Program Manager-Health and Nutrition

Job Description:

Program Manager-Health and Nutrition

About the Position

• Job Title: Program Manager- Health and Nutrition
• Number of positions: 01
• Reporting: Chief of Party (UP)
• Location: Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) primarily PCI office and working in close coordination with the UPSRLM, ICDS UP and NHM/ Health Department, as required.
• Salary Range: Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• Duration: 2 years
• Qualification required: MBBS with MD PSM, Post Graduate Degree in Dietetics, Nutrition, Community Medicine.

• Experience required:

1. 4 to 5 years or more of relevant experience in providing technical assistance or implementing public health and nutrition programs at the state level.
2. Experience working with a management consulting firm or any international NGO would be an advantage.
3. Experience working with large government programs as an embedded team member in health and nutrition would be an added advantage.
4. Experience and understanding of the health and nutrition landscape and policies of the state (Uttar Pradesh and India) are required.
5. Experience in supply chain management for large health and nutrition-based projects is desirable.
6. Experience in implementing national quality assurance (NQA) standards under the health department, or Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) standards, along with training and capacity building of field staff and government department cadres in these areas, would be an added advantage.

Skill and Competencies:

1. Experience working with the Government or providing technical assistance to the
2. Possess leadership skills and is decisive, action-oriented, and
3. Strong networking and relationship-building skills
4. Ability to work against tight
5. Excellent knowledge of MS Office
6. Fluency in verbal and written English and Hindi
7. Willingness to travel to the field and support

How to apply: Interested candidates can apply for the Position by using the following link:

Application closure date: 8 th Feb 2025

About the Role

The Program Manager Health and Nutrition will work under the overall guidance of the Chief of Party (UP) to achieve the objectives of the initiative. S/he will contribute to the strategic design and implementation of various health and nutrition programs implemented by PCI India in Uttar Pradesh. Specifically, s/he will dedicate substantial time to assignments related to the design and implementation of Take-Home Ration (THR) recipe optimization and development, as well as other initiatives and studies aimed at improving uptake. Additionally, s/he will provide strategic support to streamline the recipe-based THR supply chain, including its distribution. Key Responsibilities:

1. Support in monitoring the distribution of THR across the Anganwadi Centers in alignment with the Demand Indent (DI) issued by ICDS.
2. Provide data-based insights on the THR supply chain including distribution to beneficiaries.
3. Support in ensuring Quality Control and Quality Assurance in all the THR Manufacturing Units. Support in securing HACCP certifications and other relevant certifications.
4. Support in need-based TA to ICDS in rolling out THR/ nutrition supplement through Anganwadi centres in the state. This includes support the dept in design and roll out training and communication strategy in encouraging appropriate use and uptake of nutrition supplements amongst beneficiaries.
5. Coordinate with technical partners like United Nations-World Food Program (UN-WFP), UNICEF, IHAT-Uttar Pradesh Technical Support Unit (UPTSU), ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (NIN)/ Academic Institutes etc. for work pertaining to recipe optimization as per the revised National Food Security Act (NFSA) Guidelines of 2023 and reviewing the progress of the initiative.
6. Regular support in terms of oversight and analytical support around performance of key components of supplementary nutrition program in the state.
7. Undertake field visits to assess and build capacity of SHG Microenterprise members and Anganwadi works on a regular basis.
8. Support in handholding ICDS frontline workers for Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) for counselling the ICDS beneficiaries around promoting consumption of THR products.
9. Support in strategizing the community driven initiatives towards increasing the uptake of THR amongst the ICDS beneficiaries.
10. Support in developing SOPs for Centres of Excellence (CoEs) - Take-Home Ration (THR) Micro-Nutri-enterprises being developed in the state.
11. Will share responsible in documentation and reporting of THR project.
12. Support other health and nutrition related interventions of PCI India in Uttar Pradesh specially around maternal, newborn, child health including immunization and NCD program.
13. Any other task assigned by supervisor

About the Project

All Self-Help Group (SHG) women led production and distribution of Take-Home Ration (THR) Nutri Enterprises

Government of Uttar Pradesh (GoUP) has been taking various proactive policy measures to address malnutrition and unleash the power of women s collectives for rural development. As a part of the same a long-term agreement was signed between Uttar Pradesh State Rural Livelihoods Mission (UPSRLM) and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), GoUP for decentralized production and supply of Take-Home Ration (THR) to Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) by engaging cluster level federations of SHGs.

PCI, a technical partner to UPSRLM for Health and Nutrition through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) supported Prerna Technical Support Programme (PTSP), has been providing technical assistance to UPSRLM in conceptualising the decentralised production and distribution of THR through SHG-operated Food Enterprise.

PCI is keen on ensuring viability and efficiency of these enterprises by developing three Food Processing Enterprises as Centres of Excellence (CoE), which will serve as learning and immersion sites for other units. Further, PCI partnered with Decentralized Renewable Energy partners and is demonstrating the impact of solarization of 3 THR enterprises in the state with the objective of ensuring optimum production of THR enterprises which are solarized.

Neglected Tropical Disease

PCI India leads the social mobilization for the prevention of Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) and Kala-Azar in India. PCI India provides technical support to Government to activate the social mobilization platforms and engage them for effective Mass Drug Administration. The social mobilization approach focuses on leveraging varied existing platforms, layering the existing resources with key action-oriented messages, linking with varied potential channels and platforms and cover all the touchpoints at all the levels from national till the community level

Gavi Zero-Dose Immunization

Despite a significant increase in Routine immunization coverage in Uttar Pradesh, Zero-Dose children reflect that there are specific children and families left out. Those children and families need to be mobilized and ensure complete immunization. Community mobilization plays an important role in identifying zero-dose and missed children, identifying reasons for not vaccinating children, convincing parents and caregivers to immunize their children, and finally ensuring complete immunization of children.

PCI aims to address vaccine avoidance behaviours through targeted community mobilization interventions. These interventions will facilitate effective interaction and dialogue with families to mobilize them for the vaccination of their children across 4240 ASHA areas across 21 districts

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Cervical Cancer

NCDs like Cardiovascular diseases, Cancer, Chronic Respiratory Diseases, Diabetes and other NCDs are estimated to account for 63% of all deaths, thus making them the leading causes of death.

PCI has been focussing on providing technical assistance to Government towards reducing the burden of NCDs. PCI tested creative solutions to address the complex problem of public health which is non-communicable diseases. PCI developed a community-based screening and referral model to improve referral and access to health services, while utilising existing community level platforms to increase health education on NCDs.

What can you expect in PCI

• A warm, inclusive and happy work environment.
• Performance driven reward mechanism.
• Best of class benefits with competitive remunerations.
• Health Insurance coverage for self, spouse & Children.
• Group Terms Life Insurance and Group Accident Insurance for Self.
• All other statutory benefits.
• Regular Recognition of performance and PCI Value display in work
• An empowering organisation structure which values individual s skills, competencies and potential.
• Opportunities to operate in cross functional role.
• Higher responsibilities and larger roles are merit based.
• Young Talent Programs for developing future leaders.
• Leadership roles for women is encouraged and given preference in selection and training.

Recruitment Process

1. Applications will be shortlisted based on the specified criteria mentioned in the Job Description.
2. Shortlisted candidates will appear for a written assignment (if required).
3. Group Discussions may be part of the interview process for certain positions.
4. The process could also include presentation of the assignment.
5. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend one or more rounds of panel interview/s.

The complete process usually takes 2 to 3 weeks. If your application is not shortlisted, you will receive a mail from the People & Culture team. Those moving to the final round of interviews will be hearing from the People & Culture team. We prefer in person meetings but in case of location distances, we are happy to meet you virtually.

After the final round, if you are not selected for the position advertised, we will inform you over a mail. However, we invite you to apply to other open positions. We always look forward to engaging with talent that add value to our endeavours in various capacities.

PCI is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct