USAID SPRING Project Jobs – Nutrition Specialist – John Snow, Inc (JSI)

Organisation: John Snow, Inc (JSI)
Project Name: USAID/SPRING Project
Duty Station: Mbarara, Uganda
Reports to: Micronutrient Advisor
About JSI:
John Snow, Inc. (JSI) is a leader in
improving the health of individuals and communities by providing high-quality
technical and managerial assistance to public health programs worldwide. JSI
has implemented projects in 100 countries, and currently operates from eight
U.S. and 81 international offices for the past 30 years. The JSI Research &
Training Institute, Inc. ID a leading public health research and consulting
organization.
About USAID SPRING Project:
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., Helen Keller International (HKI), The International Food Policy Research
Institute (IFPRI), Save the Children (SC), and The Manoff Group (TMG).
Job Summary: The            Nutrition
Specialist supports the integration of nutrition assessment, counseling and
support (NACS) components into key health services including HIV & AIDS
care and treatment services; assists in the review of existing nutrition
materials for which NACS can be applied; liaises with implementing partners
especially MJAP and HPU project teams to identify ways of providing onsite
training and coaching for health workers in NACs and QI; providing ongoing
technical assistance to health workers seeking to integrate treatment and
preventive nutrition services; ensures nutrition services are implemented as
per the national guidelines (such as integrated management of acute
malnutrition); supporting coordination mechanisms at district level for
nutrition and HIV efforts by providing technical support to the district food
and nutrition committees; working in close collaboration with community
mobilization specialists in strengthening the capacity of community-based
providers in integrating NACS, treatment and preventive nutrition services;
supports quality improvement initiatives for NACs integration and, monitoring
and reporting progress on a monthly basis on the performance of treatment and
preventive nutrition services both at facility and community levels.
Key Duties and Responsibilities: 
·        
Works
closely with MJAP, HPU and district leadership to prepare work plans to
integrate both treatment and preventive services to reach pregnant and
lactating women, children under the age of two years (the first 1,000 days) as well
as people living with HIV;
·        
Technically
support the dissemination and application of nutrition materials/tools to facilitate
the standardization of nutrition services for integration into HIV care
services and other health services. The Nutrition Specialist shall also
contribute to site visits by providing orientation and technical assistance to
nutrition service providers on the use of materials/tools for integrating
nutrition services into key health service contact points using the NACS
framework;
·        
Work
with the District Health Teams and Food and Nutrition Committees to support
coordination mechanisms for nutrition services. The Nutrition Specialist shall
participate in and contribute to the strengthening of the district technical
working group on nutrition.
·        
Provide
technical input to strengthen treatment services for iq-patient and out-patient
care, including streamlining the treatment protocols and integration of
assessment, counseling and support as key practices into treatment services;
·        
Technically
support and work closely with the community mobilization specialists in the
implementation of nutrition support services at the community level;
·        
Attend
all program and administrative meetings convened within the organisation.
2.
Capacity Building for Quality Nutrition Program:
·        
Train,
supervise and support district level nutrition staff and health workers in the
delivery of nutrition services using the NACS framework at health facility and
community levels;
·        
Ensure
integration of NACS within existing health care services at health facilities.
·        
Technically
support the operationalization of QI systems including training of health
workers in QI implementation for NACs integration.
·        
Offer
timely technical support to health workers in the used of evidence- based
program standards/tools (e.g. NACS framework, infant and young child feeding
(IYCF) training materials)
·        
Support
MOH in conducting brief continuous education meetings at facility level
·        
Support
procurement, distribution and proper use of anthropometric equipment to health
facilities in the region of jurisdiction.
·        
Provide
community health workers with skills and knowledge to conduct NACS, refer, and
create prevention awareness on nutrition in the community.
3.
Monitoring and Evaluation:
·        
Ensure
that monthly and quarterly nutrition work plans are developed and reviewed, and
receive final internal approval in a timely manner;
·        
Share
the reports with District Health Teams, as appropriate;
·        
Work
closely with SPRING/Uganda’s technical and Strategic Information teams to ensure
program implementation is of the highest quality;
·        
Actively
participate in reviewing project progress and written reports for the assigned
districts;
·        
Regularly
review progress reports for quality and accuracy, and submit to Nutrition
Advisor; and,
·        
Represent
SPRING/Uganda in district technical and coordination meetings and activities in
the respective districts.
·        
He/she
shall also coordinate with the District Health Teams, and in collaboration with
the Strategic Information team, to incorporate appropriate nutrition indicators
into the district Health Management Information System (HMIS), and subsequently
use data to program and contribute to district decision-making;
·        
Identify,
develop, write up and disseminate success stories emerging from activities
conducted in the field.
4.
Program Operations Support:
·        
Send
timely reports, documents and proposals to the nutritional advisor, including
weekly, monthly and quarterly work plans and reports with supervisor.
·        
Work
closely with nutrition advisor to identify opportunities for further
strengthening of District Health Teams, health systems and community services
for uptake of nutrition services.
·        
Contribute
to the development of technical resource materials, including guidelines,
training manuals, curricula and job aids, as necessary.
·        
In
charge of the development of monthly activity budget projections and submitting
to the supervisor in a timely manner.
·        
Make
timely requisition for activity funds and accountabilities.
·        
Ensure
adherence to human resource and operations standard operating procedures.
Qualifications, Skills and
Experience: 
·        
The
applicant should hold a Bachelors’ degree in Nutrition. Master’s degree in
nutrition and/or dietetics is an added advantage.
·        
A
minimum 0f three years of proven experience in implementing health and
community based nutrition interventions (treatment and preventive).
·        
Past
experience working in health and nutrition quality improvement programs
including NACS, IMAM and Infant and Young Child feeding counseling.
·        
Proven
track record that demonstrates leadership skills, project management, budget
and resource management experience, and client relationship management
capability.
·        
Demonstrated
program management competency and effective communication skills in working
with district, government, implementing partners and USAID Mission.
·        
Past
experience working across multiple sub agreements and partners; ability to work
well with people at all levels.
·        
Team
player with ability to work with staff, partners and beneficiaries of different
backgrounds.
·        
Attention
to detail and excellent written and oral communications and negotiating skills;
proficiency in English, Runyakitara, or other major languages spoken in the
Southwest.
·        
Strong
initiative and self-motivation required, with a commitment to teamwork and
effectiveness within a dynamic multi-disciplinary project.
·        
Must
be authorized to work in Uganda.
How to Apply:
All candidates are strongly encouraged to
send their applications via e-mail or hand deliver to these addresses below;
The Chief of Party,
JSI Research & Training Institute
SPRING/Uganda Project
Plot 36/37A, Martyrs Way, Ministers’
Village, Ntinda, Kampala, Uganda
OR
Block 01 Plot 295, Kacence, Kaciika,
Mbarara – Uganda
Deadline: 
15th May 2015 by 1.00PM

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