About Us

Regional Nutrition Coordinator - Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Scope of the Position:
In the Asia Pacific Region, although the pattern of disease prevalence is changing to include more chronic diseases in many countries, much of the child mortality is still due to under-nutrition and infectious disease. Under-nutrition and micronutrient malnutrition remain serious public health problems in most countries. In addition the current global food crisis is having a serious adverse impact on the health and nutrition of poor families throughout the region. High food prices are causing some of the poorest families to spend as much as 90% of their household income to meet their basic food needs. In addition to increasing the number of people who are chronically hungry, higher staple food prices will likely result in lower intake of vitamin and minerals among young children and pregnant and lactating women as families have less to spend on quality micronutrient-rich foods.

Over the past 30 years, HKI has established itself as a leader in control of micronutrient malnutrition in the region, particularly vitamin A deficiency. More recently HKI has implemented large scale programs in emergency situations including the delivery of sprinkles, zinc and other fortified products. HKI has also pioneered a model homestead food production system that has been scaled up in a number of countries in the region. Additional nutrition interventions in the region include nutritional surveillance, school health as well as nutrition for people living with HIV/AIDS. Globally the agency is moving towards integrating its nutrition and nutrition-related interventions within an Essential Nutrition Actions (ENA) programming framework, a package of nutrition support that encompasses infant and young child feeding, the control of micronutrient deficiencies, as well as support to women’s nutrition.

The HKI Regional Office for Asia Pacific (APRO) is located in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. HKI-APRO is supporting 9 countries in the region namely, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines and Vietnam; and is collaborating with partner organizations in the region. Some of these countries are expanding their programmatic portfolio and funding base, others are in need of critical support to redesign their future programmatic direction.

In order to improve support to country programs and enhance HKI’s role in nutrition dialogue in the region, HKI is recruiting a Regional Nutrition Coordinator for Asia Pacific, (preferably) based in Phnom Penh, for an initial 9 month period, with likelihood of extension. This position will work closely with and report to the Vice President-Regional Director for APR. The individual will also work closely with all APRO staff and Country Directors in the region, as well as the Senior VP Programs and other nutrition experts throughout the agency. Working with this team, the individual will help to achieve the agency’s overall program vision in nutrition by providing strategic planning input, technical assistance, and monitoring and evaluation support to ensure quality for HKI Nutrition programs throughout APR and will serve as a catalyst and technical resource to expand Nutrition funding and programming in the region, including identifying and designing operations research activities. The Regional Nutrition Coordinator will work with VP-Regional Director, Senior VP Programs and other nutrition experts in the agency to ensure and improve strategic partnerships, and lead documentation and dissemination of HKI’s experiences in peer-reviewed and non peer-reviewed media.

Key responsibilities include:

Strategic Planning and Vision: In collaboration with APRO and headquarters program staff, provides technical input and direction to the long-, medium-, and short-term planning in countries and for overall Nutrition programs in APR, in accordance with the overall agency strategic plan and program strategy.
Technical Oversight: Provides technical leadership in Nutrition and technical oversight of HKI’s Nutrition related grants being implemented throughout APRO. This includes inputs into program planning, and the development and implementation of appropriate monitoring and evaluation tools that conform to international guidelines. Supports Country Directors to assure the accurate and timely reporting of program results.
Regional Vitamin A Program Management: Ensures all aspects of VAS program planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation are in line with grant requirements and meet high quality standards. Takes lead on consolidating country reporting into regional reports to donors and for internal audiences.
Program Development: Assists country offices and APRO to collect data and evaluate and analyze programs in order to develop innovative, evidence-based strategies that address the real problem. Assists in the identification, design, development and pursuit of new program initiatives, including operations research activities/projects that are consistent with HKI mission and strategic plan.
Dissemination of information: Maintains and furthers the Agency’s international role in Nutrition by assisting country offices to document and publish/present relevant programmatic findings and lessons learned. Takes the lead to develop articles for peer-reviewed journals. Shares information across countries and expands lessons learned to other countries where HKI has programs. Assists countries and the regional office to translate recent nutrition findings into appropriate applications for HKI programs.
Representation: Coordinates closely with the VP-Regional Director, Senior VP Programs and other nutrition experts in the agency to ensure that HKI is represented at key international and regional fora with donors, governments and other agencies. Serves as HKI’s main representative at Nutrition related coalitions in the region. Establishes and maintains a network of international and regional institutions, country government officials, international and local donors, international and local NGOs, universities and other resource institutions and other colleagues that support HKI’s Nutrition programs.

Qualifications:

Doctoral Degree in Nutrition or equivalent. At least 5 years of related experience, including strong quantitative analytic skills, and development and management of Nutrition programs.
Strong technical knowledge of Nutrition programs in the developing world, particularly APR including demonstrated ability to track and disseminate new developments in the field.
Demonstrated track record in undertaking and supporting data collection, analysis and report and article writing, including publication in peer-reviewed journals.
Experience with behavior change communication related to nutrition, particularly infant and young child feeding, very advantageous
Demonstrated knowledge of the application of information technologies to HKI program areas.
Knowledge of various software to be able to undertake data analysis, prepare presentations and other work documents.
Ability to interact with community of practice in Nutrition across the agency.
Background and experience with fund raising, concept paper development and proposal writing.
Excellent communication and language skills: Strong interpersonal skills in dealing with external contacts, as well as internal colleagues. Excellent oral and written English. Ability to read, analyze and interpret the most complex documents, and to write speeches and articles using original or innovative techniques or style. Ability to make effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on controversial or complex topics to top management and public groups.
Ability to undertake extensive field travel (at least 40%).

Expected Start Date:
It is expected that the individual hired to fill this position will begin in mid-January 2009, with an initial 9 month contract. Pending available funding and a positive performance review, the contract may be extended.

How to Apply:
Interested candidates should submit: (1) cover letter; (2) current curriculum vitae in English; (3) a very short writing sample (2 pages maximum) in English, via e-mail to Nancy J. Haselow, Regional Office for APR, nhaselow@hki.org, with a copy to Human Resources at hkihr@hki.org. Please note HKI-APR NUTRITION COORDINATOR in the header. All applications should include physical and e-mail addresses as well as contact telephone number(s).

Applications should be submitted by 31 October 2008 at which time we will start reviewing candidates. However, the position will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified. We appreciate the interest of all applicants in working with HKI. Nevertheless, due to the volume of applications we receive, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.