Nutrition Specialist (National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey) at United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Nutrition Specialist (National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey), P-3

Job No: 545822
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Contract Type: Temporary Appointment
Level: P-3
Categories: Nutrition

For Every Child, Nutrition

• In Nigeria, UNICEF works in a complex humanitarian and development setting to fulfill and protect children’s rights in partnership with the government, civil society, children, and families.
• UNICEF Nigeria is one of the largest UNICEF Country Offices globally – click the link to learn more about UNICEF in Nigeria: https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/.

How Can You Make a Difference?

• The Nutrition Specialist will provide technical guidance and coordination to the Government of Nigeria to complete the National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey (NFCMS).
• Field data collection is already completed, pending, analysis of Biomarker samples in the International Reference Laboratories, data cleaning and analysis, report writing and dissemination.
• A major role to this post is in working with the already contracted Lead Implementing Agency for the NFCMS, IITA, in completing the remaining tasks. Also, UNICEF’s overall Survey Fund Management roles equally remain key.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities
Budget, Fund and Asset Management:

• Coordination and completion of the National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey project components on time, within budget and within scope.
• Oversee all aspects of projects. Set deadlines, assign responsibilities and monitor and summarize progress of project. Prepare reports for upper management regarding status of project. Ensure that all projects are delivered on-time, within scope and within budget.
• Establish and maintain relationships with IITA, sub-grantees and other affiliated vendors, as relevant.
• Update and manage the overall survey master budget in consultation with survey stakeholders
• Carry out day-to-day management of survey funds in line with UNICEF and donor requirements to ensure the highest level of financial compliance and efficiency
• Liaise with donors and IITA on fund and asset management on a regular basis and provide timely information and updates as requested/appropriate.
• Ensure high quality financial reporting and compliance, including spot checks and audits as appropriate
• Coordinate and follow up on supply chain management and ensure that supplies procured for the survey have been appropriately used
• Ensure development and execution of an asset disposal plan in accordance with UNICEF and donor policies

Technical Management:

• Participate in all survey stakeholder meetings and represent UNICEF as a key survey stakeholder
• Consolidate technical information, documents, tools, meeting decisions/minutes, and others as may be required and ensure their timely availability to inform survey decisions.
• Monitor IITA work plans and provide recommendations for corrective measures and/or improvement of the survey implementation
• Provide high quality input into data analysis and report writing, including publication of manuscripts and other knowledge management products
• Provide technical support to the Federal Ministry of Health and other relevant agencies to ensure data analysis and reporting meet national and international standards.

Programme Management and Reporting:

• Provide oversight to and support IITA to develop and manage agreed upon timelines, including requests for funding, reporting, etc.
• Track and report on progress and ensure that survey activities are completed within the agreed upon timeframe
• Prepare and consolidate reports in line with agreed reporting modalities, requirements and needs.
• Manage changes to the project scope, project schedule and project costs and ensure required amendments are executed in a timely manner.
• Identify high risk areas requiring special attention and/or support from UNICEF and partner(s).
• Conduct due diligence of technical and financial reports to ensure high quality
• As appropriate, report and escalate any issues of concern.
• Perform any other duty as may be required for the success of the micronutrients survey.

To Qualify as an Advocate for Every Child You Will Have
Education:

• An Advanced University Degree in Social Sciences, Statistics, Development Planning, Development Studies, International Development, Business Administration, Financial Management, Economics, Auditing, or, Project/ Programme Management.
• Basic training in Health Sciences (Nutrition, Public Health, Epidemiology, etc,) is desirable.

Experience:

• Extensive experience in managing large scale nutrition surveys
• Technical knowledge and experience in micronutrients and dietary assessments
• Proven knowledge and experience in designing and implementing large scale micronutrients surveys is particularly preferred.
• Strong analytical, research methodology and statistical skills
• Capacity to work in a team with diverse backgrounds
• Excellent writing skills
• Fluency in English (both written and spoken).

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language is considered as an asset.

For Every Child, you Demonstrate

• UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
• The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

Core competencies:

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (3)
• Works Collaboratively with others (3)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (3)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (3)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (3)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (3)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (3)

Functional Competencies:

•  Analyzing (3)
• Deciding and Initiating action (2)
• Applying technical expertise (3).

Application Closing Date
14th November, 2021; W. Central Africa Standard Time.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Remarks

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
• To view our competency framework, please visit here – PDF.
• Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.
• UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
• UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.
• UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
• Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history.
• Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.