Job Description

Post Title: Health and Nutrition Assistant
Number of Vacancies: 1
Based in Ta’izz, Yemen
Reports to: Health Service officer 

Organizational Background:

JSI is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health of individuals and communities throughout the world. Founded in 1978, JSI collaborates with government agencies, the private sector, and local nonprofit and civil society organizations to identify and implement solutions to the most pressing public health and education challenges.

In Yemen, JSI has been managing public health programs since 1988, focusing on improving child health and routine immunization, strengthening the supply chain, and improving reproductive, maternal, and newborn health.

Project Overview

The Strengthening Healthcare Access project is a five-year USAID-funded initiative aimed at enhancing access to and equitable utilization of evidence-based maternal, newborn, and child health; nutrition; family planning; and reproductive health (MNCHN/FP/RH) services in Yemen. Led by JSI, the project collaborates with partners to employ a community-led strategy encompassing demand generation, supply-side reinforcement, and enabling environment support. Through engagement with midwives, community reproductive health volunteers, and community structures, the project will create awareness, facilitate access, and enhance care quality. 

Position Description:

Under the supervision of Health service officer, the Health and Nutrition Assistant will provide technical and administrative support to the project activities at the Facilities level in close coordination with the project implementing partners. This support will include liaison and coordination with the appropriate government authorities and other stakeholders with focus on health facilities related activities as well as the MAMI, C-IMCI roll-out. The Health and Nutrition Assistant will be based in Ta’izz implementing all the related activities in coordination with the field program team.

 Key Responsibilities:

• Work with the project technical team to ensure the smooth implementation of the work plan.
• Facilitate communication and follow-up the selection of the targeted health facilities.
• Facilitate the implementation of the project related trainings and workshops.
• Provide administrative support to ensure all required job aids are in place.
• Follow up the supportive supervision activities (quarter plans, contracts, reports and payments).
• Follow-up the integration of health and nutrition programs in the targeted health facilities.
• Conduct field visits and assessments as required.
• Facilitate the integration of SBC activities in the targeted health facilities.
• Communicate with local counterpart authorities on project feasibility and effectiveness, including monitoring the supply flow and other non-supply assistance.
• Coordinate directly with local councils, community leaders, communities, and vulnerable groups to implement the related program interventions.
• Participate in coordinating and arranging program events, including meetings, trainings, and workshops. Draft meeting minutes and training/workshop reports and collect all the required MoVs for implemented activities.
• Raise the PRs and payment requests. If needed, request cash advances and clear them according to the project policies and procedures.
• Follow up with the program team to collect the data for weekly, quarterly, and final reports and share them with the line manager.
• Work closely with the program team to follow up CMWs activities, provide technical and logistical support, and conduct field visits when needed.
• Follow-up the requests/distribution of the supplies (medicines and FP related needs), prepare distribution plan and supervise the distribution activities
• Assess supply chain needs in targeted health facilities as well as the health offices at governorate and district level.
• Organize and maintain the program filing system regularly and maintain tracking of official letters.
• Support and follow up all the program related procurement, logistic and financial activities.
• Contribute to creating a positive image and overall credibility of the organization, ensuring compliance with the organization's Code of Conduct, ethics, values, and standpoint regarding internal and external actors.
• Maintain open lines of communication with all technical staff.
• Select and compile training and orientation materials for those involved in program implementation, including donor and media visits.
• Maintain flexibility to take on added responsibility as and when needed.
• Perform other duties as requested by the supervisor.
• Follow and support all policies and requirements related to staff safety and security.
• Uphold JSI's policies around accountability, fraud/ethics management, child safeguarding, and protection from sexual exploitation and abuse.
• Follow-up SBC activity implementation on field.
• Coordinate with local authorities to ensure proper and smooth implementation of SBC activities.
• Conduct regular visits to community level to monitor and evaluate SBC activates and the performance of awareness sessions conducted by CMWs, Grandmothers, Religious Leaders, and School Health clubs. 
• Travel to field sites as necessary. 
• Perform any other tasks assigned by the supervisor 

Qualifications and requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in medicine and/or in a relevant field of study.
• Minimum three years of previous experience in health and nutrition programs with I/NGOs.
• Previous experience with coordinating and arranging program events, including meetings, training, and workshops.
• Proven ability to lead and effectively supervise a team.
• Ability to cope with stressful situations and frustrations, demonstrating extreme flexibility.
• Team player who can relate to and motivate local staff effectively.
• Creative and able to work with limited resources.
• Strong written and oral communication skills in Arabic. Good English communication skill is preferred. 
• Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills.
• Proficient in computer applications, especially with MS Word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint. 
• Self-motivated, results-driven and excellent sense of organization
• Ability to cope with stressful situations and frustrations, demonstrating extreme flexibility

JSI/WEI is a child-safe organization, and the safety and well-being of children is a priority of our organization. We have robust recruitment procedures to ensure that all staff are suited to work with the children served by our programs.

JSI/WEI is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer committed to workplace diversity. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, gender, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, sexual preference, genetic information, political affiliation, or protected veteran status in any employment decisions. M/F/V/D