Announcements

Helen Keller
Job Announcement –Internal / External (Re-advertisement)
Programme Coordinator (Food Systems)
Job Type: Full time
Location: Freetown, Sierra Leone
Start Date: 1 October 2023
End Date: 30th September 2024; Annual contract (renewable)
Reports to: Program Director
Open to Expatriates: No
Grade: J
Helen Keller International is a global health organization dedicated to eliminating preventable vision loss, malnutrition, and diseases of poverty. Helen Keller Intl partners with communities that are striving to overcome longstanding cycles of poverty and is devoted to scaling up evidence-based, cost-effective solutions to improve care practices and ensure that basic health and food and nutrition security interventions reach vulnerable people, with a focus on women, youth, and children.
Helen Keller Intl has been operating in Sierra Leone for nearly 20 years in support of the Nutrition and Neglected Tropical Disease (NTDs) components of the National Health Development Plan of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, as well as food security component of the ministry of Agriculture.
Food security and nutrition is a core focus for Helen Keller. Today over 10% of the global population go to bed hungry and over 45% of deaths of children under 5 is attributable to malnutrition. The Program Coordinator (Food Systems and nutrition) will help translate Helen Keller’s new strategic plan’s component related to this focus area into programmatic design and activities. The Coordinator will lead identifying funding opportunities in the sector, carry out analysis, lead and coordinate research as well as liaising with various external partners.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead strategic planning and design of food systems initiatives of Helen Keller Intl’ Sierra Leone
- Ensure compliance of programs/activities in terms of achieving commitment to the donors
- Oversee all aspects of program implementation – technical, financial and operational in collaboration with other key members of the team and the country office, as needed
- Lead the quality assurance of all program activities
- Plan, conduct and implement associated surveys and/or assessments with support from the M&E lead in the Country Office
- Lead/support proposal development, as needed
- Ensure production of timely and high quality workplans and narrative and financial reports of the food systems programs
- Monitor expenditure to ensure accountability including leading/co-leading routine budget versus actual meetings/analysis
- Track program progress using mutually agreed indicators and targets and by organising regular update meetings
- Participate in and contribute to all relevant meetings, platforms, workshops in the country and represent Helen Keller at these platforms
- Establish and maintain good relationship with Government counterparts key amongst these being the Ministry of Agriculture
- Manage staff for the food systems team/programs, as needed
- Draft, revise and review research papers/abstracts and submit for international presentations
- Carry out additional tasks, as delegated by the Program Director and/or Country Director.
Qualification and experience
- A master’s degree in a relevant field – agriculture, nutrition, related social sciences, etc.
- At least 5 years’ of proven in managing/implementing agriculture and nutrition programs in an international organization
- Must possess highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiating and coaching
- Willingness to travel to the field frequently
- Must be able to work in a dynamic and complex environment
- Ability to carry out responsibilities independently with minimal guidance
- Must be able and willing to work in a diverse office in terms of language, culture, etc. Proven experience in research, analysis and publication an added advantage
- Excellent written and verbal English language skills
To apply, please send your CV and cover letter to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; or hand-deliver to: Helen Keller Int Office at 16H James Macarthy Drive, off Spur Road, Wilberforce, Freetown.
Please mark your application as per the references stated in the position above (referencing the SUBJECT heading)
Closing date for the receipt of applications for the above vacancies is 17:00hrs on Wednesday 9th August 2023
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
“Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply”