Job Openings at Helen Keller International (HKI)

Established in 1915, Helen Keller International (HKI) works to save the sight and lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged persons. We combat the cause and consequences of blindness and malnutrition by establishing programs based on evidence and research in vision, health and nutrition. Headquartered in New York City, HKI currently conducts programs in 22
countries in Africa (including Nigeria), Asia as well as in the United States. With funds from the Mondelez International Foundation, HKI is implementing a healthy lifestyles project in primary schools in Ikeja, Lagos.

Job Title: Finance / Admin Assistant



Overview:

• The Finance and Admin Assistant will be responsible for coordinating all financial,  administrative and logistics functions related to the healthy lifestyles project in Lagos in accordance with agreed protocols and policies.
• Finance and Accounting
• Prepare sub-office monthly wire transfer requests
• Review activity requests and prepare bank vouchers for payments
• Track budget and cash flow 
• Compile and review retirement receipts 
• Prepare office running budget
• Check matching expenses for compliance with donor regulations.
• Monitor donor budget and prepare all necessary donor reports and submit to Finance Manager for review and approval.
• Prepare month end reporting package

Administrative duties

• Verify time sheet accuracy and submit to main office for compilation. 
• Carry out logistics and procurement activities for sub-office
• Manage vehicle log book – control and filing
• Liaise with vendors/suppliers as required 
• Manage office inventory and project supplies:
• Receive inventory and check against Purchase Request Form;
• Prepare and sign good received notes (GRN);
• Issue inventory/project consumable/materials
• Maintains office supplies inventory log book/card
• Conduct official physical inventory count
• Receive project related correspondence and write official letters to partners as required
• Required competencies
• Demonstrated technical knowledge pertaining to job requirement
• Demonstrated excellent personal integrity and confidentially

Skills/Qualifications

• A B.Sc./HND in Accounting and a professional qualification such as ACA or ACCA
• At least 2 years working experience especially in development work
• Ability to work under pressure with minimal supervision and must possess good interpersonal skills.
• Ability to use computer software such as Microsoft office, internet

 Job Title: Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyle Specialist


Overview:
The job of the Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyles Specialist is to develop and integrate a multi- pronged program of nutrition education, garden-based production of nutrient-rich crops, and active play into the school curricula, teacher trainings, PTA orientations and home activities of primary grade students (6-12 years of age) in seven targeted primary schools in Ikeja, Lagos State with the active involvement of volunteers from Mondelēz.
Essential Functions
Nutrition / Healthy eating:

• Oversee the design of a multi-pronged nutrition education; school gardening and physical education program appropriate for primary school children and that can be integrated into the existing curriculum. This will involve in-depth and/or focus group
• discussions with local health workers, teachers, PTA members and others to explore a variety of key information areas including (i) relevant lifestyle attitudes and practice, (2) ways to activate parental involvement, (iii) ways to integrate healthy eating and food choices, WASH, nutrient-rich food production and active play and physical education into existing school curricula (including development of lesson plans, learning aids, visual reminders, etc). Work with the schools’ nutrition focal point, teachers, school administrators and PTA members as appropriate to develop learning modules, toolkits, lesson plans and a training plan on physical fitness, school gardening, WASH, safe food and water storage,
• and healthy eating.
• Develop and implement an initial training and subsequent refresher training program on the use of lessons plans and learning modules for teachers and PTA members to use in and out of the classroom.
• Train teachers from each participating school to build counseling and problem-solving skills to enable the teachers and parents to identify specific, actionable changes children and their families can make to improve nutrition, food production, and active play. Support teachers on a regular basis and train newly recruited teachers, thus creating a sustainable increase in nutrition knowledge and capacity within the school system. Work with the PTA and school administrators and teachers to develop a strategy to
• promote handwashing at all critical moments and safe food and water storage that is supported by visual reminders to create the habit, construction of simple handwashing station (Tippy Taps) near school latrines and cooking areas.
• Work with Mondelēz volunteers and the nutrition focal points for each school to provide supportive supervision to observe and support teachers as they carry out their
• lesson plans.
• Develop a training program on healthy eating and good hygiene and sanitation practices for private food vendors who provide mid-day meals to students

Promoting active play and healthy lifestyle:

Work with schools to identify opportunities for exercise ensuring a variety of activities that attract both boys and girls and addressing barriers to participation (e.g. physical disabilities). These may include before- and after-school activities, such as sports teams, led by community volunteers (including volunteers from Mondelēz) which the project
can support Work with nutrition focal point, MOH and PTA representatives to develop and integrate key messages related to physical activity and whole-of- community support for healthy ifestyles (guided by World Health Organization’s Commission on Ending Childhood  Obesity documents) into the training package for teachers and PTA representatives
Develop a training strategy and work plan to conduct initial teacher training and subsequent refresher trainings (in years 2 and 3). Teachers will receive an initial training and then refresher trainings in years two and three of the project.
Work with teacher to transform physical activity guidelines into lesson plans to encourage play and physical fitness not only at school but also at home Work with schools to increase inter-house sports activities. Engage Mondelēz staff to support these inter-house events, for example by providing additional coaching to students.
Help to organize football games for parents and teachers (with Mondelēz volunteers), reinforcing the importance of lifelong physical activity for adult health.
Growing fresh foods:

• Identify inputs to be provided by HKI to promote school and home gardens. Develop and oversee a training plan that covers soil preparation and planting techniques; appropriate use of fertilizer with organic matter (compost); water-harvesting techniques; garden maintenance; and processing and conservation of garden produce.
• Given the peri-urban context, teach how to grow plants in small spaces using recycled containers. Organize refresher trainings in years two and three of the project.

Creating awareness:

• Develop a strategy to raise awareness of the importance of good food and nutrition as well as physical fitness. This will include (i) organizing ground-breaking ceremonies for the gardens, (ii) coordinating and scheduling with Mondelez volunteers to support the ongoing gardening activities, for example, by spending one hour a week helping children plant, weed and harvest (iii) promoting the formation of School Gardening and Health Clubs to help maintain gardens, promote nutrition and fitness activities and ongoing student participation, (iv) organizing annual Harvest Fests and fairs where children give tours of the garden to parents, the crops are displayed, cooking demonstrations are conducted and cook-offs and nutrition quizzes are organized. Promote and coordinate engagement of Mondelez volunteers:
• Work and communicate closely with management and employees at the Mondelēz production site and head office in Lagos State to identify key individuals and activities where employees can volunteer their skills, time and interest in the project. Work with management to find incentives and/or ways to recognize the contribution of volunteers to the project.

Skills/Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree in education, public health or a related discipline with a focus on health, nutrition and/or physical education with a minimum of five years’ experience in the field of public health nutrition, nutrition education or physical education.
• A master’s degree will be an added advantage
• Prior experience with curriculum design, lesson plan development and training.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent coordination, organization and problem-solving skills.

 Job Title: Nutrition Program Officer



Overview:

• The Nutrition Program Officer will support the Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyles Specialist to implement the healthy lifestyles program of nutrition education, garden-based production of nutrient-rich crops, and active play in seven targeted primary schools in Ikeja, Lagos State with the active involvement of volunteers from Mondelēz

Essential Functions
Nutrition / Healthy eating:

• Implement a multi-pronged nutrition education; school gardening and physical education program appropriate for primary school children and that can be integrated into the existing curriculum. This will involve in-depth and/or focus group discussions with local health workers, teachers, PTA members and others to explore a variety of key information areas including (i) relevant lifestyle attitudes and practice, (2) ways to activate parental involvement, (iii) ways to integrate healthy eating and food choices, WASH, nutrient-rich food production and active play and physical education into existing school curricula (including development of lesson plans, learning aids, visual reminders, etc.).
• Implement an initial training and subsequent refresher training program on the use of lessons plans and learning modules for teachers and PTA members to use in and out of the classroom.
• Train teachers from each participating school to build counseling and problem-solving skills to enable the teachers and parents to identify specific, actionable changes children and their families can make to improve nutrition, food production, and active play. Support teachers on a regular basis and train newly recruited teachers, thus creating a sustainable increase in nutrition knowledge and capacity within the school system.
• Implement a strategy to promote handwashing at all critical moments and safe food and water storage that is supported by visual reminders to create the habit, construction of simple handwashing station (Tippy Taps) near school latrines and cooking areas.
• Work with Mondelēz volunteers and the nutrition focal points for each school to provide supportive supervision to observe and support teachers as they carry out their lesson plans.
• Implement a training program on healthy eating and good hygiene and sanitation practices for private food vendors who provide mid-day meals to students Promoting active play and healthy lifestyle:
• Work with schools to identify opportunities for exercise ensuring a variety of activities that attract both boys and girls and addressing barriers to participation (e.g. physical disabilities). These may include before- and after-school activities, such as sports teams, led by community volunteers (including from Mondelēz) which the project can support
• Work with nutrition focal point, MOH and PTA representatives to develop and integrate key messages related to physical activity and whole-of- community support for healthy
• lifestyles (guided by World Health Organization’s Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity documents) into the training package for teachers and PTA representatives
• Conduct an initial teachers training and subsequent refresher trainings (in years 2 and 3). Teachers will receive an initial training and then refresher trainings in years two and three.
• Work with teacher to transform physical activity guidelines into lesson plans to encourage play and physical fitness not only at school but also at home
• Work with schools to increase inter-house sports activities. Engage Mondelēz staff to support these inter-house events, for example by providing additional coaching to students.
• Help to organize football games for parents and teachers (with Mondelēz volunteers), reinforcing the importance of lifelong physical activity for adult health.

Growing Fresh Foods:

Identify inputs to be provided by HKI to promote school and home gardens. Develop and oversee a training plan that covers soil preparation and planting techniques; appropriate use of fertilizer with organic matter (compost); water-harvesting
techniques; garden maintenance; and processing and conservation of garden produce. Given the peri-urban context, teach how to grow plants in small spaces using recycled containers. Organize refresher trainings in years two and three.
Engage with Ikeja LGA Agricultural Extension team to promote growing of healthy nutritious foods in schools
Creating awareness

Implement a strategy to raise awareness of the importance of good food and nutrition as well as physical fitness.
Promote engagement of Mondelez Volunteers
Work and communicate closely with management and employees at the Mondelēz production site and head office in Lagos State to identify key individuals and activities where employees can volunteer their skills, time and interest in the project. Work with
management to find incentives and/or ways to recognize the contribution of volunteers to the project.
Skills/Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in education, agriculture, public health or a related discipline with a focus on health, nutrition and/or physical education with a minimum of five years’ experience in some phase of public health nutrition, nutrition education or physical
education
Prior experience with farming and growing foods in small spaces
Excellent written and oral communication skills, Excellent coordination, organization and problem-solving skills

How to Apply 




Interested persons may send comprehensive resume with a cover letter as ONE MS Word document to nigeria.recruitment@hki.org using the position title as the subject of the email.
You will receive an auto response confirming your application. Note that applications will not be accepted after 5pm on Wednesday November 15 th 2017.
Note: There are no relocation allowances available for these positions.