Nutrition Specialist (Response Coordination Support)

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, operates in over 190 countries and territories with a mission to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child and offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development. UNICEF employs a passionate workforce dedicated to serving children and communities globally, fostering a culture of inclusivity and growth, and providing an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Job Overview:
The Nutrition Specialist (Response Coordination Support) plays a crucial role in the implementation of nutrition actions under the supervision of the Chief of Zonal Office and technical guidance from the Chief of Nutrition. This position is focused on ensuring a well-coordinated and effective nutrition emergency response in humanitarian settings, particularly addressing child wasting in Karamoja and refugee-hosting communities in Uganda. The specialist will manage, implement, monitor, evaluate, and report on the nutrition humanitarian situation, ensuring timely detection, referral, and treatment of children with severe wasting. The role requires strategic coordination with local governments and partners to align priorities and enhance the effectiveness of the nutrition response, contributing to the overall health and well-being of vulnerable populations.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Nutrition Specialist's responsibilities include maintaining a coordination mechanism for the nutrition humanitarian response, collaborating with subnational stakeholders, conducting needs assessments and analyses, contributing to strategic response planning, monitoring and evaluating program implementation, and strengthening local capacity. Specific tasks involve ensuring effective communication and reporting among partners, analyzing data to create analytical reports, providing technical support to local governments, monitoring adherence to project principles, and leading timely planning of response actions such as mass screenings and emergency preparedness efforts. The specialist will also ensure that all response delivery modalities are considered in strategic planning and that progress is regularly updated according to evolving needs.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree or equivalent in nutrition, public health, nutritional epidemiology, global/international health and nutrition, health/nutrition research, policy and/or management, health sciences, humanitarian assistance, or another health-related social science field. A minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience in nutrition, public health, nutrition planning and management, or maternal, infant, and child nutrition care is required, with experience in nutrition humanitarian response being essential. Skills in nutrition situation analysis, systems-based programming, resilience-focused programming, nutrition capacity strengthening, and nutrition advocacy are also necessary.

Educational Background:
The educational requirement for this position includes a Master's degree or an advanced university degree in relevant fields such as nutrition, public health, or health sciences. This advanced education is crucial for understanding the complexities of nutrition in humanitarian contexts and for effectively contributing to the development and implementation of nutrition programs.

Experience:
The position requires at least 5 years of relevant work experience, particularly in nutrition, public health, or related fields. Experience in humanitarian contexts, especially in response to child wasting, is strongly desired. Candidates should have direct, practical experience in designing, implementing, or coordinating responses to child wasting in humanitarian crises, including early detection, referral, and treatment.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) or a local language is considered desirable, enhancing communication and collaboration in diverse settings.

Additional Notes:
This position is full-time and may involve international recruitment. UNICEF offers a comprehensive benefits package, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. The organization emphasizes a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with its aims, including discrimination and abuse. Candidates must undergo rigorous background checks and adhere to UNICEF's standards and principles. Appointments are subject to medical clearance and may require compliance with vaccination requirements. UNICEF promotes an inclusive workforce and encourages applications from all qualified candidates.