Organization: Nascent Solutions
Country: United States of America
Closing date: 21 Aug 2015
About Nascent Solutions Inc.
Nascent Solutions (Nascent) is a Virginia-based 501(c)(3) non-profit international development organization. Its mission is to enable vulnerable people, especially women and children in rural Africa, to develop skills for self-sufficiency. The organization’s areas of focus are food security and nutrition, health, literacy and skills development, and gender equity. Nascent has field operations in Cameroon, Uganda, and Zambia. Since its founding in 2005, Nascent has implemented over 10 US Government-funded programs in sub-Saharan Africa. The organization is currently starting up its ALIGN project (Advancing Literacy through Good Nutrition), having been awarded under the 2015 USDA McGovern–Dole Food for Education program. ALIGN seeks to boost child literacy, attendance, attentiveness, and nutrition in the Northwest region of Cameroon.
Nascent offers employees a competitive compensation package, including health insurance, paid vacation, 401(k), and a professional development stipend.
About the position
Summary: The Food Security and Nutrition Specialist will be the focal person for FSN programming in the headquarters office of Nascent Solutions. S/he will provide strategic and technical leadership on our current child nutrition project in Cameroon, and seek to expand the FSN portfolio.
Start date: As soon as possible
Location: Alexandria, Virginia
Type of employment: Salaried, full-time, at will employment
Travel: Approximately 10-15% international travel; minimal anticipated domestic travel outside of the Washington, DC area
Reporting relationship: Reports directly to CEO and President
Duties and responsibilities
- Provide leadership, planning, technical support, and management on FSN aspects of ALIGN project.
- Ensure implementation of ALIGN FSN program is in line with the annual workplan and budget.
- Conduct field visits to implement and monitor programs and conduct trainings.
- Help with technical preparation of ALIGN’s semi-annual reports to the donor.
- Support capacity building for FSN staff; assess their training needs and design plans to meet those needs.
- Ensure that FSN-related monitoring and evaluation systems are being utilized as intended, with support from M&E staff; participate in the design of nutrition assessments, anthropometric surveys, and dietary diversity surveys.
- Contribute to grant proposals with FSN themes; seek to develop partnerships with other organizations in order to expand Nascent’s reach.
- Lead ration design and ensure that rations used in programs are well targeted to nutritional needs.
- Work with ALIGN staff to influence school feeding and nutrition policies in Cameroon.
- Stay informed on best practices and trends in developing country FSN.
Key qualifications
- Minimum bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline; Master’s degree preferred.
- 3+ years of experience working in the FSN sector in developing countries, preferably in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Proficiency in nutrition research methods and anthropometry.
- Experience in training adults on nutrition concepts and monitoring.
- Highly self-motivated and autonomous; ability to work with little guidance.
- Ability to thrive in an informal, dynamic culture and be comfortable with ambiguity.
- Experience supervising and mentoring people of various ability levels.
- Knowledge of and network within the US development community, both in the U.S. and in the field.
- Experience in technical grant writing and business development strategy.
- Willingness and ability to undertake a broad range of tasks as is necessary in a small non-profit.
- Willingness to undertake occasional international travel to rural African settings.
- Ability to communicate effectively in cross-cultural situations.
- Superior teamwork ability.
- Experience with a 501(c)(3) non-profit a plus.
- French language ability a plus.
How to apply:
Please submit a CV and cover letter to admin@nascents.org. Put “Food Security and Nutrition Specialist” position in the subject line. CVs without cover letters will not be considered.
Closing date for applications is August 21, but candidates are encouraged to apply early as we are looking to fill the position quickly.
We regret that we cannot sponsor US work visas at this time. As such, applicants should already have authorization to work in the US.
Nascent Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, marital status, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, personal appearance, family responsibilities, or political affiliation.
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