Health & Nutrition Program Officer

Job Summary The Health and Nutrition Officer is responsible for the planning, design, implementation, coordination, monitoring, and technical oversight of health and nutrition programmes to ensure the delivery of high-quality, integrated primary healthcare and nutrition services. The position leads project design and proposal development, including concept notes, needs assessments, budgets, logframes, results frameworks, problem trees, and implementation plans, while ensuring alignment with organizational strategies, Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) policies, and donor requirements. The Health and Nutrition Officer provide technical support and supervision to field teams, strengthens the capacity of healthcare staff, monitors programme performance, ensures compliance with quality standards, and coordinates with government authorities, donors, UN agencies, clusters, and implementing partners. The role also oversees project planning, reporting, budget utilization, and monitoring and evaluation, contributing to improved health and nutrition outcomes for vulnerable communities through effective programme management, evidence-based decision-making, and timely humanitarian response. Key Responsibilities · Lead the design, planning, implementation, and monitoring of health and nutrition projects in accordance with organizational strategies, donor requirements, and Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) guidelines. · Prepare project concept notes, proposals, logical frameworks (logframes), results frameworks, budgets, work plans, needs assessments, mapping, problem trees, and other project design documents. · Provide technical oversight to primary healthcare, maternal, newborn, child health (MNCH), nutrition, and community health interventions. · Develop detailed implementation plans and ensure the timely achievement of project objectives, outputs, and indicators. · Supervise and provide technical support to field teams, including Medical Doctors, Midwives, Nurses, Nutrition Counsellors, Pharmacists, and Community Health Workers. · Conduct regular supportive supervision, monitoring visits, and quality assurance assessments to improve service delivery. · Coordinate with Provincial Public Health Directorates (PPHD), District Health Offices (DHO), MoPH, UN agencies, Health and Nutrition Clusters, and other stakeholders to ensure effective programme implementation. · Monitor project performance against targets and recommend corrective actions where necessary. · Ensure compliance with organizational policies, donor regulations, MoPH standards, and humanitarian principles. · Support recruitment, staff orientation, mentoring, and capacity-building activities for health and nutrition personnel. · Prepare and review high-quality narrative reports, technical reports, donor reports, and programme updates in a timely manner. · Coordinate with MEAL, Finance, HR, Logistics, Procurement, and Supply Chain teams to ensure efficient programme implementation. · Monitor project budgets and expenditures, ensuring cost-effective utilization of resources and compliance with approved budgets. · Oversee forecasting, procurement planning, and the availability of essential medicines, medical supplies, nutrition commodities, and equipment. · Ensure the quality of HMIS/DHIS2 data, verify reports, analyse programme data, and use findings to improve programme performance. · Promote Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), quality improvement initiatives, and adherence to clinical protocols. · Identify programme risks, operational challenges, and implementation gaps, and develop appropriate mitigation measures. · Represent the organization in technical meetings, coordination forums, donor visits, assessments, and cluster meetings. · Support emergency preparedness, rapid assessments, outbreak response, and humanitarian health and nutrition interventions when required. · Ensure safeguarding, accountability to affected populations (AAP), protection mainstreaming, gender equality, and inclusion are integrated into all programme activities. Perform any other duties assigned by the Health and Nutrition Coordinator or Programme Manager that are relevant to the position. Job Requirements Qualifications PERSON SPECIFICATION It is essential that the post holder shows a good understanding and sympathy with Islamic values and principles as well as commitment to Islamic Relief Worldwide vision, mission and Protection as well as PSEA. Essential Knowledge, Skills and Qualifications Holding a MD degree, Public Health from a well reputed university. Successfully passed the National Exit Examination and holds a valid medical practice license, where applicable. Sound knowledge of primary healthcare (PHC), maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH), nutrition, public health principles, and Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) policies and guidelines. Strong communication, presentation, and report-writing skills. Excellent interpersonal, coordination, negotiation, and team-building skills. Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook); familiarity with HMIS/DHIS2 is an asset. Fluency in written and spoken English, Dari, and Pashto. Willingness and ability to travel frequently to field locations, including remote and challenging areas. Minimum of 3–5 years of progressively responsible experience in health and nutrition programme implementation, coordination, and management, preferably with national or international NGOs. Proven experience in designing and developing health and nutrition projects, including concept notes, proposals, logical frameworks (logframes), results frameworks, budgets, needs assessments, mapping, and implementation plans. Demonstrated experience in planning, implementing, monitoring, evaluating, and reporting health and nutrition programmes in accordance with donor and organizational requirements. Experience managing primary healthcare (PHC), maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH), nutrition, and community health interventions. Proven experience in technical supervision, mentoring, and capacity building of multidisciplinary health and nutrition teams. Experience coordinating with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Provincial Public Health Directorates (PPHD), UN agencies, donors, health and nutrition clusters, and other stakeholders. Experience in budget planning, expenditure monitoring, and ensuring cost-effective use of project resources. Experience in health information management, including HMIS/DHIS2 reporting, data quality assurance, analysis, and use of data for programme improvement. Experience in forecasting, procurement planning, and management of essential medicines, medical supplies, and nutrition commodities. Demonstrated ability to prepare high-quality technical reports, donor reports, situation reports, and other project documentation. Experience conducting supportive supervision, quality assurance, field monitoring, and programme performance reviews. Experience in emergency health and nutrition response, rapid needs assessments, and humanitarian programming is an advantage. Strong understanding of humanitarian principles, Sphere Standards, Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), Safeguarding, Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP), and relevant MoPH policies and guidelines. Desirable Key Personal Qualities A master’s degree in public health (MPH) or a related field is a strong advantage. Demonstrates high standards of integrity, honesty, and professionalism. Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate, mentor, and supervise multidisciplinary teams. Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities. Ability to work independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams. Excellent planning, organizational, and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines. Results-oriented, with a commitment to delivering high-quality programme outcomes. Strong stakeholder engagement, coordination, and negotiation skills. Adaptable and resilient, with the ability to perform effectively in challenging, remote, and emergency settings. Demonstrates sound judgment and effective decision-making under pressure. Committed to continuous learning, innovation, and professional development. Respectful of cultural diversity and able to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds. Demonstrates commitment to humanitarian principles, safeguarding, Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP), gender equality, inclusion, and the protection of vulnerable groups. Maintains confidentiality and handles sensitive information with discretion. Proficient in using digital tools and technology for programme management, communication, reporting, and data analysis.