Technical Advisor - Newborn and Nutrition Care

Job ID

2025-7478

Location

MZ-Maputo

Category

Local

Employment Status

Full-Time

Jhpiego is seeking a technical advisor to provide technical expertise and leadership in the design, implementation and oversight of newborn care, including a focus on feeding/nutritional interventions for newborns and small and sick newborn (SSNB’s).The program activities will focus on establishing and strengthening critical neonatal nutrition interventions throughout the continuum of care –prenatal period, routine essential newborn care, vulnerable hospitalized small and sick newborns and during the postnatal/early newborn period. The preferred candidate should have an understanding of global newborn, including small and sick newborn, guidelines and best practices that can be adapted and contextualized to various settings, especially in relation to nutrition for newborns and the hospitalized small and sick newborn. S/he should have direct clinical experience and expertise in the provision of specialized neonatal and nutrition services, and optimally experience providing breastfeeding/lactation support, including alternate means of breastmilk feeding (cup, gastric tube feeding, etc.). S/he should optimally have experience working with government, UN/INGO partners and professional associations in Mozambique to support the design, implementation and scale-up of neonatal/small and sick newborn services.

• Technical
• Provide technical assistance for the design and implementation of context-appropriate newborn and SSNB nutrition interventions.
• Lead the adaptation and application of global best practices and national guidance for SSNB programming and support development/revision of national SSNB policies, protocols, job aids and tools.
• Oversee planning to implement essential interventions to support feeding of small and sick newborn care at level 2 facilities, including: strengthening staff capacity and the enabling environment to support and interventions aimed at promoting and sustaining breastmilk production for mothers of hospitalized SSNB’s (including Kangaroo Mother Care).
• Support inpatient neonatal wards to establish neonatal ward infant feeding policies, as guided by the neo-BFHI principles for small and sick newborns, as well as disinfection policies to prevent spread of infections.
• Provide strategic and technical guidance for implementing BFHI standards and neonatal nutrition interventions in alignment with global best practices and MOH priorities.
• Support the scale-up of Kangaroo Mother Care and lactation counseling for mothers postpartum, as well as the specialized lactation needs of mothers with hospitalized newborns.
• Strengthen stabilization at birth, neonatal resuscitation and immediate post‑resuscitation care in maternity/newborn corners and newborn units, ensuring seamless linkage with intrapartum services and referral pathways.
• Foster cross‑program integration with maternal health, intrapartum/newborn care, child health, nutrition (including breastfeeding and feeding of small infants), and infection prevention and control.
• Contribute to the strategic planning and execution to expand access to donor human milk from accredited milk banks to ensure optimal feeding for SSNB’s with mother’s own milk is unavailable or insufficient.
• Capacity Building
• Design and deliver training and mentorship programs for health providers on neonatal nutrition, BFHI, Kangaroo Mother Care and SSNB care using WHO-aligned packages.
• Develop and adapt job aids, counseling tools, and training materials for facility-based and community-level providers.
• Oversee the development and/or revision and rollout of competency-based SSNB trainings, mentorship and clinical coaching for nurses, midwives, medical officers, pediatricians
• Collaborate with MEL and Quality Improvement teams to improve and monitor quality of small and sick newborn health services, using routine health information data as feasible.
• Support health facilities in implementing integrated quality improvement (QI) processes and monitoring adherence to BFHI standards.
• Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement
• Represent Jhpiego in strategic engagement with Ministries of Health, professional associations, UN agencies, donors, and implementing partners to align SSNB strategies and resources.
• Collaborate with MOH and technical working groups to review and update policies, guidelines, and SOPs related to neonatal nutrition and donor human milk banking.
• Foster strong relationships with USG and non-USG partners working in small sick newborn care (global, regional and country levels).
• Knowledge Sharing, Learning & Reporting
• Oversee preparation of technical reports, case studies, learning briefs, and presentations of project SSNB health activities and results.
• Lead and contribute to cross-country learning exchanges to capture and disseminate best practices and innovations in small and sick newborn programming

• Clinical degree (e.g., Pediatrician/Neonatologist; Medical Doctor with neonatal experience; Registered Nurse/Midwife with advanced neonatal training and experience).
• 9–10 years of experience in neonatal/SSNB programs, including ≥5 years providing clinical specialized nutrition for newborns in LMIC settings (preferably secondary hospitals/Level 2 neonatal units).
• Demonstrated experience working with government, UN/INGO partners and professional associations (optimally focused on newborn health) in Mozambique
• Up‑to‑date knowledge of global SSNB evidence, nutrition for the SSNB and guidance.
• Strong skills in data use for decision‑making and QI.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and coach technical staff, and model respectful and compassionate communication and care.
• Ability to work independently and with team members and partners at all levels; strong analytical and strategic thinking skills.
• Fluency in written and spoken Portuguese and English
• Ability to travel up to 40% to support country programs.

Neonatal and advanced neonatal sub‑specialty training and certification, optimally as a trainer (e.g., Essential Newborn Care/Helping Babies Breathe, S.T.A.B.L.E., ETAT+, NRP, KMC, infant feeding, IFCDC, etc.).

Experience working with strengthening milk banks.

A Jhpiego oferece salários competitivos e um pacote abrangente de benefícios para os funcionários.

Por favor, candidate-se em www.jobs-jhpiego.icims.com

Os candidatos devem enviar um único documento para upload que inclui: carta de apresentação, currículo, referências e histórico salarial.

Para mais informações sobre a Jhpiego, visite o nosso site em www.jhpiego.org

Nota: O candidato selecionado para esta posição será sujeito a uma investigação de antecedentes pré-emprego.

Jhpiego é um Empregador de Acção Afirmativa/Igualdade de Oportunidades

#LI - HC1