Nutrition Officer (Early Childhood Nutrition)

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 large workforce dedicated to serving children and communities globally, fostering a culture of inclusivity and growth.

Job Overview:
The Nutrition Officer (Early Childhood Nutrition) plays a crucial role in providing technical, operational, and programmatic support for Early Childhood Nutrition programs within the Country Programme Cycle. This position is integral to the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of interventions aimed at improving nutrition outcomes during the critical first 1,000 days of a child's life. The officer will focus on key areas such as infant and young child feeding practices, healthy complementary diets, micronutrient nutrition, and the prevention and management of malnutrition. The role also emphasizes the integration of nutrition within Early Childhood Development (ECD) and multisectoral programs, ensuring that children not only survive but thrive and reach their full potential. The incumbent will be responsible for implementing various technical and administrative tasks that facilitate program development, progress monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of results, ultimately contributing to improved nutrition outcomes for children.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Nutrition Officer include:

• Providing technical support in the design and implementation of Early Childhood Nutrition programs.
• Monitoring and evaluating program effectiveness and making necessary adjustments to improve outcomes.
• Collaborating with other sectors to integrate nutrition into broader Early Childhood Development initiatives.
• Conducting training and capacity-building activities for local partners and stakeholders.
• Collecting and analyzing data related to nutrition outcomes and reporting findings to relevant stakeholders.
• Engaging with communities to promote healthy feeding practices and nutrition education.
• Supporting the development of communication materials and strategies to raise awareness about nutrition issues.
• Ensuring compliance with UNICEF's standards of performance and accountability framework.
• Participating in inter-agency coordination meetings to align efforts with other organizations working in nutrition and child health.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree in nutrition, public health, nutritional epidemiology, global/international health and nutrition, health/nutrition research, policy and/or management, health sciences, or another health-related science field. Additionally, candidates should demonstrate strong skills in program development, planning, management, and monitoring, as well as experience in networking and partnership building. Hands-on experience in capacity building is also essential for this role.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as nutrition, public health, or health sciences is required. Advanced degrees or certifications in related areas may be considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's qualifications for the position.

Experience:
A minimum of two years of professional experience in a developing country is required, specifically in areas related to nutrition, public health, or maternal and child health/nutrition care. Experience in program/project development within a UN system agency or organization is highly desirable, particularly in fragile or humanitarian contexts.

Languages:
Proficiency 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 an asset, enhancing communication and collaboration with diverse stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The position is a fixed-term role based in Islamabad, Pakistan. UNICEF promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including those with disabilities. The organization offers a comprehensive benefits package, including paid parental leave and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. Candidates must comply with UNICEF's medical clearance and vaccination requirements. The recruitment process includes rigorous background checks to ensure adherence to UNICEF's standards of integrity and accountability.