead the Nutrition in Humanitarian Contexts (NHC) team to produce high quality, on-deadline deliverables, including but not limited to technical briefs, research protocols and reports, tools, landscape analyses, and reports/recommendations on technical assistance provided to USAID and implementing partners. The ideal candidate will have proven client management experience as he/she plays an essential role in ensuring strong, positive relationships and representation with USAID, implementing partners, and other key global partners and donors. They will bring experience in the areas of international public health and nutrition with an emphasis on nutrition in emergencies and fragile settings. The ideal candidate will have direct field experience in these contexts designing, implementing, and learning from USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA)-supported programs with resilience, food assistance and/or social and behavior change components targeting children and women. The person in this role must have proven management skills and experience grounded in active listening, clear communications, and informed decision-making that respond to, and enhance, USAID’s priorities. They will work most closely with the BHA to support its nutrition portfolio. This position will coordinate with other USAID Advancing Nutrition technical directors to ensure USAID Advancing Nutrition meets its work plan goals and objectives.
ESSENTIAL AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:
· Oversees the NHC portfolio, assigning and monitoring work to ensure high quality and on-time submission of all work plan deliverables to USAID.
· Collaborates closely with project leadership to develop and implement core work plans, ensuring alignment with USAID priorities and global best practices.
· Supervises and directs the work of partners’ technical and administrative support staff to effectively plan, implement and complete the range of work developed with BHA and USAID other bureaus in nutrition in humanitarian contexts.
· Mentors and maintains strong relationships with colleagues, including thoughtful alignment of skill-to-activity during work planning.
· Oversees activity budgets, collaborating with finance staff to monitor spending and ensure appropriate allocation of resources.
· Proactively plans for future project and partner resource, capacity and staffing needs in response to specific technical priorities of USAID BHA.
· Identifies appropriate technical expertise and technical assistance providers to support in-country work, providing technical input and guidance, when appropriate.
ADDITIONAL AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:
· Maintains regular contact with USAID counterparts, ensuring clear, open lines of communication and a positive, respectful relationship.
· Works closely with the MEL team to integrate measurement, evaluation, and learning into all activities and ensure timely reporting and dissemination of results.
· Work closely with the Knowledge Management team to write, edit, review, and disseminate technical content through strategic networks highlighting USAID Advancing Nutrition’s accomplishments.
QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES
Education: Master’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience in nutrition, food security, public health or related field required.
Experience:
· 12+ years of experience in international public health, nutrition, or food security programming with an emphasis on nutrition in emergencies and fragile settings.
· Familiarity with USAID’s approach to building resilience, providing food assistance that targets children and women, community nutrition, or systems thinking for program planning, design, implementation, research, and learning is ideal.
· At least 5 years of professional experience working in low- or medium-income countries implementing development and/or humanitarian programs and/or coordinating direct technical assistance.
· Proven track record to demonstrate effective use of donor resources.
· Substantial experience with current USAID policies and guidance, especially programming supported by USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (previously the Office of Food for Peace and/or the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance), especially maternal and child nutrition programming.
· Demonstrated skills in client management with a history of ensuring strong, positive relationships and representation with USAID, implementing partners, key global partners and donors.
· Experience interacting with high-level government and non-government officials and stakeholders
· Requires managerial experience in leading teams in complex, matrixed environments, and the ability to develop strategies to address complex problems.
· Proven written and oral communications skills for both technical and USAID audiences. Ability to conduct research activities, data collection, analysis, and report writing is preferred.
· Experience providing and/or coordinating direct technical assistance to developing country programs, national entities and/or USAID at local, regional, or national level.
· Strong time and project management skills, sound technical judgement and ability to delegate
· with multiple competing priorities while consistently submitting timely, high-quality deliverables
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS:** Excellent communication skills and fluency in English. Advanced proficiency (ability to communicate effectively in professional settings) in French is desired.
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:** 25% travel expected, including international travel.
How to apply
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