Chief Health and Nutrition (Systems Strengthening), P-5, Fixed Term Position, #00137960, Pretoria, South Africa - ESAR

Organizational Context

The Chief Health and Nutrition (System Strengthening) reports to the Deputy Representative, overseeing the management, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the Health & Nutrition programme. This role provides technical leadership and guidance to adapt UNICEF policies and strategies, ensuring programme goals are met and interventions expanded, contributing to child survival, development, and the Sustainable Development Goals within the country programme.

Job Purpose

The purpose of this role is to lead and manage UNICEF's Health and Nutrition programme in South Africa, contributing to the country programme's goal of ensuring vulnerable children, adolescents, and young people realize their rights to survive, thrive, and reach their full capacity by 2030. The Chief provides overall management, technical leadership, and strategic guidance for the development, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of health and nutrition interventions. This includes adapting UNICEF policies and strategies to achieve programme goals, expanding UNICEF-assisted initiatives, and supporting the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals. The role focuses on strengthening health systems and primary healthcare, supporting the Ministry of Health in policy dialogue, system reforms, and integrated service delivery, ultimately making a significant difference in children's health and well-being.

Responsibilities

The Chief Health and Nutrition is responsible for directing, leading, and managing a competent team, fostering their development to achieve the Health & Nutrition programme's strategic goals, while integrating gender equality across all programme aspects. This includes conducting timely and quality sectoral analysis, providing input, support, and coordination for the Situation Analysis and programme documents to formulate effective section goals, strategies, and project plans. The role involves developing and implementing integrated section strategies, methodologies, and innovative approaches based on results-based and human rights frameworks, through broad participation and collaboration. A key responsibility is to contribute to synergistic partnerships with other organizations, including UN Agencies, reinforcing SDG strategic directions where UNICEF has primary responsibility or comparative advantage, particularly in maternal, newborn, and child health and nutrition. The Chief leads UNICEF's support to the Ministry of Health and relevant ministries, focusing on Health System Strengthening and Primary Health Care. This encompasses policy dialogue, system reforms, programme implementation, resource mobilization, innovative financing, emergency preparedness, and the delivery of integrated services at all levels. Furthermore, the role leads on public-private partnerships in health, health sector financial reviews, and national health insurance, collaborating closely with Nutrition and Health clusters in humanitarian action.

Work Experience

Not specified in the provided content.

Skills

Programme Management, Technical Leadership, Strategic Planning & Development, Team Leadership, Health System Strengthening, Policy Dialogue & Advocacy, Resource Mobilization & Innovative Financing, Partnership & Alliance Building, Emergency Preparedness, Monitoring & Evaluation, Gender Mainstreaming, Inter-agency Coordination

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