Maternal Newborn and Child Health & Nutrition (MNCHN) Coordinator

JOB TITLE: Maternal Newborn and Child Health & Nutrition (MNCHN) Coordinator

TEAM/PROGRAMME: Programme and Operations

LOCATION: Lumezi

GRADE: NAT 3

POST TYPE: National

Safeguarding:

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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

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BACKGROUND:

Save the Children International (SCI) is the world’s leading independent non-profit organization for children. Our vision is a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development, and participation. SCI’s Mission is to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting changes in their lives. In Zambia, SCI has been implementing programs across Child Rights Governance, Health and Nutrition, Child Protection, Education, Child Poverty and Humanitarian thematic areas since 1983.

With funding from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, SCI and The Hunger Project (THP) in partnership with the Zambian Ministry of Health (MoH) will implement the Optimizing Health and Nutrition in Eastern Zambia (OHNEZ) in Lumezi district. The project will work with the Ministry of Health to strengthen health and food systems and achieve four critical results through the implementation of a package of interventions as follows:

• Sustained improvements in equitable access to and quality of maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health, and nutrition (MNCAHN) services
  
• Increased demand and enhanced social norms for preventative health and nutrition behaviors and use of health services.
  
• Increased capacity of local institutions and organizations to sustainably deliver evidence-based, quality health and nutrition services; and
  
• Increased access to and consumption of diverse foods among vulnerable communities to improve maternal and child dietary diversity.
  
  ROLE PURPOSE:
  
  The MNCHN Coordinator, under the supervision of the Programme Manager, will be primarily responsible for coordinating and ensuring effective implementation of activities to increase access to MNCHN services in the supported health facilities in Lumezi district. S/he will collaborate with other project team members, THP staff and the local health authorities to ensure implementation of the health systems strengthening activities to improve quality and utilization of MNCHN services
  
  SCOPE OF ROLE:
  
  Reports to: Head of Programme Operations – Zambia Country Office
  
  Staff directly reporting to this post: MEAL Officer
  
  KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
  
  Technical Leadership
  
• Oversee the project implementation and provide technical guidance to the project team to ensure quality in the implementation of project activities
  
• Coordinate with DHO to identify, orient and provide ongoing support to the mentorship team that will implement MNCHN mentorship for healthcare providers at the project supported health facilities
  
• Coordinate with the DHO team to operationalize the district mentorship team, plan and implement data-driven MNCHN mentorship activities to the project supported health facilities
  
• Ensure the inclusion of quality improvement (QI) as an integral component in all planned MNCHN capacity strengthening and service delivery improvement interventions
  
• Take the lead in the monthly review of project performance against set project targets and making data-driven programming decisions to ensure the success of the project
  
• Responsible for leading nutrition (IYCF, IMAM, MAMI, and maternal nutrition) capacity development and quality implementation, including the systematic integration of nutrition in MNCH service delivery platforms
  
• Identify and document program successes, best practices, challenges and lessons learnt from project implementation quarterly.Management
  
• Lead the planning and implementation of evidence-based strategies and activity workplans for increased equitable access to quality MNCH services in consultation with Programme Manager and Technical Advisor(s)
  
• Strengthen the capacity of the local actors to plan, implement, and monitor integrated nutrition and MNCH programmes
  
• Lead coordination with consortia partner (THP) for joint planning for complementarity of approaches, reporting, program monitoring and representation with local authorities.
  
• Coordinate with the consortia partner to ensure project visibility during implementation
  
• Ensure quality and timely submission of routine reports in line with project’s reporting requirements.
  
• Prepare presentations for monthly donor and project update meetings, and other relevant technical meetings.
  
• Lead the procurement planning processes for the project, handover and last-mile distribution of project donated items.
  
• With support and guidance from the Country Office, ensure timely procurement and execution of rehabilitation and solar installation works in the selected health facilities
  
  SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)
  
  Accountability:
  
• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
  
• Holds the community structures accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved
  
  Ambition:
  
• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
  
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
  
• Future orientated, thinks strategically
  
  Collaboration:
  
• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters
  
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
  
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to
  
  Creativity:
  
• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
  
• Willing to take disciplined risks
  
  Integrity:
  
• Honest, encourages openness and transparency
  
  QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
  
• Registered Nurse/Registered Midwife with a minimum of five years of experience in successful implementation and management MNCHN programmes in the public or NGO sector.
  
• Demonstrated experience in nutrition programming or integration into health programming
  
• Experience in organizing and ensuring quality of capacity building activities for health providers in Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH). Experience in capacity building for nutrition programs will be an added advantage
  
• Previous experience as a coordinator at district level of a similar multiparter programme,
  
• Training and experience in use of QI approaches to improve health facility performance and quality of service delivery including QI integration into MNCH technical onsite mentorship
  
• Experience in use of health service delivery data for priority setting and programme planning
  
• Previous working relationships within donor funded programs and with key multilateral agencies, and bilateral donors
  
• Demonstrated ability to work within a multi-faceted health development program in collaboration with MOH personnel at provincial, district and health facility levels, and local partners
  
• Ability to work in a complex environment with multiple tasks and tight deadlines
  
• Ability to work independently and as a team leader/member with a diverse team of professionals
  
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (oral, written and presentation)
  
• Excellent computer skills and experience working with Microsoft Office applications
  
• English fluency (verbal and written) required
  
  APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
  
  
  
  QUALIFIED APPLICANTS SHOULD ONLY ATTACH A COVER LETTER AND AN UPDATED CV.
  
  
  
  The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 2nd December 2025. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
  
  
  
  Save the Children reserves the right to re advertise if suitable applicants are not found.
  
  
  
  Save the Children is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer that does not engage in any practices which discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, colour, religion, gender, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status and we will never ask that you pay for anything as part of the selection process or thereafter