Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition Senior Project Manager, Food Fortification Program Job Vacancy

The
Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is driven by the vision of a
world without malnutrition. GAIN is a Swiss-based foundation that mobilizes
public-private partnerships and provides financial and technical support to
deliver nutritious foods to those people most at risk of malnutrition.

GAIN
is delivering improved nutrition to an estimated 700 million people in more
than 30 countries, half of whom are women and children. Nutrition products are
as varied as fortified cooking oil and flour in Africa, soy sauce in China and
biscuits in India, as well as specialized products for infant and young child
nutrition and interventions to protect the most vulnerable affected by
emergencies or chronic illness.

We
are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job
Title: Senior
Project Manager, Food Fortification Program
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Classification: R5 -Senior Project Manager
Direct Reports: 1-2
Work Travel Required: 50

Overall
Purpose
The
Senior Project Manager Food Fortification will work closely with the GAIN
Nigeria Country Director and the TechnoServe (TNS) Strengthening African Processors
for Food Fortification (SAPFF) team to deliver the enabling environment
component of this project as well at the complementary GAIN-ENABLE project in
Nigeria.

The
overall strategic objective of SAPFF is to increase the coverage of fortified
foods, towards reducing undernutrition, averting deaths, and improving
cognitive development in target populations. The project approach aims to
increase the compliance of food processors to meet national food fortification
standards. The project aims to deliver change working through two key mechanism
or components:

Component
1 – Strengthen the ability of food processors to comply with national food
fortification standards, and
Component
2 – Strengthen the food fortification enabling environment.

Despite
a well-developed private sector presence and strong in-country leadership,
fortification continues to pose a significant challenge for a complex and large
food industry. The scope of work for Nigeria includes robust interventions in
and leadership of the fortification agenda for both components. GAIN is
delivering this project under a sub-grant agreement with TechnoServe and will
deliver the following outcomes:

Engage
critical high-level stakeholders in the enabling environment to address
fortification issues and provide targeted support to improve the capacity
of government and the monitoring/enforcement agency actors
Strengthen
overall governance by strengthening communication channels and
coordination between the different stakeholders in the food fortification
sector
Support
advocacy efforts driven by civil society actors such as industry and trade
associations and consumer protection groups, and
Improve
the capacity of testing laboratories (selected government, research and
private sector)

Key
Tasks and Responsibilities

Strategically
supporting the effective implementation of the overall SAPFF project and
all national fortification programmes (universal salt iodization,
mandatory fortification of wheat flour and semolina, maize flour, edible
oils and sugar) by:

Advising
on changes and improvements required to develop the roles and
responsibilities for the overall governance of the national food
fortification programme
Working
with the key agencies – NAFDAC, SON and CPC at Director General and
senior technical levels to define and implement Joint Frameworks for
investment, capacity building, coordination, enforcement and monitoring
including agreeing MoUs as relevant
Collaborating
with TNS on Component 1 to support the delivery of the Commitments made
by stakeholders (government, industry and development partners) on the
Nigeria Food Processing and Nutrition Leadership Forum; and co-convene
this Forum annually as a mechanism for monitoring progress
Engaging
key new actors in the food fortification enabling environment such as Fed
Min of Industry Trade and Investment (FMITI) and the Nigeria Customs
Service to secure their support for the national fortification programme

Strengthening
coordination and national oversight of food fortification by:

Providing
Technical Assistance (TA) to SON in the implementation of a Quality
Awards Scheme through the adaptation/expansion of existing schemes based
on regulatory monitoring and compliance data
Working
with the CPC to explore and develop partnerships with consumer/advocacy
organizations support public accountability mechanisms and more stringent
consumer protection standards
Exploring
the integration of food fortification awareness into the programmes,
projects and activities of key civil society organisations, academia and
professional bodies
Organizing
a National Food Fortification Summit in order to stimulate debate and
agreements about the optimal structures for national oversight of food
fortification and the continued relevance of the National Fortification
Alliance (NFA), and lead the delivery of the commitments from this Summit
Exploring
the support requirements of industry associations relevant to food
fortification as part of the oversight mechanisms
Promoting
the adoption of FortifyMIS, a web-based platform for storing and managing
fortification data; carrying out stakeholder consultations and securing
technical and executive level buy-in
Supporting
TNS in the implementation of options for industry-led self-monitoring and
regulation in furtherance of commitments made at the Nutrition Leadership
Forum

Strengthening
monitoring and enforcement by:

Supporting
the review of national standards for the fortification of mandatory
vehicles and other emergent food vehicles as required (rice, cassava,
processed foods, etc.); providing technical support for establishing
improved legal frameworks for food fortification.
Supporting
the dissemination of national standards and directives to key
stakeholders and helping to create awareness for better compliance.

Ensuring
that all project activities are completed according to the national
project implementation timeframe.
Preparing
and ensuring timely submission of implementation, progress, and financial
reports.
Delivering
technical assistance and monitoring progress on the field.
Contributing
to the monitoring and evaluation and subsequent dissemination of the
outputs of fortification coverage using Fortification Assessment Coverage
Tool (FACT) surveys.
Acting
as Lead Representative for GAIN at strategic and technical meetings/workshops
pertaining to food fortification.
Other
activities as may be assigned by the GAIN Country Director.
Contributing
to the assessment of the availability and capacity of testing laboratories
in Nigeria with a view to identifying and addressing gaps, especially the
capacity gaps of government and third-party testing laboratories.
Facilitating
technical assistance (TA) to regulators in the oversight of
premix/supplement producers and suppliers, including the certification and
streamlining the supply, procurement, and distribution of premix companies
and suppliers.
Coordinating
communications and coordination between government institutions,
nongovernmental organizations, UN agencies, and private industry,
including organizing meetings and workshops.

Key
Organizational Relationships

Reports
to the Country Director, Nigeria.
Works
with other GAIN Nigeria programmes including SBN, PLAN, CF, Support to the
FMARD, etc.
Liaises
as required with GAIN’s global food fortification team and the QUAD
project management mechanism.
Liaises
with local partners and stakeholders to ensure optimal project
implementation.
Liaises
with consultants and experts who provide technical assistance to the
project.
Liaises
with partners, donors, and other stakeholders to safeguard GAIN’s external
reputation and to support resource mobilization.

Job
Requirements
Experience:

Experience
in providing on-the-job and formal training to various partners as well as
management of workshops and other public events.
Experience
of managing and developing staff
Knowledge
of food fortification and public nutrition programming is preferred.
Extensive
experience in developing and managing projects in nutrition, food
processing, fortification, food science, or related areas.
Experience
and knowledge of best practice in quality assurance and control, food
safety, and regulatory mechanisms.
Experience
in strategy development, advocacy, communications, and documentation of
best practices.
Ability
to advocate, cultivate and negotiate significant senior level partnerships
and relations and operate in high level meetings and similar settings.

Skills
and Attributes:

Excellent
project coordination, management, negotiation, and advocacy skills.
Excellent
analytical and organizational skills.
Ability
to operate within the corporate and public sectors to effectively liaise
with private companies, development agencies, and governments at senior
level.
Excellent
stakeholder management
Takes
initiative, prioritizes, multi-tasks, and works well under pressure to
meet deadlines.
Clear
and systematic thinking that demonstrates good judgment, expert problem
solving, and creativity.
Strong
presentation and communication skills in multi-cultural, multi-lingual
environments.
Ability
to provide direction and support in the formulation and dissemination of
strategy, policy analysis, and recommendations.
Excellent
follow-up skills within a diverse set of concurrent operation, programme,
and business development related functions.
Proven
ability to work effectively in a team environment.