JSI Research and Training Institute, Inc. is a leader in improving the health of individuals and communities by providing high-quality technical and managerial assistance to public health programs worldwide. JSI has implemented projects in 104 countries, and currently operates from eight U.S. and 81 international offices for the past 30 years.

Project Description

Strengthening Partnerships, Results, and Innovations in Nutrition Globally (SPRING) is a five-year USAID-funded Cooperative Agreement to strengthen global and country efforts to scale up high-impact nutrition practices and policies and improve maternal and child nutrition outcomes. The project is managed by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc., with partners Helen Keller International, the Manoff Group, Save the Children, and the International Food Policy Research Institute. SPRING provides state-of-the-art technical support and focuses on the prevention of stunting and maternal and child anemia in the first 1,000 days. In Ghana, SPRING will work in northern Ghana with a focus on strengthening the treatment and preventive nutrition services in health facilities, and overseeing the implementation of specific tasks that strengthen community based nutrition improvements.

JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI) has received funding from the United States Agency for International Development to implement the Strengthening Partnerships, Results and Innovations in Nutrition Globally (SPRING) Project to work in northern Ghana. SPRING’s work is designed to support USAID/Ghana and its other partners to accelerate progress towards reaching a measureable reduction in malnutrition in the Feed the Future Zone of Influence, with particular emphasis on the highest burden districts in Northern Region and Upper East Region.

Job Summary

The Social and Behavior Change Communication Advisor is responsible for supporting the design and overseeing the implementation of SPRING’s technical and programmatic approach to nutrition-related social and behavior change communication (SBCC).

•   Job Location: Tamale, Ghana.
•   Reporting Relationship:  The Social and Behavior Change Communication Advisor reports to the Deputy Country Manager based in Tamale, Ghana.

Major Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Technical Leadership in Nutrition SBCC

•   Lead the design of the nutrition-related social and behavior change communication (SBCC) strategy for the SPRING/Ghana program
•   Design and develop the SBCC thematic area through engagement with other development actors and district partners
•   Support the development of research protocols within the program and form partnerships with other actors to maximize research opportunities;
•   Lead the design and/or supervise the implementation of formative research needed in the development and monitoring of the community-based strategies/approaches;
•   In consultation with the Deputy Country Manager, represent SPRING/Ghana in technical coordination meetings and forums within the districts, region and country, as needed Lead the SPRING/Ghana social and behavior change communication (SBCC) team in planning, implementing and monitoring of selected nutrition-related advocacy activities
•   Develop strategic alliances with selected media platforms (community radio and/or other mass media) Develop scopes of work for and supervise graphic artists, community media specialist, and other materials development service providers
•   Work closely with the Strategic Information team to monitor performance against indicators established by the program, to systematically assess and document nutrition-related SBCC activities, best practices, and the SPRING/Ghana community-based nutrition approach
•   Contribute to the development of relationships with government and non-governmental institutions and other USAID projects, particularly those focused on the reduction of stunting through community-based SBCC and other approaches. In consultation with the SPRING/Ghana Deputy Program Manager, the SBCC team, and other technical staff, lead the development of effective messages, counseling tools, interpersonal communication (IPC) training, and other materials needed for the, nutrition-related SBCC strategy and program implementation.

Program Operations Support

•   Monitor SBCC interventions and budget expenditure in line with annual workplans;
•   Provide timely reports, documents and proposals as requested
•   Review and refine documents/outputs produced by consultants and other SPRING/Ghana staff
•   Work with other technical team members to identify opportunities for further strengthening of District Teams and community services
•   Work with the Deputy Country Manager and SPRING’s Technical and Strategic Information teams to design and support the implementation of learning and relevant research agenda for SPRING/Ghana
•   Contribute to the development of other relevant technical resource materials, including guidelines, training manuals, curricula and job aids, as necessary

Human Resources Management

•   Participate in the identification, recruitment and management of members of the SBCC team, consultants for research, design of documents and other relevant tasks, as necessary

Qualification Required & Experience

•   A master’s degree in SBCC, behavioral sciences, and/or public health-related behavior change
•   Academic or work-related exposure to nutrition issues and concepts
•   Excellent management and organizational skills
•   Proven quantitative and/or qualitative research skills preferred
•   At least 8 years of relevant experience
•   Excellent English written and oral communication skills, and the ability to write for a range of audiences and purposes, including superior presentation skills
•   Demonstrated ability to initiate and manage significant technical activities, including designing activities, mobilizing resources, identifying and managing partners, and reporting
•   Strong initiative and self-motivation required, with a commitment to teamwork and effectiveness within a dynamic multi-disciplinary project
•   Ability to effectively work independently outside of conventional office environments.
•   Ability to work effectively in a team consisting of people with different technical backgrounds and with varying levels of technical training
•   Ability to translate technical information into practical guidance and tools and effectively communicate these using print/electronic media, community media, and presentation media
•   Proven track record that demonstrates leadership skills, project management, budget and resource management experience, and client relationship management capability
•   Experience working across multiple sub agreements and partners; ability to work well with people at all levels
•   Demonstrated creativity and ‘high energy’ desirable

Location: Tamale

How To Apply For The Job

JSI is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified individual are welcome to apply. Please send your cover letter and CV to:-

jobs@spring-nutrition.org

Closing Date: 07 November, 2014

•   Please write the title of the job and the job number you are applying to in the subject line.
•   JSI will only contact short-listed applicants.
•   Please no phone calls. Deadline for submission is July 10 2014.