Chief of Party, USAID Advancing Nutrition, Niger 442 views1 applications

Helen Keller

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Chief of Party, USAID Advancing Nutrition, Niger

(Niamey, Niger)

Helen Keller International is a global health organization dedicated to eliminating preventable vision loss, malnutrition and diseases of poverty. Cofounded by Helen Keller – and guided by her fierce optimism and belief in human potential – the organization delivers life-changing health solutions to vulnerable families where the need is great but access to care is limited. In the US, Africa, and Asia, Helen Keller’s proven, science-based programs empower people to create opportunities in their own lives and build lasting change.

Background

Helen Keller is a partner in USAID Advancing Nutrition, USAID’s flagship nutrition project, led by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI), and a diverse group of experienced partners.

Launched in September 2018, USAID Advancing Nutrition implements and provides technical support to nutrition interventions across sectors and disciplines for USAID and its partners. The project’s multi-sectoral approach draws together global nutrition experience to design, implement and evaluate programs that address the root causes of malnutrition. Committed to using a systems approach, USAID Advancing Nutrition strives to sustain positive outcomes by building local capacity, supporting behavior change and strengthening the enabling environment to save lives, improve health, build resilience, increase economic productivity and advance development.

The purpose of USAID Advancing Nutrition’s work in Niger is to purposefully and sustainably improve the nutritional status of women of reproductive age, including adolescent girls, as well as children under 5 years of age in Niger. The focus of this project will be improved adherence to and coverage of iron and folic acid (IFA) and vitamin A supplementation (VAS) in USAID’s RISE II zones of intervention in Maradi and Zinder regions.

Scope of the Position

The Chief of Party will provide technical leadership and program management of USAID Advancing Nutrition in Niger. The position will work under the direct line management of the USAID Advancing Nutrition Director of Country Programs and is expected to work closely and coordinate with the Helen Keller colleagues including the Country Director, Niger, Vice President, Nutrition, and any other staff assigned to support the project. Helen Keller has a matrixed reporting structure. Regular communication and a spirit of teamwork among colleagues, both hierarchically and laterally are essential to make this structure thrive.

This position is based in Niamey, with frequent travel to Maradi and Zinder (up to 30%).

Specific Responsibilities

The Chief of Party will be responsible for the following, under each area of accountability:

1. Lead the start-up of USAID Advancing Nutrition in Niger

· Establish relationships with relevant government authorities and partner agencies for project implementation.

2. Programmatic

• Develop, guide and oversee all the technical, managerial and operational aspects of USAID Advancing Nutrition in Niger.
• Lead and oversee the overall planning, coordination and implementation of project activities, including strategic planning, technical direction, work plan and budget development.
• Lead and oversee the results reporting to monitor the project’s performance, including preparing quarterly, annual and other ad hoc reporting as well as other materials to USAID and USAID Advancing Nutrition home office.
• Ensure that activities are implemented in compliance with the requirements of USAID Niger and the USAID Advancing Nutrition contract.

3. Management

• Establish and maintain strong relationships with government officials, partner agencies and donors, including USAID/Niger, USAID Advancing Nutrition Team at home office, and other consortium partners in-country.
• Coordinate and liaise regularly with USAID Advancing Nutrition home office, including participation in regular coordination meetings to move forward activities to achieve the project objectives.
• Oversee and manage staff and technical consultants hired by USAID Advancing Nutrition in Niger.
• Ensure project performance to meet results and deliverables in the work plan and take any corrective actions as necessary.
• Build a high-performance team and create a supportive working environment, to deliver expected results. Guide and support staff in their development, planning succession, and taking prompt action to address issues of underperformance and any other issues impacting on their professional conduct or implementing their duties and responsibilities.
• Manage any subcontracts/agreements with local partners, including ensuring quality and timeliness of deliverables.
• Communicate program results, through reports, policy briefs, national workshops, etc.
• Travel domestically and internationally as needed.

4. Representation and coordination within the organization and other stakeholders

• Represent USAID Advancing Nutrition in national and international forums, as needed.
• Develop and maintain a detailed understanding of the health and nutrition issues in Niger including national policy development, key players in government, INGOs, UN and national/regional and local civil society organizations.

5. Other

· Ensure the USAID Advancing Nutrition Gender Equality Strategy is understood and incorporated into activities as appropriate.

Required Competencies

· Superior leadership, management and communication skills to lead a multi-faceted USAID-funded nutrition project. This includes professional experience interacting with US Government agencies, host country governments and other relevant stakeholders.

· Strong interpersonal skills and experience working effectively in teams and cross-cultural settings.

· Excellent time management and personal organization skills.

· Ability to respond rapidly to shifting implementation scenarios.

· Comfortable working in a matrixed, integrated work environment.

· Confident giving and receiving feedback in a direct, professional manner.

· Capacity to direct multiple long and short-term activities simultaneously with minimal supervision.

· Ability to work effectively with local government and NGO stakeholders.

· Skilled in fostering new and effective partnerships facilitating meetings, and effectively participating in technical working groups.

· Ability to develop and apply monitoring and evaluation plans to determine activity results and monitor impact.

· Knowledge of USAID regulations, policies, strategies, and program priorities.

Qualifications

· Education: Master’s degree in nutrition, public health, social sciences, international development, or a related field; plus

· Experience: Over 8 years of professional experience working leading complex USAID-funded programs, preferably with direct experience in Niger; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

· Demonstrated experience working and/or collaborating with government ministries and other development partners in multi-sectoral nutrition programming.

· Substantial institutional and staff expertise in implementing complex capacity building programs, in resource-constrained environments.

· Strong experience and demonstrated success in coordinating activities with multiple stakeholders to optimize use of limited resources, including development of joint work plans.

· Experience working on a project related to micronutrient supplementation is a plus.

· Demonstrated success across the whole range of project management: strategic program planning; work planning and budgeting; financial, administrative, contractual management and oversight; relationship management with multiple clients; oversight of program monitoring and evaluation; and documentation of results for USAID-funded programs.

· Experience working effectively in partnership with staff, collaborating organizations, international donors and agencies, U.S. Government agencies, host country governments and ministries and other relevant stakeholders.

· Proven ability to supervise and mentor staff from different cultures.

· Working knowledge of Microsoft software packages: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook.

· Fluency in French required. Excellent English language skills, both written and spoken with strong presentation skills. Ability to prepare and disseminate project findings, success stories, and other documents effectively.

Willingness and ability to undertake travel to Maradi and Zinder (up to 30%).