Health Development and Anti Malaria Association (HDAMA) Job Title: Field-Level Nutrition Expert

HDAMA is recruiting a Field-Level Nutrition Expert for its newly funded Ethiopian Humanitarian Fund (EHF) project, which will be implemented in Ambassel Woreda, South Wollo Zone.

Position Summary

The Field-Level Nutrition Expert will lead the planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of nutrition interventions in Ambassel Woreda. The expert will support the EHF Project Coordinator and work closely with WASH and multipurpose cash assistance teams, Woreda offices, health facilities, community structures, and implementing partners.

The position focuses on strengthening community- and facility-based nutrition services, ensuring the availability and appropriate use of nutrition supplies, and improving the identification, referral, and treatment of children with severe and moderate acute malnutrition (SAM and MAM). The role also supports nutrition services for pregnant and lactating women (PLW) and children under five.

Key Responsibilities

1. Nutrition Planning and Coordination

Coordinate nutrition activities in line with EHF priorities, approved work plans, national guidelines, and CMAM/IMAM protocols.

Work with the Project Coordinator, WASH and cash assistance teams, Woreda health offices, health facilities, and community representatives to integrate nutrition interventions into the emergency response.

Participate in Woreda-level coordination meetings and report on service coverage, nutrition needs, commodity availability, and implementation challenges.

Support facility and community teams in developing activity plans, referral pathways, and follow-up arrangements.

2. SAM and MAM Case Management

Provide technical support to health facilities and community teams delivering severe and moderate acute malnutrition services, including outpatient therapeutic programs (OTP) and stabilization centers (SC), where applicable.

Ensure children are screened, assessed, admitted, treated, referred, and followed up according to national CMAM/IMAM protocols.

Strengthen identification of danger signs, referral of complicated cases, and coordination between community screening points, OTP sites, and stabilization centers.

Monitor case-management quality, documentation, defaulter tracing, discharge practices, and referral completion.

Support the provision of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) for children with SAM and ready-to-use supplementary food (RUSF) or CSB++ for eligible children with MAM, in accordance with applicable protocols.

3. Community Screening and Active Case-Finding

Organize regular mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) screening and active case-finding for children under five and other eligible groups.

Support community volunteers to identify and refer children with acute malnutrition and follow up with referred, admitted, or defaulting clients.

Ensure screening supplies and appropriate volunteer support are available.

Promote accurate use of MUAC tapes and recording of screening results, referrals, and follow-up outcomes.

Raise community awareness about malnutrition, available services, referral options, and treatment completion.

4. Nutrition Commodity Management

Coordinate forecasting, procurement, pre-positioning, storage, distribution, and monitoring of nutrition commodities.

Support the availability of:

RUTF for children receiving SAM treatment.

RUSF/CSB++ for eligible children with MAM.

CSB++ and iron-folate supplementation for eligible pregnant and lactating women.

Vitamin A and micronutrient powder (MNP) for children under five.

Monitor stock levels, consumption, expiry dates, storage conditions, and distribution records.

Coordinate last-mile transportation and promptly report supply pipeline gaps or potential stock-outs.

Maintain transparent, accountable, and accurate stock and beneficiary records.

5. Maternal and Child Nutrition

Support the provision of specialized nutritious food, including CSB++, and iron-folate supplementation for eligible pregnant and lactating women.

Support vitamin A and MNP supplementation for children under five.

Provide or facilitate nutrition counselling for caregivers and pregnant and lactating women on appropriate feeding, dietary practices, supplementation, and care-seeking.

Coordinate with health and community teams to identify barriers to nutrition services and facilitate referrals.

6. Training and Capacity Building

Organize and facilitate CMAM/IMAM protocol training for facility- and community-based nutrition staff.

Deliver emergency nutrition preparedness and rapid-response training for partner and Woreda staff.

Assess capacity gaps and provide on-the-job coaching, supportive supervision, and refresher guidance.

Strengthen staff knowledge of screening, admission and discharge criteria, treatment protocols, referrals, documentation, commodity management, and emergency preparedness.

Maintain training records and document participant feedback and follow-up needs.

7. Equipment and Site Readiness

Support the provision and proper use of MUAC tapes, Salter scales, and height boards at supported nutrition sites.

Ensure equipment is available, functional, maintained, and used correctly by trained staff.

Identify gaps in equipment, supplies, staffing, or service-delivery capacity and coordinate timely corrective action.

8. Monitoring, Reporting, and Accountability

Conduct regular monitoring and supportive supervision at nutrition facilities and community screening sites.

Review nutrition data and reports for accuracy, completeness, and timeliness.

Track indicators such as screening coverage, referrals, SAM and MAM admissions, treatment outcomes, commodity availability, and supplementation activities.

Prepare timely field updates and contribute to project reports, success stories, best practices, and lessons learned.

Protect confidential information and promote respectful, inclusive, and accountable service delivery.

Gather community feedback, help address complaints and access barriers, and adapt activities based on monitoring findings.

9. Emergency Preparedness and Response

Strengthen nutrition preparedness and rapid-response capacity among Woreda and partner staff.

Monitor emerging nutrition risks, service disruptions, commodity shortages, and access constraints.

Contribute to rapid assessments and response planning when nutrition needs increase.

Coordinate with other project teams to support integrated assistance for vulnerable households while maintaining appropriate technical standards.

Expected Outputs

Nutrition services delivered according to project plans and applicable protocols.

Eligible children and pregnant and lactating women identified, referred, and supported.

Nutrition commodities available at supported sites through effective pre-positioning and last-mile delivery.

Facility and community staff trained, coached, and supported through supervision.

Functional equipment and adequate supplies available at supported nutrition sites.

Accurate and timely records of screening, treatment, supplementation, distribution, and monitoring activities.

Job Requirements

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition, Public Health, Nursing, or a related field.

A master’s degree in Nutrition or Public Health is an advantage.

Work Experience

At least 3–5 years of relevant experience implementing emergency nutrition or community-based nutrition programs, preferably in humanitarian settings.

Technical Expertise

Demonstrated knowledge of CMAM/IMAM, SAM and MAM case management, OTP and stabilization center services, MUAC screening, referral systems, and maternal, infant, and young child nutrition.

Experience managing nutrition commodities, including forecasting, storage, distribution, and stock tracking for RUTF, RUSF, CSB++, MNP, and related supplies.

Ability to provide technical training, coach staff, and conduct supportive supervision.

Experience collecting, reviewing, and reporting nutrition program data and tracking indicators.

Knowledge of nutrition emergency preparedness, rapid assessments, and response planning.

Skills and Competencies

Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and relevant local languages.

Excellent organizational, problem-solving, and coordination skills.

Teamwork, accountability, attention to detail, and cultural sensitivity.

Ability to work under pressure in humanitarian field settings.

Willingness to travel regularly to project sites in Ambassel Woreda.

Commitment to organizational safeguarding, protection, and code-of-conduct standards.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified applicants should submit their CV and cover letter by email.

Email:recruitment@hdama.org

Email subject: Field-Level Nutrition Expert

Applicants must clearly indicate the position they are applying for in the email subject line.

Application deadline: November 3, 2026

The announcement states that registration is open for five working days from the date of announcement. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications before the deadline.

Duty Station: Wuchalie Town, Ambassel Woreda, South Wollo Zone, Ethiopia.