Health and Nutrition Coordinator – Katsina

Job Description

JOB TITLE:  Health and Nutrition Coordinator

TEAM: Health and Nutrition

GRADE: 3

LOCATION:  Katsina

POST TYPE: National 

CHILD SAFEGUARDING: Level 3 The responsibilities of the post will require the post holder to have regular contact with children or young people and, in the overseas context all posts are considered to be level 3 posts in view of potential situations which may allow staff unsupervised access to vulnerable children and young people.

ROLE PURPOSE: 

With guidance from the Program Manager of the Core Group Polio Project (CGPP) and the Head of Health and Nutrition, the Health and Nutrition Coordinator will lead the Maternal Child Health (MCH) and Nutrition Activities in the CGPP Project in Katsina Field Office with comprehensive Stakeholder engagement – Government, UN Agencies, Partners as well as Community engagement. The technical guidance will be provided in accordance with Nigeria’s national guidelines. The H & N Coordinator will make frequent field visits to the field sites to ensure the highest standards of service delivery. S/he will ensure high-quality MCH and Nutrition services in all CGPP supported health facilities. S/he will monitor service quality, ensure all staff are trained, and well supported, pharmaceuticals and other medical supplies are properly managed, and apply clinical level data to national level quality improvement efforts. This role will also involve representation of the organization in various forums including Partner Forums, Health Sector Working Groups, Nutrition Working Groups, Consortium partners, SPHCMB, State Hospital Management Board, and LGA Authority.

SCOPE OF ROLE:  

Reports to: Program Manager with technical support from Head of Health and Nutrition

Staff directly reporting to this post: None

Budget responsibility: No

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Program Development and Support

• Oversee the overall implementation of the health and nutrition component of the Core Group Polio Project (CGPP).
• Lead field implementation of provision of quality Health Facility and Community-based maternal and child health services – Sexual reproductive Health (ANC, PNC), Integrated Management of Childhood Illness including Immunization.
• Work with Government MAMII (Maternal & Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiatives) Focal Person and the Community structures in ensuring the implementation of the MCH interventions of the project aligns with the MAMII approach.  
• Lead field implementation of provision of quality nutrition services – nutrition screening of children under 5, referral of children with severe acute malnutrition to treatment sites, treatment of moderate acute malnutrition with Tom Brown, promotion of Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) practices. 
• Ensure adherence to government, SCI, WHO and donor standards for MCH and nutrition services.
• Support the Local Partners in provision of quality community sensitization on adequate MCH and nutrition practices.
• Collaborate with Senior GEDI Technical Advisor to ensure integration and quality implementation of adolescent groups within the MCH interventions.
• Oversee day-to-day operations of health facilities and nutrition sites, ensuring availability of materials, quality of consultations, and uninterrupted supply chains.
• Promote strong integration between MCH and nutrition interventions to improve health outcomes at community and facility levels.
• Support recruitment and training of Health Workers (medical consultants and health facility staff), Voluntary Community Mobilizers, Traditional Birth Attendants on health and nutrition related areas (BEmONC, IMCI, MIYCN, Tom Brown preparation) and provide support in ensuring quality delivery of interventions.
• Collaborate with the Program Manager in the production of donor reports.
• Work with the Program manager, Head of Health and Nutrition and Program Operations team in strategic planning for future health programs, New Business Development – contribute to development of Concept Notes and Proposals for future funding following protocols and formats of each relevant donor
• Lead the development of project implementation tools e.g DIP, BvA
• Facilitate the implementation of monthly work plans for health programs in liaison with project staff
• Support in organizing and coordinating Review and Feedback Meetings with project and Partner staff as per the Project plans.
• Participate in relevant monthly technical working group meetings scheduled by SPHCB.
• Ensures quality clinical consultations, treatment, referral, and follow-up activities follow the National and WHO protocols in collaboration with medical consultants.
• Facilitate collaboration and integration between Health, Nutrition, WASH, and FSL in project development and implementation where required.
• Support health-related operational research as required.
• In collaboration with project and partner MEAL teams contribute to documentation and dissemination of lessons learned and best practices
• Work in collaboration with project and Partner teams in the development of case studies and success stories on a bi-monthly basis
• Work closely with MEAL teams and ensure quality benchmarks are utilized in service delivery
• Contribute to the achievement of CO health and nutrition related KPI
• Ensure procurement requests, supply plans, and budget utilization align with project timelines.
• Coordinate closely with logistics to avoid stockouts in health and nutrition commodities.
• Support Disease Outbreak Coordination and Response.

Advocacy and coordination

• Represent SCI in relevant coordination forums: Nutrition Sector, Health Sector, SPHCB platforms, and multi-sector humanitarian working groups.
• Support advocacy by contributing evidence from field implementation and aligning messaging with national priorities.
• Build and maintain relationships with government actors, UN agencies, NGOs, and community stakeholders.

Training and capacity building

Conduct regular technical supervision in collaboration with relevant government stakeholders; mentorship, and monthly assessments of clinical services using the approved clinical quality scorecard

Provide technical guidance on IMAM, IMCI, maternal and newborn health, SRH, MIYCN, and community health systems to MOH/SPHCB facility staff, SCI field office clinical staff, and partners

Facilitate training for SCI staff, MOH personnel, and partners on clinical governance, quality service delivery, nutrition protocols, and data use.

Quality Assurance, Performance management, and capacity building

• Ensure compliance with internal and donor quality benchmarks across nutrition and PHC services.
• Support MEAL and HMIS teams to generate high quality data, including DHIS2 reporting, performance indicators, and routine monitoring outputs.
• Document lessons learned, operational challenges, success stories, and emerging best practices. 
• Produce complete, accurate, and timely project reports.

Health Information Management

• Work with field-based HMIS officers in timely reporting of data into the national health management system DHIS2 monthly
• work with the MEAL team to develop performance trends for key service delivery performance indicators
• facilitate data review meetings with health teams in reviewing periodic progress against prioritized key performance indicators in child health, maternal newborn health, adolescent health, and disease surveillance

Safeguarding Responsibilities

• Protect children from harm and abuse – Ensure children are kept safe from physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as neglect.
• Report concerns promptly – Immediately report any signs or suspicions of abuse or neglect to the appropriate authorities or safeguarding leads.

Other

The post holder may be responsible for additional tasks and duties and when required to support the overall Country Programme, and regional and head office priorities.

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (Our Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks 

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity.

SKILLS, EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

Essential

• Medical doctor or public health specialist (with clinical background)
• At least 5 years’ experience in integrated primary health care and nutrition programmes 
• Previous supervisory experience and experience managing budget is added advantage.
• Experience in facilitating training, writing reports and good interpersonal skills.
• Work experience with International Non–Governmental Organization ((INGO)

Desirable

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work as part of a team and demonstrate flexibility, motivation, and maturity
• Ability to work within a tight timeframe,
• Willingness to travel extensively in the field.
• English language skills
• Good knowledge of quality standards and quality controls related to medical practice.
• Experience in nutrition project data management and CMAM programming
• Having operational experience will be a plus advantage.

Skills 

• Demonstrable experience in M&E 
• Good presentation and facilitation skills
• Proven conceptual skills and an ability to think and plan strategically
• Good communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to train and mentor staff
• Proven ability to manage a complex and demanding workload
• Excellent spoken and written English and local language (Northwest of Nigeria)
• Good computer skills (particularly Excel, Word, and databases)

Additional Qualifications

• Work experience in health/public health and or in a health/public health organisation, including as a trainer.
• Experience with providing institutional support and technical assistance to development partners, government/community institutions

Additional skills

• Ability to work effectively both independently (with minimal supervision) and as a member of a team
• Commitment to gender equity, child rights, community empowerment, and grassroots development approaches
• Effective planning and organising skills
• Effective interpersonal skills – oral and written communication skills