Technical Advisor I – Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM), Catholic Relief Services – CRS Vacancy Announcement

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding. For nearly 60 years, CRS has taken the lead in responding to natural and man-made disasters affecting Ethiopia’s most vulnerable communities. Moving beyond emergency response, CRS’ disaster mitigation and recovery projects in drought and flood-prone areas have rebuilt individual and community assets through non-food aid in the form of agriculture, livestock, health, nutrition, and water and sanitation assistance. CRS’s humanitarian work in Ethiopia also provides livelihoods support to farmers and entrepreneurs, promotes equality and inclusion, and mitigates the impact of COVID-19.

The Joint Emergency Operation (JEOP) is an emergency food assistance program targeting transitory food insecure households through a vulnerability-based targeting system. JEOP provides emergency assistance to protect their lives and livelihood where recurrent drought affected in significant harvest loss, livestock death and price increase of essentials. The JEOP will expand its nutrition work to include distribution of MAM and SAM nutritional commodities (e.g., Ready to Use Supplementary Foods, Super Cereal Plus, and Ready to Use Therapeutic Foods), SBCC, diagnosis and analysis of acute malnutrition, and prevention of acute malnutrition. The consortium is led by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and includes partners, CARE, Food for the Hungry, Relief Society of Tigray (REST), World Vision and the Organization for Relief and Development in Amhara (ORDA). CRS also works through local implementing partners Hararghe and Meki Catholic Secretariat (HCS and MCS).

Job Title:                     Technical Advisor I – Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM)

Band:                              9

Required number:        One

Department:                JEOP

Employment Term:      Definite term (i.e. up to August 31, 2027)

Reports To:              Program Manager II – Nutrition

Country/Location:       CRS Ethiopia/Addis Ababa

Job Summary:

This position will provide technical leadership and support on the overall implementation of the CMAM interventions in the JEOP emergency nutrition response activities. The position will support the consortium partners to implement CMAM approaches and protocols for all malnourished children and pregnant and lactating women across JEOP operation areas. S/He will provide technical support to partner staff to improve quality case management of children with SAM at stabilization centers (TFU) and OTP and TSFP sites through conducting frequent supportive supervision and monitoring/coaching of health professionals, ensuring availability of nutrition commodities and basic materials and supplies at all levels and, timely requesting of required supplies. S/He will ensure effective systems and processes are in place that support high-quality programming advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work in serving the poor and vulnerable. Your technical skills and knowledge will ensure that the team continuously works towards improving the impact of CMAM interventions within the JEOP’s nutrition programming.

 Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Provide technical support to partner staff to ensure quality CMAM implementation within the project, support the partner and government staff to provide proper and quality care to all beneficiaries, respecting national protocols, sphere standards and principles of good practice, including application of the admission and discharge criteria and treatment protocols adherence.
• Provide technical support and lead rapid health and nutrition assessments to identify malnourished PLW and CU5s.
• Provide technical support to partner staff to improve quality case management of children with SAM at stabilization centers (TFU) and OTP and TSFP sites through frequent supportive supervision and monitoring, coaching of health professionals, ensuring availability of nutrition commodities and basic materials and supplies at health facility level and timely requesting of required supplies.
• Monitor performance of CMAM programs and provide technical support to the partner and government staff to improve referral linkage between OTP, SC, TSFP and IYCF-E.
•  Support CMAM capacity strengthening initiatives at to build local capacity for partner and government staff at Woreda, health facility and community level through trainings, mentorship, and coaching.
•  Support performance/data review meetings/workshops and joint supportive supervision.
• Working closely with the IYCF-E Technical Specialist, ensure continuum of care for CMAM beneficiaries through referrals to IYCF-E services as required.
• Manage the stock levels and ensure adequate availability of all nutrition commodity supplies for each distribution, input into creation and maintenance of a monthly distribution plan and ensure stock is pre-positioned as planned with Program Manager – Nutrition and the supplies/logistics team.
• Work closely with the government structure and other regional, zonal and woreda office-based nutrition team members of Emergency Nutrition, Health and WASH response and related programs to ensure program integration at all levels.
• Support teams to collect, analyze and share data required for monitoring quality of CMAM programs based on SPHERE standards, and share lessons learned and best practices to facilitate improvements in decision-making and contribute to the CMAM learning agenda.
•  Perform other related roles and responsibilities as required.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Health, Nursing, Nutrition or Public Health required.
• Minimum of three years relevant work experience with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, with minimum of two years relevant field-based experience in implementation of CMAM protocols/interventions.
• Knowledge of technical principles and concepts in CMAM. General knowledge of other related disciplines to ensure proper cross-sectoral approach.
• Experience in conducting assessments and an understanding of nutritional data and information systems.
• Knowledge of capacity strengthening best practices.
• Experience with program monitoring and evaluation and analysis.
• Experience and skills in networking and relations with donors, peer organizations, and faith-based and civil society partners. Understanding of partnership principles.
• Proven capacity to supervise, train and coach staff.
• Prepared to live and work in an uncertain security environment.
• Ability and willingness to frequently travel and stay at the field.

Required Languages – Proficiency in spoken and written English and Local language.

Travel – 80% travel to communities and health facility is required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities  

• Knowledge, training, and experience in CMAM and community mobilization/Social Behavior Change (SBC).
• Strong relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings.
• Good strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment.
• Good technical writing skills
• Demonstrated skills in program planning, implementation, and monitoring.
• Demonstrated skills in peer group training, Training of Trainers, and development of training materials.
• Presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
• Proactive, resourceful, and results-oriented

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff)

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• • Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
  • Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.  Is considered honest.
  • Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
  • Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
  • Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

  Agency Leadership Competencies:

  • Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
  • Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
  • Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.