Technical Health and Nutrition Program Manager

With 75 years of experience, our focus is on helping the most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. We help children of all backgrounds, even in the most dangerous places, inspired by our Christian faith.

Come join our 31,000+ staff working in nearly 100 countries and share the joy of transforming vulnerable children’s life stories!

Employee Contract Type:

Local - Fixed Term Employee (Fixed Term)

Job Description:

Job Summary

The Health & Nutrition Programme Manager provides strategic leadership and technical direction for the development, implementation, quality assurance, monitoring, evaluation, learning, and resource mobilization of World Vision International Sierra Leone’s Health and Nutrition portfolio. The position leads efforts to improve maternal, newborn, child, adolescent, and community health and nutrition outcomes through evidence-based programming, health systems strengthening, disease prevention, referral mechanisms, and community engagement.

The role ensures the delivery of high-quality, integrated, child-focused, and gender-responsive programmes across Area Programmes, Private Non-Sponsorship (PNS) projects, and grant-funded initiatives. It strengthens programme effectiveness through technical support, capacity building of staff and partners, knowledge management, and the application of best practices and evidence.

The Health & Nutrition Programme Manager also plays a key role in donor engagement, proposal development, resource acquisition, and external representation with government institutions, development partners, technical working groups, and other stakeholders. The position ensures that all health and nutrition interventions are aligned with World Vision standards and approaches, approved programme frameworks, national health priorities, donor requirements, and international best practices, ultimately contributing to improved well-being and sustainable outcomes for vulnerable children and communities.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Technical Leadership: Programme Design and Quality Assurance

• Lead development and or review of the National Office Health & Nutrition Technical Programme strategy, plans and priorities.
• Ensure alignment with the National Strategy and priorities, World Vision technical approaches, Future Ready Sponsorship, approved IPFs/Results Frameworks and donor requirements
• Roll out, set and maintain technical standards, protocols, guidelines, tools and quality benchmarks across Area Programmes, projects and partners.
• Lead technical reviews of programme designs, theories of change, logframes, indicators, Detailed Implementation Plans (DIPs) and Indicator Tracking Tables (ITT).
• Ensure safeguarding, gender equality, disability inclusion, child participation, resilience and advocacy are appropriately integrated into program design.
• Provide technical input into annual planning, budgeting and portfolio prioritization.
• Promote integration with WASH, education, child protection, livelihoods, sponsorship and other technical programmes.

Programme Implementation, Technical Oversight and Budget Management

• Provide technical oversight and support to Area Programme Managers, Project Officers, project teams and partners.
• Roll out designed programs, logic models and agreed Health & Nutrition implementation plans across relevant Area Programmes, projects and grants.
• Provide technical leadership on maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health, nutrition, community health, prevention, referral and health-system strengthening.
• Guide the delivery of DIPs through the review of monthly and quarterly implementation plans and provide timely guidance to address gaps, risks and bottlenecks.
• Review activity concept notes for the appropriateness of approaches, models, quality benchmarks and required outputs/deliverables.
• Support management of Health & Nutrition budgets, forecasting, cash needs, procurement and appropriate use of supplies and equipment.
• Review relevant technical reports and support timely consolidation of National Office and donor reporting.
• Identify implementation risks and recommend corrective actions, adaptations and innovations.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, Learning and Evidence

• Work with PME/DME and Area Programme teams to establish and maintain Health & Nutrition MEAL framework including the integration of indicator tracking system.
• Develop and strengthen practical tools for monitoring implementation, programme quality, outcomes and technical performance.
• Support collection, analysis and interpretation of programme data and evidence for management decisions and programme adaptation.
• Conduct technical monitoring, supportive supervision and quality assurance visits.
• Support evaluations, assessments, surveys and ensure that the right indicators are defined, measured, interpreted and included in the report.
• Facilitate reflection, reviews and learning forums with Area Programmes, technical teams and partners.
• Lead documentation and dissemination of good practices, innovations, lessons learned and evidence of impact.
• Support community feedback mechanisms and responsive handling of feedback and complaints.
• Contribute to annual reports, Child Well-being reporting and other evidence products.
• Support the documentation, dissemination and application of lessons learned, promising practices and programme evidence.

Programme Development, Resource Mobilization and Grants

• Provide technical input to concept notes, proposals, capacity statements, budgets, donor reports and other resource acquisition processes and products.
• Work with Area Programme Managers and RAM to identify funding gaps, opportunities and priorities.
• Develop and maintain a strong Health & Nutrition capacity statement and technical value proposition.
• Contribute to grant acquisition, proposal development and post-submission processes.
• Provide technical input to grant implementation, reporting and close-out.

Partnerships, Networking, Government Engagement and Technical Influence

• Maintain a Health & Nutrition stakeholder map with Partnerships/External Engagement.
• Represent World Vision in relevant networks, coalitions, technical working groups and sector forums.
• Build relationships with government, UN agencies, NGOs, donors, research institutions, private sector and strategic partners.
• Provide technical leadership for policy dialogue, advocacy and influencing on priority Health & Nutrition issues.
• Identify opportunities for collaboration, learning, innovation, resource leverage and technical partnerships.
• Provide technical support and monitor partners implementing Health & Nutrition interventions.

Staff Capacity Development, Coaching and Technical Support

• Assess technical capacity gaps among staff, Area Programmes and partners.
• Develop and lead coaching, mentoring, training and supportive supervision approaches.
• Strengthen capacity to apply technical standards, evidence, data and learning.
• Provide orientation and support to newly recruited staff.
• Facilitate communities of practice and peer learning where appropriate.
• Supervise relevant technical staff, support performance management and promote accountability, collaboration, innovation and professional development.

GIK – Gift-in-Kind Coordination and Facilitation

• Coordinate National Office GIK planning, demand forecasting and prioritization.
• Coordinate with Support Services and Supply Chain on importation, storage, transportation and distribution.
• Facilitate last-mile distribution of approved Health GIK items.
• Monitor Health GIK utilization and provide timely updates and reports.
• Engage the Support Office and relevant stakeholders on GIK requirements, reporting and follow-up.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree in Public Health, Community Health, Nutrition, Health Sciences, International Development, or another relevant discipline from a recognized university.
• A relevant Bachelor’s degree combined with substantial professional experience may be considered where appropriate.
• Professional certification or specialized training in public health, nutrition, maternal, newborn and child health, community health, or programme management would be an added advantage.
• At least 8-10 years of progressive professional experience in health and nutrition programming, public health, community health, nutrition, or a closely related field.
• At least 5 years of demonstrated experience in technical leadership and programme management, preferably involving multi-sector and multi-location programmes, Area Programmes and/or grants.
• Demonstrated experience in health and nutrition programme design, implementation, technical quality assurance, monitoring, evaluation, learning and evidence generation.
• Strong understanding of integrated, child-focused and evidence-based programming approaches and World Vision programming models, including Area Programme programming and Child Well-being Outcomes.
• Experience in programme budgeting, financial monitoring, resource allocation, proposal development, resource mobilization and donor/grant management.
• Experience engaging with government ministries/departments, UN agencies, NGOs, donors, technical networks and other development partners.
• Experience working in a Christian/faith-based, international NGO or child-focused development environment is an advantage.
• Strong proposal development, programme design, resource mobilization, project and grant management and budgeting skills.
• Experience developing technical reports, programme documentation, learning products and donor reports using evidence and programme data.
• Strong monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning skills, with the ability to interpret data, generate evidence and use findings to improve programme quality and impact.
• Strong technical leadership, coaching, mentoring and facilitation skills, with the ability to translate technical standards into practical guidance for programme teams.
• Strong partnership, networking, negotiation, representation and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, planning, coordination and decision-making skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, report writing and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and ability to use programme data and reporting tools effectively.
• Ability to work effectively across functions and provide technical support to Area Programme teams, grants, PME/DME, Sponsorship, Partnerships, Supply Chain and other relevant teams.
• Fluency in English required
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively within Sierra Leone, including remote and rural locations, as required by programme implementation and technical support needs.
• Ability to work effectively in an office environment and undertake regular field visits, including travel to remote and rural programme locations.
• Ability to participate in field assessments, programme monitoring visits, technical meetings, trainings and community engagements.
• Reasonable accommodation may be considered where required to enable the successful performance of essential job functions.
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Work/Travel requirements

• Work environment: National Office-based with frequent travel to Area Programme and project locations.A
• pproximately 40% domestic travel, with international travel as required.

All successful candidates will be required to undergo a police (criminal background) check, appropriate to the role and location, as well as a Counter-Terrorism Sanctions screening, as part of the clearance process prior to commencing employment.

World Vision International also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (https://misconduct-disclosure-scheme.org/). In line with this Scheme, we will request information from applicants’ previous employers, as part of the reference checking process, regarding any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, as well as any such incidents under investigation at the time of separation.

By applying for this role, applicants confirm their understanding of and consent to these recruitment procedures.

WOMEN ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

Applicant Types Accepted:

Local Applicants Only