District Nutrition Officer

Job Description

Nutrition International is a global organization that works to improve the health and nutrition of vulnerable populations, especially women and children. One of their programs is the Maternal Nutrition Campaign which aims to support the newly approved Maternal Nutrition Strategy in Pakistan. For this purpose, we are looking for District Nutrition Officer.

Key Role and Responsibilities:

• The key role of the position is to support in the implementation of maternal nutrition campaign project activities at the field level to achieve project targets as per project plans, under the guidance and leadership of Medical Marketing Specialist
• District Nutrition Officer will implement the interpersonal component of the maternal nutrition campaign and support the targeted media campaign outreach in the targeted districts. The District Nutrition Officer will work closely with the Department of Health offices at district level and other key stakeholders including district representatives of professional medical associations.

Under the guidance and supervision of the Medical Marketing Specialist, the specific tasks of the position will include:

Project Development and Planning

1. Support MMS in the development of projects district implementation plan.
2. Develop weekly and monthly plans for activities of interpersonal communication (IPC) with Health Care Providers (HCPs) both public and private and Frontline Health Workers (FHWs)
3. Support the development of district awareness events plan (conferences, seminars, and meetings) in consultation with NI, District Health Department and Professional Medical Associations.

Project Implementation and Management

1. Support in the implementation of field level activities with DoH, HCPs/FHWs and Medical Associations for advancing the project activities on maternal nutrition campaign.
2. Conduct a thorough mapping of assigned target area and identify all public and private HCPs and FHWs, to be reached during the campaign.
3. Maintain an updated database of public and private HCPs and FHWs in their target area.
4. Conduct one on one sessions with HCPs of public sector as well as private practitioners and FHWs for improving their knowledge, attitudes and practices for counselling the mothers and caregivers/ family influencers on nutrition.
5. Orient and sensitize the HCPs/FHWs on the diversity of nutrition, gravity of the issues, underlying causes and potential solutions/actions for improving the maternal nutrition among mothers.
6. Share the key messages with HCPs/FHWs during meetings with HCPs/FHWs and handover the information packs for further guiding the mothers and caregivers/ family influencers for nutrition.
7. Mobilize and motivate HCPs and FHWs for integrating maternal nutrition services in their regular service delivery.
8. Deliver specialized training sessions to enhance the capacity of healthcare providers in maternal nutrition.
9. Support in implementation of innovative marketing skills to promote maternal nutrition concepts to healthcare providers and frontline health workers.
10. Utilize marketing techniques to advocate for the adoption of ideas and behavioral changes related to maternal nutrition.
11. Through effective communication and counseling skills engage healthcare providers and frontline health worker on maternal nutrition.
12. Develop good relations with the stakeholders for supporting in the implementation of project activities. Conduct advocacy activities with district management and key stakeholders for strengthening maternal nutrition interventions.
13. Ensure completion of weekly and monthly activities plans, developed with the consultation and approval of MMS.
14. Identify Maternal Nutrition Champions among HCPs and FHWs, potential contenders for leader award.
15. Support Nutrition International in coordination with district/provincial government/s to support district/provincial level activities.
16. Record minutes of the meetings and manage its issuance and circulation through the relevant channels of communication.

Monitoring and Reporting

1. Develop and communicate/submit project updates for program management team as per agreed upon frequency.
2. Keep updated daily report record.
3. Draft events (seminars, conferences and meetings) minutes/reports.
4. Support in development of case studies of role models (HCPs & FHWs) and best practices from the project.
5. Submit weekly and monthly progress report of district activities to Shifa Foundation for further sharing with Nutrition International and other relevant stakeholders.
6. Serve as a focal person for providing periodic data for the monitoring and reporting purposes to the NI team as and when required.
7. Support in conducting field monitoring, data collection and any relevant tasks necessary to support monitoring and reporting activities.

Qualification / Certifications:

• Masters Degree in nutrition or food science/technology or public health or any other relevant qualifications.

Required Experience:

• At least 5-7 years of experience with nutrition programs, counselling for and advocacy of nutrition, event management, media management, service marketing and development communications for a national or international organization preferably working on health and nutrition issues
• Knowledge of government healthcare systems and policies.
• Exceptional written and verbal communications skills along with influential presentation, detailing and marketing skills.
• Experience in healthcare mapping, capacity building, maternal nutrition advocacy, and non-product marketing.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and marketing skills (selling of ideas).
• Fluency in English, both spoken and written, is a prerequisite. Knowledge of other languages spoken in field areas would be an asset.
• Self-initiator, ability to work under minimal supervision and under pressure
• A team player who is personable, diplomatic and confident at dealing with people at all levels.
• Competent IT skills, i.e., MS Word, MS Excel, Kobo tool box, Outlook and Power Point.

Location:

Rawalpindi, Qambar Shahdadkot Karachi East, Korangi (Karachi) and Larkana.