Nutrition Nurse Implementer

MSF is an international, independent medical humanitarian organization. We are a non-profit, self-governed worldwide movement of more than 63,000 people. 

We provide emergency medical assistance during armed conflict, natural disasters, outbreaks of deadly diseases, and assist those who are excluded from healthcare. MSF delivers care based on need, and when we see injustice, we speak out. We are an organization that remains impartial, knowledgeable, and effective, and this is what makes the difference between life and death. 

People are our priority. At Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)/ Artsen zonder Grenzen, we are committed to an inclusive culture that encourages and supports the diverse voices of our employees. We encourage diverse applicants including individuals of all gender identities, ages, sexual orientations, nationalities, races, religions, beliefs, social and marital status, people with different abilities and all other diversity abilities. 

With immediate effect, we are looking for a: 
 

Nutrition Nurse Implementer 

(This is a temporary position for 18 months. We can contract anywhere where MSF has a contracting section and the local contract will apply. The position will be 70% project-based support, 30% remote support)    

Objectives of the position 

• You transfer MSF policies, protocols and guidelines to the country program by providing practical and technical implementation support to the medical and field staff and coordination teams, in line with the specific aims of the OCA strategic plan. 

• You are aware of different circumstances and factors influencing implementation, the importance of aligning the proposed intervention with local culture and entities, and you use these insights to build the medical knowledge needed to facilitate implementation. 

• You ensure the continuous development of knowledge and technical competencies of the (para)medical/field staff by identifying development needs and ensuring effective support following these needs.  

• You collaborate with the Public Health Advisor and specialist in the PHD during the visits to the country of operation.  

• You consolidate and analyse the information from the visits including analysis of available data and coordinate with different stakeholders to develop an action plan. 

• You support the missions’ medical advocacy objectives through the provision of technical expertise. 

• You spend most of your time in the countries of operation. 

The Nutrition Nurse implementers will provide technical and operational leadership to strengthen the quality of nutrition care. This position will work in collaboration with the Medical Coordinator during project visits and in collaboration with Nursing and Nutrition advisors to provide practical support for nursing services in nutrition activities and broader nutrition activities in OCA projects.  

The implementer will work under the defined terms of reference for each field visit and in support of an identified nursing activity manager in each location. In each visit, it is the responsibility of the implementer to build capacity, improve quality, develop, and document proposed actions to ensure continuity. The exact terms of support will vary per project.  

Key responsibilities 
A. Strategic and technical leadership: 

• With the project team and coordination, develop a context-adapted nutrition strategy using the possible nutrition interventions for various target groups (e.g. ITFC, ATFC, TSFP, <6-month feeding, nutrition support for PBWG, blanket feeding, hospital menus, etc….). 

• Collaborate with other specialists to strengthen multidisciplinary nutrition care (vaccination, HPCE, SRHR, neonates, facility management, IPC, paediatricians). 

• Support integration of nutrition in other preventive health interventions (EPI-nutrition, malaria prevention, TB screening, Noma screening, IYCF) within nutrition programs.  

B. Protocol compliance 

• Ensure adherence to MSF international protocol and national nutrition protocols (when existing) across all levels of care:   

• PBWG nutritional support (2025)  

• Inpatients’ nutrition care protocol (2025)  

• Hospital food services management (2021) 

• Inpatient and ambulatory nutrition care (ITFC and ATFC) (2021) 

• Ensure adherence to Nursing SoPs and work with nursing teams to improve the following:  

• Dehydration management (oral and IVIs) 

• Implement the paediatric injectable medication’s handbook.  

• Wound care protocols (Kwashiorkor) 

• Feeding (initiation and catch-up feeding)  

• NGT management (pH strips) and enteral feeding 

• Hypoglycaemia management 

• Hypothermia management 

• Documentation (SPTT vital sign chart, medication chart, nursing notes) 

• sensory stimulation and play 

• preparation for discharge. 

C. Quality of care 

• Implement, monitor and improve nursing (NQIs) and nutrition quality indicators. 

• Patient ID, vital sign monitoring and escalation, pain, PIVC, IV-line labelling, injury, pressure sore acquisition, milk / RUTF intakes in ITFC, length of stay, gain weight, defaulter rate 

• Strengthen nutrition related to IPC to reduce infection risk in inpatient and primary healthcare facilities. 

• Support NAM & MAM to improve communication and collaboration between nursing and medical teams. 

D. Capacity building and mentorship 

• Build capacity of nurses (and staff) working in the nutrition facilities through training.  

• Assist the Learning & Development Manager (LDM) with the roll-out of ToTs for nutrition NTSs.  

• Commence monthly Communities of Practice (CoPs) for knowledge sharing, mentoring, and continuous improvement.  

E. In-person and remote support  

• Conduct in-person support visits to inpatient facilities, ambulatory care, and community sites.  

• Provide ongoing remote support to (nursing) teams via regular online meetings and the monthly CoP. 

Candidate profile: 

• Nursing Degree and post-graduate qualification in paediatrics/global health.  

• Qualification in nutrition is an asset. 

• English & French OR English & another language. 

• 5+ years of experience as a nurse.  

• Minimum 3 years in low-resource health settings working in nutrition programmes.  

• Both paediatric inpatient nursing experience AND primary healthcare experience.  

• Experience providing training within MSF. 

• Broad knowledge of Public Health, nursing, and nutrition. 

• Hold valid nurse registration/license. 

We offer  

An employment contract based on 40 hours per week. It is a one-year contract with a renewal option.  

Compensation package and benefits will depend on the country of domicile and the local labor law.