Nutrition Assistant Vacancy-Job Ref: WJHTMC/0906/202529

Nutrition Assistant Vacancy-Job Ref: WJHTMC/0906/202529

Miragoane (Haiti)

Present in Haiti since 2010 in response to the earthquake through emergency intervention programs, Mercy Corps has been transitioning since 2011 to sustainable development approaches such as violence reduction, financial inclusion, agriculture, natural resource management, and risk and disaster reduction/preparedness. With the support of UNICEF, Mercy Corps is implementing an emergency nutrition program called “Integrated Program to Combat Malnutrition and Strengthen Nutritional Resilience in Haiti.”

The “Integrated Program to Combat Malnutrition and Strengthen Nutritional Resilience in Haiti” funded by UNICEF through BHA/USAID funds is taking place in a context of acute humanitarian crisis. Implemented by Mercy Corps Haiti, this program aims to provide support to the health directorates of the Southeast and Northeast to help them reduce the prevalence of malnutrition across the municipalities of Jacmel and Belle-Anse (Southeast), and Ouanaminthe (Northeast).

This program offers a package of community services including awareness raising for pregnant and breastfeeding women (FEFA) on infant and young child feeding (ANJE-U), vitamin A, iron and folic acid (FAF) supplementation as well as the distribution of micronutrients (MNP) and the strengthening of deworming campaigns, with the intention of providing immediate and close nutritional support to reduce deficiencies in children and women. As part of this program, Mercy Corps is recruiting eleven (11) Nutrition Assistants to ensure the implementation and monitoring of the aforementioned activities in the field.

The Nutrition Assistant plays a key role in implementing malnutrition prevention and management activities within communities. He/she monitors nutritional screening of children aged 6 to 59 months and pregnant/breastfeeding women, facilitates the referral of malnourished cases , and supports the distribution of nutritional inputs (vitamin A, micronutrients, FAF). He/she leads awareness sessions on infant and young child feeding (IYCF) and supports the training of multi-skilled community health workers to strengthen access to nutritional services. His/her role also includes rigorous monitoring of activities and documentation of results , thus contributing to the continuous improvement of nutritional interventions in the communal sections where the project will intervene.

Essential Responsibilities :

A. Mercy Corps Strategy and Vision

Support his supervisor ( Nutrition Officer ) in maintaining good relations and partnerships with all stakeholders in the State through health institutions, and in civil society in the context of nutrition activities;
Collect problems encountered in the field and propose operational solutions for improving nutritional interventions.
B. Nutrition Program Management

Ensure the proper execution of nutrition activities in his/her assigned area;
Ensure that nutrition promotion activities are carried out in communities in collaboration with health facilities, local authorities and beneficiaries;
Organize, in collaboration with health institutions and leading mothers, mass awareness campaigns during national and international days related to nutrition;
Organize monthly follow-up meetings with mother leaders to strengthen their commitment to promoting nutrition.
C. Technical Support and Program Quality

Provide technical support for screening and community care activities for malnourished children;
Ensure, in collaboration with the mobile clinic teams of health facilities, the monitoring of cases of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) with complications;
Ensure that all malnourished children screened are treated according to their nutritional status;
Carry out, in collaboration with the leading mothers, cooking demonstrations with local products to encourage the adoption of good eating practices;
Ensure that all data related to nutritional awareness and community screening are properly recorded and kept secure.
D. Team Management

Support the supervision of Multi-Purpose Community Health Workers (ASCP) and leading mothers in carrying out their awareness-raising and screening activities;
Identify, in collaboration with health structures and community leaders, women who can play the role of mother leaders;
Ensure the strengthening of the skills of leading mothers in communication and awareness-raising on Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF);
Ensure the availability of the necessary working tools for mother leaders to ensure effective implementation of community activities.
E. Safety and Security

Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies defined by Mercy Corps;

Any other task assigned by his/her supervisor within the framework of the program.
Supervisory Responsibility: None.

Reports Directly to: Nutrition Officer.

Works with: Multi-skilled Community Health Workers (ASCP), leading mothers, doctors and nurses from health institutions at the communal section level.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts to ensure accountability, particularly to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively involving communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum qualifications required:

Have a degree in nursing;
At least 2 years of experience in the field of community nutrition with national or international NGOs;
Very good knowledge of infant and young child feeding in emergency situations (ANJE-U);
Experience in training community staff on community nutrition issues (CMAM and IYCF);
Very good knowledge of community screening techniques with MUAC and perfect knowledge of data collection tools (ONA, CommCare) and referencing;
Experience in community mobilization and outreach techniques;
History of good collaboration with state entities (health structures);
Sense of responsibility, honesty, rigor and dynamism;
Ability to work alone or in a team and in unstable security environment conditions;
Excellent verbal and written skills in Creole and French required, as well as multitasking and organizational skills;
Ability to produce quality technical reports;
Preferably be resident in the program implementation areas.
Be of Haitian nationality.
Key Success Factors

Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail;
Strong interpersonal communication skills (able to adapt communication styles to different audiences and situations);
Curiosity and interest in connecting with peer groups and expanding knowledge and expertise on current HR and administrative trends, best practices, lessons learned and new developments;
Able to maintain confidentiality and build trust with colleagues;
Enjoys identifying and solving problems to improve team functioning and ensure a healthy work environment;
Demonstrate negotiation skills.
Continuous Learning

In keeping with our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities we serve, we provide all team members with the opportunity to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that support their personal and/or professional growth and development.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to harness the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive to build a culture of trust and respect, where everyone brings their perspective and authenticity, realizes their potential as individuals and as a team, and collaborates to do their best work.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening, and evolving to become more diverse, equitable, and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Opportunities in Employment

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer and does not tolerate discrimination of any kind. We actively seek diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills to build a stronger collective base and make a lasting global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunity is available to all. We do not discriminate against or tolerate discrimination based on race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status, or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding and Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that everyone we come into contact with in the course of our work—whether they are team members, community members, program participants, or others—is treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles for the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse outlined by the United Nations Secretary-General and the Standing Inter-Agency Committee (SIAC); and we have adhered to the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure System .

By applying for this position, a candidate confirms that they have not previously violated an employer’s policy regarding sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, child protection, or human trafficking.

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