State Nutrition Specialist (Community) - India Health Action Trust (Apply by: December 13, 2015)

India Health Action Trust

Background

India Health Action Trust (IHAT) aims at improving public health in India and abroad by providing comprehensive technical assistance in program planning and management. IHAT and University of Manitoba (UoM), Canada with funding from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) have established a technical support unit (TSU) for the Government of Uttar Pradesh to provide techno-managerial support to improve coverage of key reproductive, maternal, newborn, child health and nutrition (RMNCHN) interventions and services in the state. 
The UoM has additionally been awarded a grant to provide “Technical Support to the Government of Uttar Pradesh for improving the nutritional status among mothers, infant and young children”, the investment duration being 40 months, with the focus on the following 3 outcomes:

1. Increased ICDS capacity to deliver quality maternal, infant, and young child nutrition (MIYCN) interventions in UP
2. Increased health system capacity to deliver quality MIYCN interventions in UP
3. Increased use of MIYCN data for strategic decision-making in 25 HPDs in UP.

Technical Support Unit, Uttar Pradesh (TSU –UP) invite applications for the following positions for Nutrition project from competent and committed development professionals who are seeking meaningful and challenging assignments in Uttar Pradesh 

State Nutrition Specialist (Community): 2 Positions, Lucknow

Qualification and Skills & Competencies:
• The candidates should have MSc in Nutrition, or MPH or MSW with 7-10 years of experience of working in nutrition or related community projects. 
• Experienced at leading large and diverse teams and has worked at the state or national level. 
• Field experience of working in the health sector, social sector, rural development and /or education sector, with a focus on marginalized, backward and underprivileged communities with a broad and comprehensive understanding of health and development issues in India, with particular reference to Uttar Pradesh. 
• An ‘out of box’ thinker, able to implement innovative ideas and possessing good negotiation, excellent communication, analytical and documentation skills in English. 
• Conversant with the local languages (Hindi)
• Position involves extensive travel.

Job Responsibilities: 

The State Nutrition Specialist (Community) will be responsible for FLWs (AWWs, ASHAs and ANMs) capacity building and strengthening of ICDS system through job aid/tool development and gap analyses. They will be responsible for the implementation of the nutrition interventions in the community. More particularly, the functions will include:
1. Support gap analysis to assess knowledge, skills and practices of ICDS FLWs
2. Support ICDS in the coordination and management of quality induction and refresher trainings for its personnel
3. Support ICDS in ensuring availability of all equipment, supplies and human resources at all Anganwadi Centres in 25 HPDs
4. Develop and pilot simple and effective tracking tools that integrate information contained in different AWW registers, similar to the Village Health Index Register (VHIR)
5. Develop job aids and tools for effective MIYCN counseling at VHNDs, AAA meetings, Cluster meetings and home visits by FLWs
6. Support the quality and use of community data on MIYCN indicators

Reporting: The Nutrition Specialist (Community) will report to the Nutrition Team Leader, Lucknow. 

Salary
For the above position, the salary will be commensurate with qualifications, relevant experience, skills and interview performance etc. which will be fixed based on IHAT salary fixation standards.

How to apply:

Your CV must be accompanied with:
• The updated CV should be in the prescribed IHAT Application Format Only
• Cover letter justifying suitability for the position – role fitment based on present and past work experience
• Current /last drawn compensation and expected compensation

Above position(s) involves travel and preferences will be given to candidates who have work experience with /Govt / Development sectors working in relevant projects & field 

IHAT provides safe working environment for all its employees; follows the principle of equal opportunity and encourages women candidates / physically challenged with required job specifications and skills to apply for the position(s).

We will be following a systematic selection process to fill this position based on experience, competency, suitability, aptitude to work with MNCH interventions and in-depth project knowledge. The Final decision lies with the interview panel and the selection committee. 

Please note only short listed candidates will be invited for further screening process.

Interested candidates please apply using the prescribed IHAT Application Format’ and email it to hruptsu@ihat.in latest by 13th December, 2015. Candidates can visit www.ihat.in to download the IHAT Application Format.