Nutrition Officer

Job Posting Organization:
Action Against Hunger is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to ending hunger. Established to innovate solutions and advocate for change, it reaches 28 million people annually through proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. The organization operates in 52 countries with a workforce of 7,122 dedicated staff members who partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. Action Against Hunger has been active in Kenya since 2006, focusing on nutrition security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security and improving the quality of life for vulnerable communities. The organization emphasizes gender equality as a core strategy for achieving effective and sustainable outcomes in nutrition, WASH, and surveillance interventions. Currently, it implements activities in several counties including West Pokot, Samburu, Tana River, Baringo, and Isiolo.

Job Overview:
The Nutrition Officer plays a crucial role in implementing nutrition programs aimed at improving maternal and child nutrition in deprived communities. This position involves working closely with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and other stakeholders to enhance nutrition resilience, strengthen health systems capacity, and improve evidence-based advocacy. The officer will provide technical support to the county department of health for nutrition emergency response actions. The role requires collaboration with various line ministries and health partners to scale up nutrition interventions that positively impact health and nutrition status. The Nutrition Officer will ensure that program activities are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget, while also participating in county-level coordination meetings and representing the organization in various forums.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support Health System Strengthening: Collaborate with the county MOH and partners to develop joint work plans and conduct capacity assessments of health facility staff. Provide on-the-job training and mentorship, and participate in county-level coordination meetings.
• Community Health Strategy Support: Work with community health strategy focal persons to implement community-level activities, including dialogue sessions and support groups for improved maternal, infant, and young child nutrition (MIYCN) practices.
• Reporting and Program Development: Compile timely program reports, prepare progress reports, and contribute to project proposals addressing county-specific gaps.
• Information Exchange: Collaborate with other Action Against Hunger departments and external stakeholders to ensure integrated project implementation.
• Finance and Logistics: Prepare cash forecasts, monitor budget spending, and ensure adherence to budget limits.
• Other Duties: Perform additional responsibilities as required, ensuring all payment requests are supported by clear documentation.

Required Qualifications:
A Bachelor's degree (BSc) in Food, Nutrition and Dietetics (Public Health Nutrition option), Nursing, or a related field is required. The candidate must be registered with the Kenya Nutrition and Dietetics Institute.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, Nursing, or a related course. Registration with the Kenya Nutrition and Dietetics Institute is mandatory.

Experience:
The position requires at least 2-3 years of experience in a similar role. Candidates should be familiar with the HiNi package and health system strengthening approaches, and have experience in training health workers and Community Health Volunteers on nutrition modules. Experience in implementing Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition programs and working with community health systems is essential.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Kiswahili is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not required.

Additional Notes:
The position is based in West Pokot and Samburu counties, with a salary grade of BG

• The last update for this job posting was in October 202
• The role requires regular attendance of at least five days per week, with the expectation of working outside normal office hours or on weekends as necessary. Travel to the field is required, with a minimum of 60% of working time spent on field trips. The working environment may involve exposure to high security risks and basic living conditions.