Senior Health and Nutrition Project Officer

• Post Title: Senior Health and Nutrition Project Officer
• Duty Station: Country Office, Addis Ababa with frequent travel to project location
• Reports to: Health & Nutrition Program Coordinator
• Salary: As per the organizational scale
• Required: One
• Duration: 12 months, with the possibility of extension based on performance and availability of funds.

Introduction

Islamic Relief is an international relief and development charity founded in 1984, headquartered in Birmingham, UK. As well as responding to disasters and emergencies, Islamic Relief promotes sustainable economic and social development by working with local communities – regardless of race, religion, or gender. The office officially started operation in Ethiopia in 2004. Islamic Relief Ethiopia (IRE) is operational in the Somali Regional State with a base office in Jigjiga, Hargelle, Elkere, Bare, GG and Dekasuftu, Afar Regional State; Semera Logia; Oromia Regional State, West Harergeye, Chiro and Meayso Woredas, Borena zone of Dire woredas and an additional operational office in Addis Ababa. For more information, please visit our website: http://www.islamic-relief.org/work-with-us.

Job Purpose

The Senior Health and Nutrition Project Officer leads the implementation of health system strengthening initiatives and coordinates all primary health care activities across operational areas. Under the supervision of the Health and Nutrition Program Coordinator, he/she will provide technical support, capacity building, and on-the-job training to project teams and government stakeholders to improve service delivery, health information systems, and overall project performance.

He/she will contribute to the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the SURS project and broader primary health care and SRH programming. This involves close collaboration with field teams, Program Coordinators, and relevant department heads to ensure technical quality, program coherence, and timely execution of activities.

A key focus of the position is strengthening local government health systems to improve access to and quality of primary health care for vulnerable communities. The Officer is expected to provide proactive problem-solving, regular staff mentorship, and consistent follow-up to address operational and technical challenges.

The Senior Health and Nutrition Officer also serve as a liaison with local authorities, institutional donors, UN agencies, and other partners to foster strong, collaborative relationships that enhance program impact and sustainability. He/she will work closely with the SURS Health Project Manager, H&N Program Coordinator, and field teams to ensure effective implementation, coordination, and integration of activities.

The Senior Health and Nutrition Project Officer will be based in Addis Ababa, with frequent travel to project locations.

Task & Responsibilities

Objective 1: Ensure the effective implementation of Health systems strengthening activities

Activities

• Participate in project planning, design, implementation, and monitoring in consultation with the Health & Nutrition Program Coordinator.
• Lead development and refinement of annual work plans, Detailed Implementation Plans (DIPs), and harmonized technical approaches aligned with national and regional health policies.
• Ensure all initiatives adhere to national guidelines, WHO standards, CHS, Sphere, and donor quality benchmarks.
• Plan, implement, and coordinate Health, Nutrition, Hygiene, and Sanitation interventions; prepare integrated and compiled DIPs across sectors.
• Provide technical support for health and nutrition projects, including development of analytical reports, case studies, best practices, learning pieces, and technical briefs.
• Support evidence generation through baseline/midline/endline assessments, nutrition surveys, gap analyses, and HRH assessments.
• Support the Health Project Manager/Program Coordinator in planning activities to achieve program goals and objectives.
• Provide capacity-building training for government partners and field teams.
• Liaise with government authorities to ensure program strategies and objectives are understood, aligned, and communicated effectively.
• Ensure sound monitoring of program activities and coordinate with M&E units at field and county levels.
• Provide data and information management support—spreadsheets, checklists, databases, and high-quality report generation.
• Compile and submit weekly, monthly, quarterly, interim, and annual/final reports.
• Strengthen government health systems, information management systems, and community structures to improve AMIYCN, adolescent, maternal, and child nutrition services.
• Identify geographic expansion areas in consultation with the Program Coordinator.
• Support quantification and procurement planning for nutrition and health supplies and follow up purchase processes.
• Participate in national and sub-national cluster meetings and share outcomes with the Program Coordinator.

Objective 2: Monitor, follow up, and supervise Primary HealthCare Interventions

Activities

• Coordinate implementation and strengthening of data management, including digital transformation awareness, data quality audits, and routine data reviews.
• Support MEAL units in developing/deploying tools, dashboards, and quality assurance mechanisms.
• Ensure regular performance monitoring, data analysis, and use of evidence for adaptive programming.
• Lead quality-of-care assessments, joint supportive supervision visits, and facility-level quality improvement processes.

Objective 3: Capacity building & Knowledge Transfer

Activities

• Lead and oversee capacity-building initiatives for government counterparts, health facility staff, and community structures
• Organize and facilitate regional workshops, policy reviews, clinical trainings, HMIS trainings, and knowledge-sharing platforms.
• Mentor and coach field health and nutrition staff through supportive supervision and remote technical support.
• Strengthen facility capacity for AMIYCN, SRH, STI, BEmONC, PAC, Family Planning, and data management services.

Objective 4: Logistics, medical Supplies & Stock Management

Activities

• Develop and support printing/distribution of IEC/BCC materials in collaboration with the logistics team.
• Coordinate forecasting, quantification, and procurement plans for nutrition, health, SRH, and data management supplies.
• Ensure uninterrupted stock availability for AMIYCN, STI, ANC/PNC, SRH, and EPI services at health facilities.
• Support efficient utilization of project resources and contribute to budget management and donor reporting.

Objective 5: Representation, Partnership & Networking

Activities

• Build networks with partners at national, sub-national, zonal, and woreda levels.
• Participate in relevant cluster meetings and forums at national, sub-national, zonal and woreda levels, relay recommendations internally.
• Conduct regular meetings with program staff to discuss and document lessons learned.
• Assist in organizing workshops, trainings, seminars, and preparation of related reports.
• Represent the organization in national, sub-national, zonal, and woreda level technical working groups (health, nutrition, protection).
• Strengthen strategic partnerships with MoH, RHBs, local authorities, training institutions, clusters, and development partners.
• Support policy dialogue processes including HRH policy reviews, dissemination workshops, and advocacy events.
• Ensure alignment of project interventions with national strategies (RMNCAH, Nutrition Strategy, HRH Strategy, Digital Health Strategy).

Objective 6: Coordination, Communication & Knowledge Management

Activities

• Establish strong collaborative networks with government, NGOs, CBOs, UN agencies, and implementing partners.
• Organize internal program review meetings, joint planning sessions, and learning events.
• Facilitate cross-sector coordination across Health, Nutrition, Protection, MEAL, and WASH components.
• Document lessons learned, promising practices, and success stories for adaptive management and donor reporting.

Additional Responsibilities

• Perform other related tasks as assigned and report progress of specific responsibilities.
• Inform the Health & Nutrition Program Coordinator of any professional challenges encountered.
• Conduct duties professionally in accordance with Islamic Relief regulations and charter.
• Manage multiple tasks, adapt to changing priorities, and work flexible hours to meet deadlines.
• Support hiring, training, and supervision of Health & Nutrition Program Coordinator and field teams.
• Organize and prepare training materials.

Personal Specification

Formal Education/Qualification and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, Nursing, Nutrition, or a related health field with a minimum of five (8) years of relevant professional experience or
• Master’s degree (MPH) with a minimum of three (4) years and above with practical experience in Health and Nutrition program management.
• Practical experience in Health and Nutrition program management at the country-office level is highly preferred.

Skills and Competencies:

• Demonstrated experience in managing Health and Nutrition projects is highly desirable.
• Proven experience working with national and sub-national government stakeholders, with strong communication, coordination, and management skills.
• Experience in the development of technical tools, training materials, and monitoring and evaluation systems.
• Familiarity with health systems strengthening strategies, RMNCH policies, action plans, and key donor-funded project requirements and procedures.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) is required.
• Strong written and spoken English and knowledge of other local language such Amharic, Afaan Oromo and others are an added advantage.
• Excellent report writing, communication, and negotiation skills;
• Ability to plan and organize work independently with appropriate follow through while paying close attention to detail and showing initiative in completing tasks and projects in a timely manner.
• Knowledge and application of Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS) and Sphere standards and Red Cross/NGO Code of Conduct.
• Knowledge of health and nutrition needs in drought and conflict-affected areas, primary healthcare, and SRH.
• Knowledge of data collection and the ability to analyze and interpret data contribute to program implementation.
• Experience coordinating complex programs with wide variety of stakeholders.
• Extensive knowledge of primary health care, health system strengthening, and SRH.
• Supervisory and managerial skills with proven ability to manage a demanding workload
• Project management experience (HR, Finance, Logistic, and Grant).
• Experience in concept/paper/proposal development, operational planning, budget planning and management, monitoring and evaluation, report writing.
• Training facilitation and teamwork abilities
• Programme experience in health systems strengthening is advantageous
• Previous experience working for INGOs is an asset

 

Safeguarding and Equal Opportunity

Islamic Relief and Islamic Relief staff considers the welfare and protection of children, young people and people at risk to be paramount to the organization. And must adhere the principle of ‘do no harm and leave no one behind.’ It is critical we do not expose communities or staff we work with to the risk of harm through our interventions. Islamic Relief have a number of related policies which also describe standards in behavior expected from the organization, its staff and representatives towards each other and those we serve. Islamic Relief is committed to responding swiftly, appropriately and constructively to any and all information children, young people and people at risk have disclosed.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. We participate in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and child abuse during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment before signing the contract agreement.

Islamic Relief believes everyone has the right to be safe, respected and valued regardless of who they are or their circumstances, and an equal employment opportunity to all candidates and qualified applicants, we do not discriminate on the base of age, sex, race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability status and diversity.

Islamic Relief has a zero tolerance towards all forms of violence, sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

IRE highly encourage female applicants to apply for this position. Our organization is committed to promoting gender equality and diversity in the workplace. IRE believe in creating an inclusive working environment where all individuals, regardless of their gender, have equal opportunities for professional growth and development.

IRE value the contributions and unique perspectives that women and persons with disability bring to our organization and are committed to providing a supportive, working environment. IRE believe that by promoting gender equality, we can enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of our programs.

If you are a qualified female candidate with a passion to join our team, we encourage you to submit your application. IRE look forward to considering your candidacy and working together to make a difference in the lives of those in need.