Health and Nutrition Project Manager

Role Overview

Develop, lead, monitor and evaluate the assigned health and nutrition project. This involves effectively managing and reporting on the projects in line with the objectives, time frame, and budget with a focus on health/nutrition system strengthening, training, and coordination. Providing technical support, leadership and strategic direction, other important aspects of the role include managing and training health/nutrition staff to meet quality standards in health and nutrition delivery, encouraging beneficiary participation, liaising with other stakeholders, and anticipating, planning, and contributing to the development of new health/nutrition project proposals and reports.

Project Overview

Medair is responding to the humanitarian needs in Yemen through an integrated health, nutrition and WASH response targeting vulnerable persons in selected districts of South Yemen. Yemen is one of the largest humanitarian crisis in the world.  Medair’s approach is to provide lifesaving care to the most vulnerable, preferentially targeting women and children most susceptible to morbidity and mortality, with integrated health, nutrition (CMAM) and WASH services, supporting Ministry of Health facilities with community and facility level support in line with the national Minimal Service Package guidelines.

Key Activity Areas

Health and Nutrition Project Management

• Manage the assigned health and nutrition project(s) to meet the project objectives within budget and within the allotted time frame, reporting promptly any operational concerns to line manager and in-country health and nutrition advisor (e.g., projected failure to meet objectives; increased beneficiary needs; projected over or under spending on project budget).
• Provide strong leadership of the assigned health and nutrition project(s), working to ensure both short and long-term positive impacts and outcomes for the beneficiaries, local ministries, and authorities (where applicable) and local staff.
• Contribute to development and implementation of an appropriate and effective health and nutrition strategy including proactive planning for responsible exit in consultation with in-country Health and Nutrition Advisor, other health/nutrition staff and local authorities.
• Set clear objectives and indicators for health and nutrition activities in collaboration with the in-country Health and Nutrition Advisor, health and nutrition staff, field managers and, where appropriate, with the local communities.
• Continuously monitor and supervise health and nutrition activities, evaluating progress through outputs and impacts using both quantitative and qualitative data, and involving the health and nutrition team (and where applicable local health authorities) in analysis and taking appropriate action as needed to ensure continued progress.
• Provide input into the integration of beneficiary participation and accountability in all aspects of the project.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of activities according to Medair, donor and other applicable time frames and formats
• Develop new proposals, linked to the assessed needs and gaps and the Medair country strategy, in conjunction with the in-country Health and Nutrition Advisor and relevant field managers.

Staff Management

• Line manage the Health and Nutrition Manager of the assigned project, including day-to-day management, development and training, appraisals, etc. It may also be necessary to line manage other health/nutrition project staff.
• Facilitate regular meetings to assist information sharing between project staff, to ensure all staff members are aware of project objectives and current work plans and to provide the opportunity for feedback.
• Provide coaching and technical supervision to staff to develop ownership and full responsibility for health/nutrition activities.
• Assess the training needs of health/nutrition staff and ensure that appropriate training is conducted.

Financial Management

• Manage the health and nutrition project budget for the assigned project(s) and ensure all expenses are according to budget and meet the Medair standards with regards to financial management, including accountability and good governance.

Communication and Coordination

• Develop and maintain appropriate, regular, transparent and supportive communication structures with the assigned health/nutrition team, in-country Health and Nutrition Advisor, and other relevant stakeholders (e.g., beneficiaries, community leaders, local government officials, UN agencies and other NGOs), with the objective of ensuring good cooperation and partnerships.
• Participate in health/nutrition coordination meetings, Medair internal trainings, and other working groups or meetings as required, representing Medair and feeding back to the health/nutrition staff and field managers on relevant issues.

Logistics

• Support the logistics activities of project staff, particularly in relation to the purchasing of medicines, supplies and equipment for the assigned health/nutrition facilities and activities.
• Liaise, as necessary, with the health and nutrition, logistics and finance staff to ensure items are procured, transported, stored, managed, and accounted for correctly.

Quality Management

• Promote and use SharePoint, IMpact, the Medair e-library, any available HMIS systems and Medair operating procedures, ensuring that all standardised formats are used and guidelines are followed.
• Ensure projects are implemented in line with donor proposals and requirements and in accordance with Medair, donor, country and international standards i.e., Sphere and CHS.

Team Spiritual Life

• Reflect the values of Medair with team members, local staff, beneficiaries, and external contacts.
• Work, live, and pray together in our Christian faith-based team settings. Fully contribute to the rich spiritual life of your team, including team devotions, prayers, and words of encouragement.
• Encouraged to join and contribute to Medair’s international prayer network.

This job description covers the main tasks that are anticipated. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary.

Qualifications

• Higher level qualification, preferably in health/nutrition or in another relevant field such as nursing/ midwifery/ doctor/ community-based training.
• Strong working knowledge of English (spoken and written).

Experience

• 2 years post-qualification professional experience in a relevant field.
• Management experience in a nutrition / health context.
• Ability and willingness to manage project implementation.
• Good numerical, report writing and administration skills. Problem solving ability.
• Knowledge of humanitarian principles, Sphere and HAP Standards and other international humanitarian guidelines and protocols.
• Team-player with good inter-personal skills. Willingness to support others and to share workload.
• Aptitude for community mobilisation and capacity-building. Experience in training / mentoring / coaching staff.
• Capacity to work under pressure and manage personal stress levels.
• Creative, open-minded, flexible, self-learner.
• Knowledge and experience of nutrition / primary health care principles and management
• Able to prioritise clearly and oversee multiple tasks. Able to take the initiative in project decisions.
• Able to enforce procedures. Able to set clear objectives for staff and delegate.

Team Spiritual Life

Reflect the values of Medair with team members, local staff, people we serve, and external contacts. Work, live, and pray together in our Christian faith-based teams. Fully contribute to a rich spiritual team life, including team devotion, prayer, and words of encouragement.

Before you apply

Please ensure you are fully aware of the:

1. Medair organisational values.

2. Medair is committed to safeguarding the protection of beneficiaries, volunteers, staff and partners, and particularly children. Therefore, we do not employ staff whose background we understand to be unsuitable for working with children. Medair staff are required to give the utmost respect to, and comply with, Medair’s accountability policies and best practices.

3. Medair Relief & Recovery Orientation Course (ROC) (which forms part of the recruitment selection process for field positions).

Application Process

To apply, go to this vacancy on our Medair page. Please do not make multiple applications. We will not review email applications. Only English-language applications / CVs will be reviewed.

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