Nutrition and Health – Deputy Head of Department

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Nutrition and Health – Deputy Head of Department 

VACANCY REF: ACFDHDNNH

DATE OF VACANCY: 16/10/2026

Action Against Hunger | Action Contre la Faim (ACF) Nepal is an international humanitarian organisation committed to ending child hunger. Recognised as a leader in the fight against malnutrition, ACF saves the lives of malnourished children while providing communities with access to safe water and sustainable solutions to hunger. With more than 40 years of expertise in emergency situations of conflict, natural disaster and chronic food insecurity, ACF runs life-saving programmes in over 45 countries benefitting seven million people each year. With head offices in France, the United Kingdom, Spain, the United States and Canada, our international network shares its combined resources, breadth of experience and technical expertise in pursuit of a world without hunger. Every year, our 7,500+ field workers help over 21 million people in over 45 countries worldwide. As a non-governmental, non-profit, non-religious organisation, we are committed to principled humanitarian action as outlined in our International Charter of Principles: independence, neutrality, non-discrimination, free and direct access to affected populations, professionalism and transparency.

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract

Duration: till 30 November 2027 (with possibility of extension)

Base: Kathmandu

Expected starting date: 1st December 2026 

Number of positions: 1

MAIN RESPONSIBITIES:

Deputy Head of Department (Nutrition and Health) is responsible for:

Key responsibility 1: Represent ACF Nepal in relevant government-led health and nutrition coordination mechanisms, technical forums and humanitarian platforms to strengthen institutional relationships, contribute technical expertise, support policy dialogue and promote effective coordination of health and nutrition interventions.

• Represent ACF Nepal, as delegated by the HoD, in relevant coordination forums convened by the Ministry of Health and Food Safety (MoHFS), the Department of Health Services and other relevant government institutions at federal, provincial and local levels.
• Engage with the National Planning Commission (NPC) and relevant multisectoral nutrition governance mechanisms to support implementation of the Multi-Sector Nutrition Plan, including nutrition-sensitive programming, evidence sharing and coordination with development partners.
• Participate in the National Nutrition Cluster when activated or convened, contributing to coordinated emergency nutrition response, needs assessments, information sharing and technical discussions.
• Engage with the Health Cluster and the Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC) in emergency preparedness and response, including coordination with humanitarian partners and relevant provincial health emergency operation centres.
• Participate in relevant government-led technical working groups, policy consultations, professional forums and sector meetings on health, nutrition, maternal and child health, nutrition in emergencies and other programme-relevant technical areas, subject to their current mandates and activity.
• Maintain strategic relationships with WHO, UNICEF, WFP, UNFPA, national and international NGOs, academic institutions, development partners and civil society organizations.
• Contribute to technical discussions, policy recommendations, advocacy initiatives and sector learning by sharing ACF programme evidence, assessment findings, operational experience and lessons learned.
• Monitor changes in national policies, technical guidelines, government priorities, coordination arrangements and sector funding opportunities, and advise the HoD on implications for ACF’s positioning and programme development.
• Brief the HoD and relevant programme teams on key coordination outcomes, emerging sector priorities, stakeholder commitments and opportunities for collaboration.

Key responsibility 2: Provide technical and operational oversight of Health and Nutrition programmes to ensure quality implementation, achievement of results and compliance with ACF and donor requirements. 

• Support programme managers and field teams in planning, implementation, monitoring and technical problem solving.
• Review programme performance, work plans, budgets and indicators, and recommend corrective measures.
• Ensure adherence to relevant national guidelines, WHO recommendations and ACF technical standards.
• Conduct field visits and programme reviews to assess service quality and implementation progress.
• Promote integration of relevant health and nutrition interventions with WASH, food security, protection and other sectors, according to programme needs.
• Supervise the activities linked to development of Training Manuals, local level Operational Protocol, Job aids related to Prevention and Management of Wasting. 
• Ensure effective communication and information sharing within the ACF team (including HQ) by following the current communication plan.

Key responsibility 3: Support the HoD in developing and managing a high-quality Health and Nutrition portfolio through evidence-based programme design, proposal development, donor engagement and timely, accurate reporting.

• Contribute to the development and periodic review of departmental strategies, annual operational plans and programme priorities.
• Identify funding opportunities and support the preparation of concept notes, proposals, technical narratives, budgets, logical frameworks and implementation plans.
• Coordinate with programme, finance, MEAL, logistics and partnership teams to ensure technical quality, operational feasibility and consistency across proposal documents.
• Support timely donor reporting, including analysis of programme achievements, indicators, expenditure, implementation challenges and corrective actions.
• Review progress against donor commitments and support project modifications, budget revisions and follow-up actions.
• Contribute to donor meetings, programme presentations, field visits and funding discussions, as delegated by the HoD.

Key responsibility 4: Strengthening Capacity and Ensuring Effective Coordination with Implementing Partners and Consortium Members

• Provide technical guidance and capacity-strengthening support to partners to ensure adherence to programme standards, service quality requirements, monitoring frameworks, reporting obligations, and donor compliance.
• Conduct joint monitoring visits, technical reviews, and supportive supervision, ensuring timely follow-up of agreed actions and addressing implementation gaps.
• Foster effective coordination and collaboration among partners, ACF programme teams, government counterparts, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Identify partnership risks, capacity gaps, and performance challenges, and recommend appropriate mitigation measures while escalating significant issues to the HoD as required.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing, learning, and best practices among consortium members to enhance programme quality and impact.

Key responsibility 5: Proactively support ACFs commitments to gender equality, child protection and disability sensitivity

• Acquire an in-depth understanding of ACFs Gender Minimum Standards & Child Protection Policies
• Proactively ensure the mainstreaming of  ACF gender equity principles in all policies and activities;
• Strive to implement all work-related activities with a gender, disability and child protection lens, taking into account the different needs, concerns and ideas of our staff and beneficiaries;
• Encourage the participation of all genders in meeting and on committees;
• Help build an inclusive office environment where people do not feel disadvantaged or judged according to their gender or limited due to manageable disability.

Key responsibility 6: Comply with this Safeguarding Policy and the relevant annexed policies, which fall under its scope.

• Participate in mandatory Safeguarding trainings during induction processes and on an annual basis thereafter.
• Contribute to creating and maintaining an environment that prevents Safeguarding violations and promotes the implementation of the Safeguarding Policy.
• Report any concerns or suspicions regarding safeguarding violations by an Action Against Hunger staff member or Associated Personnel according to the appropriate channels and in line with established procedures.
• Conduct themselves according to the highest standards of humanitarian professionalism, ensuring that Action Against Hunger programs and operations facilitate an environment where our program participants and communities feel safe, respected and supported. 
• When relevant, and based on specific scope of work, undertake or contribute to risk assessments to identify areas of risks and document steps that are being taken to remove or reduce these risks.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIRED SKILLS:

• Master’s degree in Public Health or Public Health Nutrition or equivalent with at least 5 years work experience in nutrition and public health of which 3 years should be in management role 
• Demonstrated experience in the design, implementation, and management of Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) programmes / Sexual reproductive health/ Multisector nutrition program.
• Proven experience working with national and local partners, government institutions, and community-based structures.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, establish, and scale up new programme initiatives.
• Strong coordination, networking, and partnership-building skills with government authorities, the Ministry of Health and Population, nutrition clusters, nutrition-sensitive sectors, and development partners.
• xcellent communication, representation, and advocacy skills, with the ability to engage effectively with senior government officials and external stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to assess complex situations and develop appropriate programmatic responses, particularly in emergency settings.
• Demonstrated experience in facilitating and delivering high-quality trainings, workshops, and capacity-strengthening activities.
• Sound understanding of Gender, Age Diversity, Disability Inclusion, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) principles and their practical application in programmes.
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively within Nepal, including to remote and hard-to-reach locations.
• Excellent written and spoken English and Nepali.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and internet-based communication tools.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.

Applications:

Interested Nepali applicants with suitable skills are requested to submit a motivation letter, updated CV, Salary expectation with three referees through email: recruitment@np-actionagainsthunger.org by 31 October 2026 by 5 pm Nepal time.

The Vacancy Reference (ACFDHDNNH) must be mentioned in the subject of the email otherwise the application may be disqualified.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further process. ACF reserves the right to reject any or all applications. Telephonic inquiries will not be entertained.

Action Against Hunger | Action Contre la Faim (ACF) is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women, people with disabilities and members from disadvantaged /underrepresented ethnic groups.