Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
Relief International (RI) is an international non-profit organization that partners with communities impacted by conflict, climate change, and disaster to save lives, build greater resilience, and promote long-term health and wellbeing. Established with a mission to provide humanitarian assistance and development support, RI operates in 15 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The organization employs over 7,000 staff and local volunteers, working collaboratively with local actors to develop safe and inclusive programming that is evidence-based, conflict-sensitive, and climate-smart. RI is an alliance of four organizations, including Relief International, Inc., Relief International-France, Relief International-UK, and Relief International-Europe, all operating under a unified leadership team and shared mission.

Job Overview:
The Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) Specialist will play a crucial role in providing technical leadership for the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of social and behavior change interventions aimed at improving health, nutrition, hygiene, and caregiving practices among target populations. The specialist will ensure that project activities are informed by behavioral evidence and are responsive to the social, cultural, and environmental factors influencing individual and community behaviors. This position requires close collaboration with Relief International project teams, government counterparts, community stakeholders, and implementing partners to develop and implement strategies that enhance community awareness, promote positive behaviors, strengthen demand for quality services, and contribute to sustainable health and nutrition outcomes. The SBCC Specialist will ensure that all interventions align with national policies, donor requirements, and international best practices in health promotion and behavior change programming.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The SBCC Specialist will be responsible for leading the development and implementation of the project's SBCC strategy, framework, and annual work plans. This includes conducting behavioral assessments, audience segmentation, and barrier analyses to identify determinants of priority health and nutrition behaviors. The specialist will provide technical guidance to project staff and partners on evidence-based behavior change approaches and ensure the integration of SBCC methods across all project components. Additionally, the specialist will manage humanitarian grants in compliance with donor requirements, develop project implementation plans, budgets, and reporting schedules, and coordinate the preparation of high-quality narrative and financial reports. The role also involves developing communication materials, overseeing community awareness campaigns, strengthening community participation, and engaging with local government units and stakeholders to ensure alignment with national health promotion strategies.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree in Public Health, Nutrition, Health Promotion, Development Communication, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Community Development, Social Work, or a related field. Essential qualifications include at least five years of professional experience in social and behavior change communication, health promotion, public health, nutrition, or community development programming. Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing behavior change interventions, developing communication strategies, conducting formative research, and facilitating training and capacity-building initiatives is required. Strong report-writing and communication skills in English are also essential.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as Public Health, Nutrition, Health Promotion, Development Communication, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Community Development, or Social Work is required for this position. This educational background provides the foundational knowledge necessary for understanding the complexities of health and nutrition programming and the social behaviors that influence them.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of professional experience in areas related to social and behavior change communication, health promotion, public health, nutrition, or community development. Candidates should have a proven track record of designing and implementing effective behavior change interventions, as well as experience in developing communication strategies and conducting community engagement activities. Experience working with local government units and health facilities is also essential, along with strong skills in report writing and documentation.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position, particularly in report writing and communication. While not explicitly stated, proficiency in local languages may be beneficial for effective community engagement and communication with stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position involves significant travel, estimated at 60-70%, to various project sites. The role is classified as requiring standard pre-employment checks and does not have direct reports or budget responsibilities. The SBCC Specialist will work closely with the Programs team, MEAL, and local government units, and will be expected to uphold the highest standards of behavior in accordance with Relief International's code of conduct and safeguarding policies.