Adolescent Health and Nutrition Specialist (NOC)

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 making a difference in the lives of children and communities worldwide, providing an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Job Overview:
The Adolescent Health and Nutrition Specialist (NOC) plays a crucial role in advancing multisectoral action on adolescent health, nutrition, HIV, sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), and mental wellbeing. This position is situated within the Health and Nutrition Section and is responsible for driving integration, systems strengthening, and cross-sector coordination to ensure that adolescents' health, rights, and dignity are prioritized in Mozambique's human capital and equity agenda. The Specialist will report to the Health Manager P4 and will support the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of integrated adolescent health and nutrition initiatives within the Child Health and Nutrition Programme. This role involves developing programs for school-age children and adolescents in collaboration with sectors such as Education, WASH, Social Behavior Change (SBC), Protection, and Social Policy, ensuring the delivery of age and gender-responsive services across schools, health facilities, and communities. The Specialist will ensure that the Child Health and Nutrition priorities align with the adolescent strategy and provide guidance and operational support throughout the program cycle to achieve sustainable results that align with national priorities and the UNICEF 2022–2026 Country Programme Document (CPD).

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support the development and planning of adolescent health and nutrition programs, ensuring alignment with national strategies and UNICEF's objectives.
• Manage program implementation, monitoring, and evaluation to ensure results are achieved effectively and efficiently.
• Provide technical and operational support to ensure successful program delivery, including capacity building for local partners.
• Build and maintain partnerships with stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and community organizations, to enhance program reach and impact.
• Foster innovation and knowledge management within the program, ensuring best practices are documented and shared.
• Conduct capacity-building initiatives for staff and partners to strengthen the implementation of adolescent health and nutrition services.
• Monitor and report on program progress, identifying challenges and proposing solutions to ensure objectives are met.
• Engage in networking and advocacy efforts to promote adolescent health and nutrition priorities at local, national, and international levels.

Required Qualifications:

• An advanced university degree in public health/nutrition, pediatric health, family health, health research, global/international health, health policy and/or management, environmental health sciences, biostatistics, socio-medical, health education, epidemiology, or another relevant technical field is required.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in public health/nutrition planning and management, maternal and neonatal health care, or health emergency/humanitarian preparedness is required.
• Experience working with adolescents and/or on adolescent programming is considered an asset.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is also considered an asset.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in relevant fields such as public health, nutrition, pediatric health, family health, health research, global/international health, health policy and/or management, environmental health sciences, biostatistics, socio-medical, health education, epidemiology, or other relevant technical fields. This educational background is essential to ensure that the candidate has the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively address the complex health and nutrition challenges faced by adolescents in Mozambique.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of professional experience in areas related to public health and nutrition planning and management, maternal and neonatal health care, or health emergency/humanitarian preparedness. This level of experience is crucial for the candidate to effectively contribute to the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs aimed at improving adolescent health and nutrition outcomes. Experience working with adolescents or in adolescent programming is highly desirable and will enhance the candidate's ability to understand and address the unique needs of this demographic.

Languages:
Fluency in Portuguese and English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of a local language is considered an asset, as it can facilitate communication and engagement with local communities and stakeholders. Proficiency in multiple languages will enhance the Specialist's ability to work effectively in a diverse environment and ensure that programs are culturally relevant and accessible to all adolescents.

Additional Notes:
This position is a national officer category role, and candidates must be eligible to work in Mozambique. UNICEF promotes a diverse and inclusive workplace and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. The organization offers a wide range of benefits, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment process and maintains a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and appointments are subject to medical clearance and compliance with vaccination requirements.