Location: Harare
Closing date:
06 Mar 2015
About Project Healthy Children
Project Healthy Children (PHC) is a small team of passionate professionals dedicated to
combating malnutrition. Known as “hidden hunger,” micronutrient deficiencies are an insidious form of malnutrition that affects over two billion people worldwide, stunting growth and learning, weakening immune systems, and contributing to the deaths of more than a million children per year. PHC believes this is unacceptable, and is committed to being part of the solution.
PHC’s country-led model focuses on applying business principles to develop and implement programs of food fortification, a low-cost intervention that has been proven to dramatically reduce micronutrient deficiencies. Recognizing that the needs of each country are different, PHC’s work has included everything from planning and leading field surveys of food consumption to developing and leading trainings for health officers, helping industries plan plant upgrades, and drafting national policy. In-country staff members have the chance to work shoulder to shoulder with government policymakers, captains of industry, and decision-makers in the development community on a daily basis. With only a single team member in each country, PHC staff structure their own work and priorities; serve as catalysts, spurs, and conveners rather than mere cogs in the administration of a larger organization. More importantly, they have the chance to take full ownership of each program, proactively shape their roles, and have a measurable impact on the health of an entire country.
In support of this entrepreneurial model, PHC’s central office provides both an intensive program of training/career development and a reservoir of technical expertise, models, and templates. All staff members are expected to take part in formal ongoing trainings on nutrition, fortification, and project management topics as well as informally share relevant information (news articles, etc.) on a weekly basis.
PHC was founded in 2000 and began operations in Honduras. Since that time, operations have expanded to Liberia, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Rwanda, Burundi, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Nepal.
Position Overview
The Country Coordinator will be based full time in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, in the Department of Nutrition within the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare (although the Coordinator will be expected to work from home for part of each week as office space is limited in the Department). As technical fortification advisor to the department, the coordinator will work daily with senior government policymakers and leaders within the development community to shape Zimbabwe’s efforts to improve nutrition. The coordinator will act as catalyst and driving force for implementation of a national fortification program, combining passionate advocacy with PHC’s deep technical expertise to win over skeptics, solve problems, and get food fortified.
The coordinator will also support the continued development of the National Food Fortification Task Force, a multi-sectorial guiding body for the program, which includes representatives from government line agencies, civil society, NGOs, and the private sector.
The coordinator will be expected to meet with major industry players and ensure Zimbabwe is coordinated with fortification harmonization efforts in the East and Southern Africa region. The coordinator will report weekly to the Senior Country Coordinator (based in Lilongwe with periodic travel to Harare) and the Chief Operating Officer (based in Boston).
Major Tasks and Activities
Salary and Benefits:Commensurate with experience. PHC offers a competitive salary and conditions of employment.
Project Healthy Children (PHC) is a small team of passionate professionals dedicated to
combating malnutrition. Known as “hidden hunger,” micronutrient deficiencies are an insidious form of malnutrition that affects over two billion people worldwide, stunting growth and learning, weakening immune systems, and contributing to the deaths of more than a million children per year. PHC believes this is unacceptable, and is committed to being part of the solution.
PHC’s country-led model focuses on applying business principles to develop and implement programs of food fortification, a low-cost intervention that has been proven to dramatically reduce micronutrient deficiencies. Recognizing that the needs of each country are different, PHC’s work has included everything from planning and leading field surveys of food consumption to developing and leading trainings for health officers, helping industries plan plant upgrades, and drafting national policy. In-country staff members have the chance to work shoulder to shoulder with government policymakers, captains of industry, and decision-makers in the development community on a daily basis. With only a single team member in each country, PHC staff structure their own work and priorities; serve as catalysts, spurs, and conveners rather than mere cogs in the administration of a larger organization. More importantly, they have the chance to take full ownership of each program, proactively shape their roles, and have a measurable impact on the health of an entire country.
In support of this entrepreneurial model, PHC’s central office provides both an intensive program of training/career development and a reservoir of technical expertise, models, and templates. All staff members are expected to take part in formal ongoing trainings on nutrition, fortification, and project management topics as well as informally share relevant information (news articles, etc.) on a weekly basis.
PHC was founded in 2000 and began operations in Honduras. Since that time, operations have expanded to Liberia, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Rwanda, Burundi, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Nepal.
Position Overview
The Country Coordinator will be based full time in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, in the Department of Nutrition within the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare (although the Coordinator will be expected to work from home for part of each week as office space is limited in the Department). As technical fortification advisor to the department, the coordinator will work daily with senior government policymakers and leaders within the development community to shape Zimbabwe’s efforts to improve nutrition. The coordinator will act as catalyst and driving force for implementation of a national fortification program, combining passionate advocacy with PHC’s deep technical expertise to win over skeptics, solve problems, and get food fortified.
The coordinator will also support the continued development of the National Food Fortification Task Force, a multi-sectorial guiding body for the program, which includes representatives from government line agencies, civil society, NGOs, and the private sector.
The coordinator will be expected to meet with major industry players and ensure Zimbabwe is coordinated with fortification harmonization efforts in the East and Southern Africa region. The coordinator will report weekly to the Senior Country Coordinator (based in Lilongwe with periodic travel to Harare) and the Chief Operating Officer (based in Boston).
Major Tasks and Activities
- Shape the program by assisting government partners in necessary work streams that will ensure adherence to the established annual fortification work plan and budget.
- Build, coordinate and maintain partnerships with multiple stakeholders, including members of the nutrition community, academia, civil society, government, and the private sector.
- Coordinate activities between government institutions and other stakeholders to catalyze progress.
- Provide technical support in the writing of appropriate micronutrient and fortification national policies and plans.
- Support efforts to ensure appropriate government regulations are in place for mandatory fortification in Zimbabwe.
- Institutionalize regular program monitoring and reporting. Provide technical support and guidance in the creation of a national fortification monitoring system.
- Reinforce the capacity of the food industry to embark on fortification by helping analyze equipment and training needs and connecting industry members with specialists in equipment procurement and installation, premix procurement and handling, and food quality assurance systems where needed.
- Support efforts to promote consumption of fortified foods through various national social advocacy efforts.
- Report on all activities and disseminate information on food fortification in Zimbabwe.
- All applicants must be residents of Zimbabwe to be considered for this position.
- Bachelors or higher degree.
- Relevant work experience.
- Proactive with strong entrepreneurial tendencies, including resourcefulness, ability to multitask, and ability to independently structure one’s own work.
- Proven skills in diplomacy and experience building and maintaining relationships.
- Ambition, drive, and tenacity.
- Intense attention to both details and results.
- Proven ability to manage projects and to work under pressure.
- Excellent analytical, problem solving, written and oral communication skills.
- Mastery of Excel, Powerpoint presentations, and Word documents.
- Experience working in Zimbabwe
- Experience in nutrition, food science and technology, public health, or related field
Salary and Benefits:Commensurate with experience. PHC offers a competitive salary and conditions of employment.
How to apply:
To Apply: Please email a letter of interest, resume and names and contact information for three references to: jobs@projecthealthychildren.orgClosing Date:March 6, 2015
Desired Start Date:Beginning of May 2015
