Background

 Vitamin Angels (VA) is a public health non-profit working to improve nutrition and health outcomes in low-resource settings worldwide. We strengthen, extend, and amplify the impact of our partner organizations to reach the most nutritionally vulnerable groups – pregnant women, infants, and children – who are underserved by existing systems. VA uses an implementation science (IS) approach to improve access to proven interventions, optimize implementation outcomes, and promote health equity. VA’s IS approach focuses on: 

• Fostering knowledge exchange, collaboration, and ownership among stakeholders, 
• Understanding contextual factors, barriers, enablers, and potential solutions to delivering and scaling proven nutrition interventions, 
• Designing and testing implementation strategies, 
• Promoting broad utilization of program research findings, and 
• Support efforts to scale new or strengthened implementation strategies. 

VA seeks to continue strengthening its reach and program in Asia. VA is seeking a Program Manager, Asia to support the development and implementation of special initiatives related to the introduction or strengthening of proven nutrition interventions in Asia, using an implementation science approach. The position will be part of VA’s Implementation Science Asia team and will support ongoing projects with our country teams across 6 countries: India, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Cambodia, Nepal, and any other countries in Asia where VA decides to provide technical assistance. 

Key Responsibilities

 The Program Manager, Asia will be responsible for the following:

1. Lead coordination and management: 

 Initiate, strengthen and maintain partnerships with NGOs, government, and other key stakeholders. 

• Provide management support and liaise with VA partners, including research partners and in-country program partners. 
• Maintain strong relationship with regional leadership and VA HQ 
• Carry out necessary country program support. 
• Travel to countries to provide support and monitoring as needed. 

2. Lead the documentation and sharing of IS experiences and learnings across the region, and externally: 

• Coordinate cross-country exchanges of implementation science experiences and learnings. 
• Maintain a database of national and regional forums and related timelines for the dissemination of IS outputs. 

3. Assist with stakeholder engagement: 

• Liaise and coordinate with stakeholders to identify opportunities to introduce and strengthen nutrition interventions and management. 
• Engage in advocacy with key stakeholders, including local and international NGOs, academia, local businesses/philanthropies, and government to support IS activities 
• Provide management support and liaise with VA grantees, including research partners and in-country program partners. 

4. Support Implementation Science (IS) activities in the region, in collaboration with country teams: 

• Support the design and implementation of IS projects across countries in Asia. 
• Develop and manage project workplans. 
• Communicate project updates and facilitate presentations on key milestones. 

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Master’s degree in public health, Nutrition, Community Medicine, or similar discipline. 
• Minimum 6-8 years of experience in implementation science, implementation/operations research, or a related research field. 
• Strong understanding of maternal and child health and nutrition in the Asia region. 
• Demonstrated experience in program/research design, implementation, and evaluation in low- and middle-income countries. 
• Proficiency in data analysis, including both quantitative and qualitative methods. 
• Experience in developing and disseminating project reports and presentations. 
• Track record of contributing to publications in peer reviewed journals. 
• Excellent written and oral communications skills, interpersonal skills, and organizational skills. 
• Previous involvement with donor-funded initiatives. 
• Ability to collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and engage stakeholders effectively. 
• Computer literacy, including experience with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. 
• Willingness to travel internationally during the consultancy. 
• Willingness to work remotely with reliable telephone/internet connectivity. 
• Fluency in English language. 

This position will report to the Senior Technical Regional Advisor- Asia and work closely with:

• Technical Specialist- Nutrition Programs, Asia 
• Associate Director, Implementation Science 
• Senior Program Officer, Asia 
• Senior Technical Officer- Nutrition & Implementation Science 

Application

To apply, interested persons should submit a cover letter; resume, or curriculum vitae to: programs@vitaminangels.org. Resumes will be accepted until May 31, 2024, or until a qualified applicant is identified.