Nutrition Innovation Lab Country Coordinator

Job Description

Background of EmployerThe Jordan Nutrition Innovation Lab (JNIL), managed by Mindset, a Jordanian consulting and social research organization, is presently seeking a Country Coordinator.?The Nutrition Innovation Lab is one of 20 Innovation Labs supported by the USAID Bureau for Resilience and Food Security. The aim of the Nutrition Innovation Lab is to address all forms of malnutrition, through policy-relevant research focused on the intersections between health, nutrition and agriculture. Through support from USAID/Jordan, the Nutrition Innovation Lab in Jordan will conduct research and capacity building activities that supports priorities of the Government of Jordan and the USAID Mission in Jordan.JNIL is a four year activity that will generate evidence on the impact of the USAID-supported Community Health and Nutrition (CHN) program, whose aim is to improve the nutritional status of pregnant and lactating women (PLW) and children under the age of two by achieving measurable improvements in maternal, infant and young child nutrition (MIYCN) and post-partum family planning (PPFP) and build human and institutional academic capacity to support Jordan?s infant and young child feeding (IYCF) research agenda. Two main objectives of JNIL are as follows:Objective 1 is to develop and implement a rigorous research agenda and impact evaluation of the CHN program. There are three specific activities under this objective:?1.1. Develop and implement an in-depth evaluation of the CHNA program.?1.2. Develop and implement rigorous nutrition-focused research, including secondary data analysis of large population-representative datasets.1.3. Actively engage and collaborate with the CHNA program to ensure quality implementation and evidence-based learning of best practice, through process and performance evaluation, cost-effectiveness and program sustainability assessments.Objective 2 is to support Jordan?s maternal, infant and young child nutrition (MIYCN) research agenda and build Jordan?s individual and institutional capacity. The proposed activities under this objective are outlined below:?2.1. Build individual academic capacity2.2. Link academic research with policy2.3. Conduct annual ?research to policy? scientific symposia??Description of the PositionThe Country Coordinator (CC) will be a critical position that will bridge the research, policy, and capacity building components of the project. The CC will be responsible for overseeing the activities under JNIL?s two objectives, its budget and coordinating between all stakeholders for effective uptake and dissemination of the JNIL project outputs. To that end, the CC will be working closely with a research fellow, utilizing Mindset?s resources under the technical guidance of the Nutrition Innovation Lab (NIL) research team at Tufts University. The CC will be responsible for liaising with the different government and non-government stakeholders, managing the implementation of the program, managing grants for in-country fellowships, reporting on the various aspects of the project and managing all administrative and finance aspects.The CC will be required to operate in a One Team management and operations approach, where the Tufts NIL Team and Mindset implement under a single delivery unit committed to this project. The CC will function as the central liaison between Tufts University and Mindset. The CC will be reporting to Mindset?s Managing Director directly.Roles and ResponsibilitiesThe Country Coordinator (CC) is expected to fulfil the following roles and responsibilities:?????????Coordination

• Function as a liaison between the in-country research and capacity building workforce, Mindset units and NIL Tufts research team
• Together with the relevant agency representative(s), foster engagement with government, civil society, bilateral and multilateral partners, academia, and private sector to ensure uptake and dissemination of the outcomes and objectives of the JNIL, mainly: evidence on the impact of the USAID Community Health and Nutrition (CHN) program (objective 1)
• Coordinate with MOH directorates for access to research locations
• Coordinate with CHN program implementers to facilitate the engagement and monitor CHN program progress and updates; regularly share updates on the progress with the JNIL project team
• Ensure the coordination of operational activities for the implementation of the JNIL activities on the ground
• Through regular and consistent engagement with the MOH and diverse partners, enable the implementation of the JNIL capacity building activities (objective 2)

?????????Management and implementation work

• Supervise and manage JNIL activities that will lead to achievement of set forth objectives
• Participate in weekly meetings with the research team and key stakeholders
• Coordinate, translate, lead and report on project activities to the project Principal Investigators and the research team at Tufts and Mindset.
• Manage the different Mindset divisions in the implementation of research activities
• Lead the development of JNIL?s annual work plan and translates into action points; ensure that all activities in the workplan are successfully met.
• Advance, with government and stakeholders, knowledge-sharing, engagement for efficient uptake and dissemination of evidence generated by JNIL and promote collaboration in pursuit of greater system-wide results and impact in MIYCN and PPFP.
• Facilitate the work of the Jordan Research Fellow, who will be a fulltime member of the JNIL supporting its various research activities.
• Represent JNIL at the levels of government, civil society, bilateral and multilateral partners, academia and private sector.

?????????Reporting and writing

• Lead the preparation of weekly, monthly and quarterly reports
• Prepare ad-hoc operational and management reports
• Write statements. Memos, correspondence and press releases related to the project
• Share the completed reports regularly with NIL Tufts and Mindset research team

?????????Capacity building activities

• Plan, facilitate and coordinate capacity building activities with the key in-country stakeholders
• Plan for logistic support, create and source needed consultants/ materials to prepare for the capacity buildings activities

?????????Administrative and finance

• Lead the logistical and administrative organization of for annual scientific symposia, seminars/webinars on topics in the IYCF space
• Support the selection and implementation of the small grants? fellowships
• Support Mindset?s CFO in the preparation of periodical financial reports
• Monitor the costs and spending of the program
• Make necessary purchase requests and share with Mindset and NIL Tufts for approval

Request and report on expected amendments to budget

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