Nutrition Specialist Level 3

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 has been active in Cameroon since 1975, focusing on the rights of women and children in various sectors including health, education, and child protection. The organization employs a significant number of staff worldwide and emphasizes a culture of diversity and inclusion, providing an attractive compensation and benefits package to its employees.

Job Overview:
The Nutrition Specialist is responsible for the development, management, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of the nutrition programme within the country programme. This role involves providing technical guidance and management support to ensure the achievement of sustainable results in maternal, infant, and child nutrition. The specialist will play a crucial role in strengthening national leadership and coordination for Nutrition in Emergencies, particularly focusing on addressing wasting during humanitarian crises. The position requires collaboration with government counterparts and partners to ensure high-quality service delivery in a humanitarian context, leveraging existing capacities for effective coordination and sustainability. The Nutrition Specialist will also support the integration of Accountability to Affected Populations mechanisms throughout the response process, ensuring that affected populations are engaged and their feedback is considered in decision-making processes.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support the development and planning of nutrition programmes, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s Strategic Plans and accountability frameworks.
• Manage and monitor the implementation of nutrition programmes, ensuring delivery of results and adherence to performance standards.
• Provide technical and operational support for programme implementation, facilitating capacity building and knowledge management.
• Build and maintain partnerships with government stakeholders and other partners to enhance coordination and strategic relationships.
• Actively participate in emergency preparedness activities and respond to emergencies, ensuring effective programme delivery.
• Strengthen national capabilities in Nutrition in Emergencies, including preparedness and contingency planning.
• Monitor progress, identify gaps, and address challenges in nutrition assessments and surveys.
• Ensure that sectoral strategies are integrated into broader country strategies, including humanitarian response plans.
• Engage affected populations meaningfully, ensuring their feedback informs programme planning and implementation.

Required Qualifications:

• An advanced university degree in nutrition, public health, nutritional epidemiology, global/international health and nutrition, health/nutrition research, policy and/or management, health sciences, or a related field.
• A first university degree in a relevant field combined with two additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in nutrition, public health, nutrition planning and management, or maternal, infant, and child health/nutrition care in a developing country.
• Experience in health/nutrition programme/project development and management within a UN system agency or organization is an asset.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in fields related to nutrition, public health, or health sciences. Alternatively, a first university degree combined with additional professional experience may be considered. The educational background should reflect a strong foundation in health-related sciences, policy, or management.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in nutrition or public health, particularly in developing countries. Experience in programme/project development and management within a UN agency is highly desirable, especially in contexts involving maternal, infant, and child health.

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

Additional Notes:
This position is a full-time role with UNICEF, which emphasizes the importance of diversity and inclusion in its workforce. The organization offers a comprehensive benefits package, including paid parental leave and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. UNICEF is committed to safeguarding the rights of children and has a zero-tolerance policy for misconduct. Candidates must undergo rigorous background checks and medical clearance as part of the recruitment process. The position may require mobility and the ability to respond to humanitarian needs, reflecting UNICEF's commitment to humanitarian action as a priority within its strategic plan.