About ZOA

ZOA works with committed and motivated staff in serving millions of people affected by poverty, disaster, injustice and conflicts. Through the efforts of our dedicated staff, we are able to bring Signs of Hope and to support people who suffer due to armed conflict or natural disasters by helping them to rebuild their livelihoods.

We value our employees and offer a wide range of benefits to meet the specific needs of our staff and their families. However, ZOA has a zero tolerance towards violation of safeguarding policies like Child Protection & Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuses.

Because ZOA highly values Integrity, we also expect all colleagues to sign up for and adhere to our Code of Conduct. As part of its recruitment process, ZOA carries out rigorous background and reference checks for all candidates, which will include checking government sanction lists and possibly criminal records. As ZOA also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, all reference checks include a written questionnaire, the “Statement of Conduct”, which will be sent to past employers regarding Misconduct (such as sexual exploitation, abuse or harassment). This Statement of Conduct adopts the definitions used in the Scheme. The provision of references by ZOA will be subject to the Scheme as well.

Purpose

The School Meals Program Officer leads on the school meals component of ZOA’s ‘Integrated Crisis Recovery Response Plan for vulnerable refugees, internally displaced people (IDPs) and host communities in Gambella region, Ethiopia program in Gambella region different woredas, on a day-to-day basis, to ensure optimal delivery of the program, ensuring adherence to all ZOA policies. The role also involves working alongside other NGOs, government and international partners to share best practice and further the interests and reach of the school feeding program.

Typical Responsibilities - Key end Results of the Position:

• Work closely with participating producer communities and agro-enterprises to ensure the procurement and delivery of agreed rations to each school;
• Ensure all food safety standards are met at all times;
• Line manage, support and supervise school meals stock management officer/store keeper as required;
• Build, and maintain, positive working relationships with the regional and woreda of Education bureau, as well as with individual schools;
• Lead and undertake community mobilization, engagement and sensitization in participating communities;
• Provide training on all agreed training modules to individual school staff and Parent Teacher Associations (PTA);
• Represent ZOA Gambella at woreda level meeting and other relevant forums;
• Liaise with the woreda and regional Health bureau to ensure participating schools have access to deworming inputs;
• Ensuring that program information required for Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) colleagues is provided on time;
• Provide monthly narrative and financial reports to the FSL coordinator
• Assist that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is signed with participating school leadership, PTAs and traditional authorities;
• Undertake scoping and make recommendations for school selection;
• Ensure the correct and timely delivery of food to participating schools;
• Ensure that stock management records are correct and up to date at all times;
• Ensure that the respective PTAs provide and oversee a team of volunteers and/or cooks to prepare and serve the school meals;
• Ensure that the school administration is supervising and enforcing safety procedures in the preparation and serving of the school meals;
• Ensure that hygienic food preparation protocols being observed in the storage, preparation and serving of school meals;
• Ensuring that participating students and cooks are practicing hand-washing with soap before handling and consuming the school meals;
• Ensure that an inclusive approach, especially for disabled children to access education being is practiced in each school;
• Ensure that stoves being used correctly;
• Ensure that each participating school establishes and maintains a woodlot established;
• Ensure that each participating school establishes and maintains a school garden;
• Liaise with regional Agriculture and natural resource bureau to obtain inputs, including training for school gardens and woodlots;
• Ensure that each participating school has access to clean water and sanitation, liaising when necessary with relevant ministries.
• Performs other related tasks as required

Dealing with Problems.

The School meal nutrition program officer will support in strengthening the relation ships with all INGOs, and government stalk holders with developing proper program planning for smooth project implementation.

Communications and Working Relationships:

• Should be able to have a medium level of interaction with government officials, beneficiaries and ZOA to facilitate project works in the region.

VALUES:

Accountability:

•  Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving results in line with ZOA core values.
• Honest and reliable

Collaboration:

•  Builds and maintains effective relationships, with own team, colleagues, members, donors and partners.
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength.
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.
• Respect advises and follow instructions given by the line supervisor
• Respect line of hierarchy to the best interest

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
• Willing to take calculated risks.

Integrity:

•  Honest, encourages openness and transparency.
• Always acts in the best interests of ZOA Safeguarding policies (Child Protection, PSEA)

Job Requirements

Educational Qualification

• A university degree in a relevant field. Specifically, nutrition, post-harvest and agriculture

Skills and Experience:

The successful candidate will have at least 4 years’ experience in school meals programs in Ethiopia preferably in Gambella within a non-governmental organization. In addition, the following skills and competencies are required:

• Proven community sensitization and mobilization skills
• Excellent facilitation, communication and interpersonal skills
• Command of both spoken and written English
• Knowledge of the usual computer software applications
• Strong team building skills
• Must have renewed driving license
• Ability to work under pressure and in remote woredas and villages across Gambella

Leadership Attitudes & Behaviors

• Should be able to motivate local staff to accomplish tasks

Physical Environment and Demands:

• The job duties require an employee to work in a hardship areas for extended periods

How to Apply

If you are interested in this position, please apply via ethiojobs.net by sending your CV and a motivation letter indicating your suitability for this position to before the due date

Please provide at least 3 references related to your previous employment listed in your CV or motivation letter. 

Only selected candidates will be contacted and invited to participate in the process of recruitment. It is our aim to inform candidates of their status in the recruitment process within 4 weeks after the vacancy has closed. A written test will be part of the recruitment procedure. Documents that do not match the profile above will not be considered. Internal candidates will have priority, in case of similar results. Also we reserve the right to stop accepting applications before the end date if we find a suitable candidate.