Health and Nutrition Coordinator - Colombo

ROLE PURPOSE: 

You will assist project implementation by working directly with beneficiary schools (largely in the ECCD space with pre-primary schools and their teachers), community, and local stakeholders, coordinating various School Health and Nutrition activities and events in support of Save the Children’s work to serve the marginalised and vulnerable within the implementation of the USDA-funded McGovern-Dole (MGD) International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program titled “PALAM/A II. The PALAMA project is an integrated education program - with school feeding as a major component - designed to improve the quality and relevance of education, encourage the complete cycle of primary education for vulnerable and marginalized children, especially girls; and to improve nutrition and increase community involvement and government investment in education for long term sustainability. Your service and community relations skills ensure that the local stakeholders and communities feed into and benefit from the project that consistently applies best practices and continuously works towards improving its impact. Your primary function is to implement health and nutrition project-related interventions in an assigned district, with direct supervision of the Senior Manager - Health and Nutrition.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: 

• Implement, coordinate, and monitor PALAMA health and nutrition-related activities at the field level, ensuring implementation schedules are met as per the detailed activity plan, and that adherence to systems for quality project implementation is strengthened.
• Coordinate communication and facilitate information sharing among the project team and project beneficiaries at the district and community level to assist in strengthening the community interest, involvement, and support networks.
• Enhance dietary diversity and nutrition and health practices amongst communities in the project area, especially among the children at ECCD centers.
• Conduct community mobilization and coordination of PALAMA II activities (formation/revamp of Mother Support Groups, support on school feeding, capacity building for caregivers and parents on various nutrition and health-related topics)
• Serve as a Technical Expert for the project at the district level, by supporting and facilitating key food nutrition, health, WASH and other sessions during joint distribution activities to SMPs.
• Work closely with District Education Managers to establish, promote and strengthen the school-based health Promotion interventions as necessary
• Work closely with Child Development Officers/Teachers of Early Childhood Care and Development Centers on raising awareness on ECCD principals, facilitating parental awareness programs and promoting best practices in said institutions.
• Conduct routine project monitoring within your catchment area on safe cooking in partnership with Public Health Inspectors to School Meal Providers
• Ensure close coordination and dialogue between Sarvodaya regarding community-level activities.
• Coordinate, monitor, and report on volunteer activities.
• Compile health and nutrition data provided at the district level as per project requirements and contribute to the preparation of reports.
• Represent SCI/PALAMA at the district level, maintaining effective working relationships with PHIs and other stakeholders including RDHS/MOH operating in the district in coordination with the Field Manager.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Nurse/Nutritionist with experience in f health and nutrition programs or a related discipline.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS:

• A minimum of 3-5 years experience in a similar role, preferably with an INGO or an international organization.
• Sound understanding of Nutrition Health Sri Lanka Government policies, laws, and institutions and ability to work together with various stakeholders including PHIs, PHM (Public Health Midwives) ISAs, MOH (Medical Officers of Health), Regional and Provincial Directors of Health Services and Provincial and Zonal Directors of Education, and Provincial ECCD officers. 
• Technical training and demonstrated knowledge of health and nutrition modules including IYCF, food fortification, etc. will be a plus.
• Knowledge of development work, including program logic, theory of change, and community empowerment.
• Experience in working in the field of Early Childhood Care and Development would be an added benefit. 
• Strong ability to collect, compile and interpret data.
• Ability to identify and plan work strategically and to work to deadlines.
• Project management knowledge and skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in Sinhala and/or Tamil with knowledge of English as an added advantage.
• Ability to work effectively with people of diverse backgrounds
• Ability to train others, ability to provide technical guidance and support to operation staff.
• Good computer literacy (MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint and all MS Office applications) 
• Ability to function efficiently and effectively with little day-to-day supervision.
• Willingness and the ability to travel to remote field locations. 
• Having a valid motorbike riding license and willingness to ride a motorbike for field visits will be an advantage. 
• Flexibility and commitment to work extended hours as and when required.
• Behave and demonstrate a high level of courtesy, and honesty, encouraging openness and transparency.
• A good understanding of the mandate of Save the Children, commitment to and understanding of child rights, the aims and principles of Save the Children, and its humanitarian standards such as Child Safeguarding and the Code of Conduct.