EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Save the Children is the world’s leading independent organization for children. Our Vision is a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation.  In Zambia, Save the Children works in the following Thematic areas: Education, Health & Nutrition, Child Protection, Child Rights Governance and Child Poverty; including Humanitarian response.  Save the Children wishes to invite qualified individuals to apply for the position of Technical Specialist – Health and Nutrition (x 1 Position)

LOCATION: Lusaka

TEAM/PROGRAMME: Program Development and Quality

GRADE: 2

DURATION: 2 years (renewable)

CHILD SAFEGUARDING:  Level 3 – the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people.

ROLE PURPOSE: The Technical Specialist Health and Nutrition is responsible for developing and supporting the implementation of Save the Children’s Health and Nutrition Program in Zambia. S/he is responsible for the achievement of the Health and Nutrition program objectives as set by the Country Strategy Plan 2022-2024.  The TS Health and Nutrition furthermore ensures program development through the identification of new funding opportunities, program design and development of high-quality proposals. S/He ensures the development of a network of external contacts through which to promote and inform Save the Children Health and Nutrition program. S/He represents Save the Children with relevant sector government structures and other international partners, including UN and Cooperating Partners. S/He acts as a focal point for Zambia in the area of Health and Nutrition, providing guidance to related initiatives focusing on Save the Children’s guidelines, vision and mission. S/He will strengthen the quality of program implementation through the identification of capacity gaps and capacity building strategies, liaising closely with external Technical Advisors within the Save the Children movement. The role will liaise with the MEAL team to ensure quality M&E frameworks and the use of data for decision making through robust monitoring and evaluation.  She/ He will work under the direct line management of Program Development and Quality Director and is also expected to work closely with the Program Operations and operations Director.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Program Development and Quality Director with a dotted reporting line to the program and Operations Director

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Strategic Program Leadership.

• Provide strategic leadership to implement the Health and Nutrition country program in Save the Children’s Country Strategy Plan 2022-2024.
• Support the Health and Nutrition projects and related staff, translating strategy into concrete projects and annual plans and ensuring coordination of technical input into donor reports.
• Participate and contribute to interagency Health and Nutrition coordination meetings and relevant networks/working groups within Save the Children and externally.
• Analyse the outcomes of the program and changes in the external operating environment and incorporate findings into the ongoing development of the program.

Program Development/New Business Development.

• Take a lead role in growing the Health and Nutrition program in Zambia, both in terms of new and innovative ideas and funding.
• Provide technical leadership in the identification of new business development opportunities, positioning for new opportunities, participating in the design of new projects and contribute to writing concept notes, proposals including logical frameworks and budgets. The post holder will ensure that new projects are consistent with the country strategic plan.
• Work with the awards team to ensure compliance to donor regulations for all Health and Nutrition awards at CO and field offices to ensure program quality and donor satisfaction.

Technical Assistance.

• Provide technical support to the CO and local partner staff as required. This includes assistance with defining and /or setting up Minimum Operating Standards or Quality Benchmarks for key Health and Nutrition interventions.
• Take the lead in training new and existing Save the Children staff in Health and Nutrition. Coordinate with other TS positions in the organization and with external Technical Advisors from RO or member offices.
• Provide technical support to the relevant government offices including MoH, MCDSS through participation in meetings, work groups, and task forces, as well as consultation and targeted field visits.

Advocacy.

• Articulate top priority advocacy objectives in line with the Country Strategic Plan and work with the TS-Child rights Governance to identify key opportunities for Save the Children Zambia to position itself as the leading organization for Health and Nutrition in Zambia.
• Strengthen the capacity of the CO to work in advocacy work at all levels related to Health and Nutrition and strengthen children’s meaningful and safe participation in such initiative.

Knowledge Management, Learning and Innovation.

• Work closely with the implementing teams to establish a good, integrated documentation and reporting system for program supervision and improvement.
• Tap into internal and external best practice in the Health and Nutrition sector and introduce this for the benefit of the country Health and Nutrition program. Meanwhile make learning from Zambia available for other programs.
• Strengthen the professional quality of the Health and Nutrition program through, among other means, engaging in relevant sector networks (involving partners in Zambia, relevant Government Ministries, other Save the Children members, donors, SCI in the region and centrally, UN and other global partners in child rights work) at both national and global levels.

Representation, Engagement and Partnership Building.

• Represents Save the Children to national and international partners in Lusaka, in the donor community as requested by the Program Development and Quality Director.
• Maintain a good flow of information and knowledge on Health and Nutrition among relevant stakeholders, this could include, but is not limited to monitoring and evaluation, program reporting, advocacy issues, contextual information from Zambia.
• Engage new and existing strategic and implementing partners and build partnerships to implement the Health and Nutrition country program, to develop new ideas for innovation and to build capacity.
• Manage key partnerships under the Health and Nutrition theme, including those within the government, with collaborating partners (donors) and with other NGOs.

Human Resources

• Comply with all relevant Save the Children policies and procedures with respect to Child Safeguarding, Child Protection policy, Code of Conduct, Fraud and Dishonest policy, Gender, Diversity and Non-discrimination, Health and Safety, Equal Opportunities and other relevant policies.
• Review the structure of the Health and Nutrition teams periodically and map out the staffing needs in alignment with program size and any expansion plans. This includes participation in the recruitment of Health and Nutrition staff to fill in gaps identified in order to advance the country program strategic goal and objectives.
• Ensure that the Health and Nutrition program staffs under his/her management have clearly defined objectives and understand their responsibilities.

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
• Self-starter, willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Qualified clinical health professional (Medical Doctor, clinical officer, graduate nurse) with advanced degree.
• At least 7 seven years of relevant experience managing health and nutrition programs in developing countries. Experience working with and providing support to Ministry of Health will be a strong added advantage.
  Knowledgeable of SDGs and global health issues and trends, particularly in primary health care, reproductive health & family planning, maternal and newborn health, nutrition, child health (e.g., IMNCI, ICCM), immunization, WASH, TB, health systems strengthening, nutrition and gender equality.
• Demonstrable experience in program design and proposal development, program implementation including budget monitoring, human resource management, preparation of reports for various technical and non-technical audiences and in monitoring and evaluation.
• Experience supervising and managing highly skilled technical teams is required.
• Strong, demonstrable analytical and conceptual skills and the ability to think and plan strategically.
• Substantial experience of developing working relations with the government, UN agencies INGO partner’s community stakeholders and beneficiaries.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team as well as independently as required.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills and commitment to capacity building of staff with proven skills as a trainer/facilitator and mentor.
• Ability to be self-sufficient and resourceful.
• Ability and willingness to travel to projects and stay in basic conditions.
• Computer skills e.g.  Word, Power Point and Excel.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.