PROJECT BACKGROUND:
The Scaling Up Nutrition Program is a cross-ministry and multi-donor program to reduce stunting in Zambia through implementation of the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) 1,000 Most Critical Days Program.
SUN TA will provide support and direct technical assistance to sub-national local government departments in target districts to plan, implement, coordinate, and monitor integrated nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific activities to reduce the rate of stunting among Zambian children under two and improve the nutritional status of pregnant and lactating mothers. USAID has identified two main objectives that address stunting, including (1) Adequate Quantity and Quality of Dietary Intake among Target Groups; and (2) Adequate Health Conditions for Biological Utilization of Nutrients. SUN TA interventions will increase access and availability of safe, diverse, nutritious food; adoption of better child feeding and household hygiene practices; and access to improved health, water and sanitation services. The project will prioritize sustainability by improving intra-household joint decision making and building the capacity of local government and their stakeholders to ensure coordination, accountability, and learning, following the Scaling Up Nutrition model.
Purpose: The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) reports directly to the COP in activity implementation and management. The DCOP will take over leadership and oversight of the activity in the absence of the COP. This position will manage a team of technical experts responsible for the technical oversight and integration of nutrition-specific and -sensitive activities at the provincial and district levels. The DCOP will be responsible for maintaining technical quality and unanimity of purpose and coordination of technical activities, while identifying ways to capitalize on synergies and potential economies of scale for training and technical assistance across districts.
Responsibilities and Key Tasks:
Technical:
• Oversee technical implementation at the national, provincial, and district levels, including ensuring deliverables as outlined in the Work Plan and contract.
• In coordination with the Regional Technical Officers and field teams, support sub-national government officials in developing, implementing, and monitoring their SUN workplans through tailored TA packages. Ensure timely, coordinated TA.
• Working with Regional Technical Officers and Grants and Procurement Manager, identify where Direct Implementation assistance is required and provide technical oversight in formulating DI requests, as needed.
• Maintain technical liaison and relationships with other key SUN stakeholders, including managing day-to-day communications with the NFNC, and SUN L&E to ensure effective coordination.
• Manage, supervise, and align a demand-driven TA pool of local/international firms and experts with district needs and opportunities.
• Coordinate with the M&E team to ensure real-time learning, adaptation, and course correction, as needed.
• Recommend to the Chief of Party additional methods of identifying and assessing program impact.
• Serve as Acting COP when needed.
Management:
• Oversee multiple activities simultaneously, including hiring, training, mentoring, and supervising local personnel;
• Build the capacity of local staff in both technical and managerial skills;
• Coordinate with senior leadership team including directors and experts;
• Represent SUN TA, USAID, and DAI at public conferences, forums, and events.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
• Supervises the following employees:
o Nutrition and Child Health Expert
o Smallholder Livelihoods Expert
• Plans, assigns, and directs work; appraises performance, addresses and resolves problems.
Place of Performance and Reporting:
The Deputy Chief of Party will be based in Lusaka, Zambia, with frequent travel to the field, and will report to the Chief of Party.
Qualifications:
• 10 years of experience on projects with similar magnitude and complexity in developing countries;
• Master’s Degree in agriculture, nutrition, public health, or related field.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in providing high-level technical oversight of similar multi-sectoral, donor-funded programs to improve nutrition outcomes;
• Demonstrated progressive experience working in partnership with national and sub-national partners to develop leadership and ownership through decentralization in Zambia or other SADC country;
• Demonstrated ability to build, motivate, and manage a team of cross-sectoral technical experts to achieve results; and,
• Demonstrated strong verbal and written communication, including the ability to interpret data in a clear and correct manner, for a wide range of stakeholders.
• Local nationals encouraged to apply.
More Information
- Job City Lusaka
