Program Officer, Africa

Goleta, CA, United States

Vitamin Angels Position Description

Position: Program Officer, Africa

Employer: Vitamin Angel Alliance, Inc. (VA)

Division: Programs Division

Location: Flexible. This person can work remotely from anywhere in the continental US or work from our corporate headquarters in Goleta, CA or our office in Chicago, IL, or any combination thereof.

Salary Range: $75,000 - $80,000

About Vitamin Angels

Vitamin Angels (VA) is a 501(c)3 non-profit, global public health organization working to improve nutrition worldwide. VA works directly with local organizations, including governments, to reach nutritionally vulnerable populations - pregnant women, infants, and young children - who are underserved by existing systems. Since 1994, VA has been delivering evidence-based nutrition interventions and providing technical assistance to reach more than 70 million women and children in low-resource settings annually.

Vitamin Angels is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace. We are a dedicated group of individuals who aim to foster a supportive environment where everyone can contribute, thrive, and grow.

Role or Purpose of Position

In close collaboration with our partners, VA's Programs Team works to:

Deliver an evidence-based package of solutions that focuses on the first 2,000 days.

Provide technical assistance to expand and strengthen evidence-based nutrition services provided by our program partners.

Support advocacy efforts to create an enabling environment for optimal nutrition outcomes.

The Program Officer works to develop and implement evidence-based, regionally-appropriate programs sponsored by VA. This position is part of VA's Program Operations Team and will work closely with the Senior Program Officer, Technical Director, and VA's network of program partner organizations in the region. The main purpose of the position is to:

Implement regional programs in a manner consistent with VA's mission, strategic, and operational objectives;

Forecast, plan, and oversee deployment of regional program resources (e.g., budget and commodities) for implementation activities;

Support activities in Priority Countries within the region, including efforts to localize VA's strategy and and model.

Ensure application of appropriate administrative and financial controls and procedures to regional programs

Support initiatives within VA's Marketing and Development Divisions, as requested.

The Program Officer applies expertise in all aspects of program design, management, and implementation while working to promote, exemplify and further the mission*, values and culture of VA.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Implement regional programs in a manner consistent with VA's mission, strategic, and operational objectives Manage program partner relationships (e.g., government, NGOs, and academia working at the local, national, and international level), including identification, vetting, qualification, and ongoing support to increase access to VA-supported interventions for underserved populations.

Support and facilitate coordination between VA's program partner network and relevant government agencies within the region to ensure programs avoid duplication and reach underserved populations.

Work with the Technical Team to ensure learning tools are accessible to program partners and to support monitoring activities.

Apply findings from VA's implementation science activities to VA's ongoing programs to support the continual improvement of the implementation and impact of VA-supported interventions.

Make recommendations to Senior Staff regarding improvements that can be made according to regional implementation experience.

Forecast, plan, and oversee deployment of regional program resources (e.g., budget and commodities) for implementation activities Work closely with the Senior Program Officer, Logistics Team and Priority Country Teams to ensure regional program commodities are forecasted, coordinated, received, warehoused, allocated, and dispatched according to a timeline that satisfies regional/country annual targets and meets the implementation needs of all program partners.

Support regional budget development, implementation, and forecast of expenditures.

Ensure all regional program expenditures are properly approved, within budget, and coordinated with other Programs Teams (Learning Solutions, M&E, Logistics, Implementation Science).

Support activities in Priority Countries within the region, including efforts to localize VA's strategy and model Assist with translating and adapting VA's global strategy to VA Priority Countries to develop localized programs, while still maintaining program fidelity.

Support initiatives led by Priority Country teams that elevate VA's national visibility and credibility, promote coordination with the national government, and are consistent with VA strategic plan priorities.

Facilitate collaboration and coordination of implementation science activities within the country, as needed.

Support the hiring and activation of new Country Program Advisors, consistent with VA operational plan, annual budget, and VA standard operating procedures.

Support Country Program Advisors within the region.

Ensure application of appropriate administrative and financial controls and procedures to regional programs Ensure relevant administrative reports are completed by program partners.

Complete all relevant project administrative documentation in VA's share drive, DropBox, and online database.

Review and process invoices.

Support drafting and review of all Program Management Unit contracts, memorandum of understandings, and other relevant agreements required to execute program activities.

Support initiatives within VA's Marketing and Development Divisions, as requested. Support planning and execution of VA marketing activities.

Support the execution of VA donor trips.

Support other organizational and division initiatives as requested.

Hire, train, and manage the activities of intern support, as needed and approved.

Level of Decision-Making

Within the bounds of VA's mission, values and policies, and sound professional practices, the Program Officer, Africa has the discretion to use independent judgment to make decisions of significant consequence that affect VA clients, partners, and employees.

Organizational Relationships

VA operates under a collaborative, matrix management model. The Program Officer, Africa establishes their own daily work priorities and ensures that all responsibilities are conducted consistent with accepted best practices, sound professional judgment and within an established schedule and budget.

Reports to: Senior Program Officer, Program Operations Team

Supervises: Interns, as needed

Primary working relationships: Senior Program Officer, Other regional Program Officers, Senior Program Manager, Senior Regional Technical Directors, Independent consultants situated in key priority countries, Associate Director, Program Operations, Program Quality Improvement Team, VA program partners, VA technical counterparts, and Vendors

Travel required: Yes

Qualifications and Skills (Required and Preferred)

Required: B.A./B.Sc degree from an accredited university

5+ years of experience in a related role; or 2+ years with a Master's degree in Public Health, International Studies, Global Studies, or a related field from an accredited university

Study abroad experience or work abroad experience preferably in a low- and middle-income country

Demonstrated ability to work cross-culturally and support globally diverse teams

Computer literacy (Microsoft Office suite, Salesforce)

Superior written and oral communications skills

Superior interpersonal skills

Superior organizational skills and attention to detail

Ability to think critically

Ability to manage stress, including but not limited to, stress resulting from local and foreign travel, large crowds, open spaces, shared office space, and daily activities with reasonable accommodations.

Ability to lift, or carry, approximately 20-40 lbs. on a regular basis

Ability to remain seated and/or stationary for extended periods of time, including but not limited to prolonged air travel, and general job assignments performed at a desk.

Must have a valid passport and ability to travel internationally.

Ability to walk or hike in conditions which may include uneven surfaces, inclinations, stairs, extreme weather, long distances, elevation changes or extremes, and/or other conditions associated with foreign travel.

Ability to receive necessary vaccines and medication for travel to certain countries.

Preferred (not required): Master's degree in Public Health, International Studies, or Global Studies (or a related field) from an accredited university

Minimum two years' experience performing program management with an international non-profit organization

Experience working in the region

Fluency in a second language, relevant to the region

Command of financial management and accounting

Command of the essential elements of public health programming

Understanding of the role of nutrition in public health

BENEFITS: Comprehensive benefit package includes Medical, Dental and Vision Care, Life Insurance, 401(k), Paid Time Off, Winter/Summer Recharge Weeks, Holidays, Wellness Program, pregnancy disability, paid parental leave and more.

* Our mission is to help at-risk populations in need - specifically pregnant women, new mothers, and children under five - gain access to life changing vitamins and minerals.