Senior Program Officer – Child Survival

ORGANIZATION AND PROJECT BACKGROUND

Nutrition International Nigeria will support the Nigerian government through the VAS for Boosting Child Survival in Northern Nigeria project. The project will provide financial and technical assistance for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week activities, strengthen state-level delivery and improve access to essential services for mothers and children.

ROLE PURPOSE

The Senior Program Officer will provide technical and programme-management support to national and state governments, particularly in Kebbi and Sokoto, to improve sustainable vitamin A supplementation and other child-survival interventions for children under five. The officer will plan, implement and monitor activities so that vitamin A supplementation is delivered every six months and high coverage is achieved and sustained.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

• Maintain an updated analysis of vitamin A supplementation programmes in Northern Nigeria, particularly Kebbi and Sokoto.
• Develop projects with government, communities and partners to address identified programme gaps and bottlenecks.
• Develop project budgets, agree financial commitments with the Country Director and update Nutrition International’s NICOR system.
• Identify opportunities for Nutrition International’s further engagement in child survival.

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION AND MANAGEMENT

• Lead management of the VAS for Boosting Child Survival in Northern Nigeria project in Sokoto and Kebbi and other assigned child-survival projects.
• Manage LGA Coordinators, oversee their work plans, conduct regular check-ins and provide performance guidance.
• Troubleshoot implementation challenges and recommend corrective actions.
• Coordinate vitamin A supplementation programming with government and community stakeholders.
• Ensure Nutrition International funding is used cost-effectively and programme information is updated in NICOR.
• Participate in team coordination meetings and provide technical guidance and capacity-building support.
• Monitor implementation and results through online reviews and field visits at state and LGA levels.
• Prepare high-quality periodic and annual programme reports.

RESEARCH, EVALUATION AND LEARNING

• Participate in the design of research and evaluation activities.
• Work with researchers and evaluators to ensure studies are feasible and respond to organizational, stakeholder and government needs.
• Facilitate government clearances and authorizations for research and evaluation activities.
• Support dissemination and use of research and programme-evaluation findings.
• Develop knowledge products such as policy briefs, blogs, case studies and summary briefs.

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Build collaborative relationships with Ministries of Health, government agencies, United Nations agencies, NGOs and other stakeholders.
• Participate in national and subnational child-survival forums.
• Share programme learning and remain informed about developments in child-survival interventions.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree, at minimum, in Nutrition or Public Health with an emphasis on nutrition.
• Other relevant disciplines may be considered with substantial relevant experience.
• Training in epidemiology, data analysis and research methodology is desirable.
• A postgraduate certificate in project management is an advantage.
• At least ten years of experience in child-survival, health or nutrition programmes in low- and middle-income countries or low-resource settings.
• At least three years of field experience.
• Significant experience managing grant-funded health and nutrition programmes, particularly in Northern Nigeria.
• Experience with local community actors and sound understanding of health systems and community structures in Northwestern Nigeria.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams.
• Experience working within national or state health systems is an advantage.
• Experience in conflict-affected or hard-to-reach communities is desirable.
• Gender-responsive nutrition or public-health programming experience is an asset.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Programme planning, budgeting, implementation and monitoring.
• Vitamin A supplementation and child-survival programming.
• Team leadership and performance management.
• Government, community and partner coordination.
• Research, evaluation and knowledge translation.
• Strong analytical, reporting and communication skills.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Hausa or another relevant local language is an advantage.

CONTRACT DETAILS

• Employment type: Full-time contract.
• Duty station: Abuja, Nigeria, with programme support and field travel to Kebbi and Sokoto.
• Appointment is conditional upon receipt of project funding.
• Nutrition International may modify, suspend or cancel recruitment if funding is not finalized.
• Salary: Competitive market pay; exact amount not specified.
• Benefits include health benefits, pension, flexible working hours, vacation, learning and development support and health and wellness support.
• Contract duration: Not specified.
• Number of positions: Not specified.

SAFEGUARDING AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Nutrition International is committed to preventing sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse. Interviews and reference checks may include safeguarding matters. Role-specific equality provisions: Not specified.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Applicants must apply through Nutrition International’s official Workable recruitment portal. Required application documents beyond the information requested by the portal: Not specified.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

24 August 2026.