Please apply on our website: https://chm.tbe.taleo.net/chm03/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=IRC&cws=1&rid=15012
Location: New York, NY
Background:
The International Rescue Committee helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities that support them, as well as with those who remain within their homes and communities. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure.
As a global humanitarian organization, the IRC has unique capabilities – and is particularly known for rigorous research and evidence-based programs. The IRC’s strategy over the next 5 years builds on these capabilities, and its mission is to extend IRC’s thought and operational leadership in the sector.
A key initiative that supports this strategy is the IRC Airbel Center, aimed at investing in the design, development, and scaling of new humanitarian interventions and delivery models. The lab seeks to apply best practices from human-centered design, rapid iteration, multi-disciplinary problem-solving, and an innovation portfolio management function in the humanitarian context. Combining these capabilities in IRC’s extensive field presence, supported deep sector expertise from our research capability, we believe it is possible to design and scale breakthrough humanitarian programs that could impact millions of people most affected by conflict and disasters.
Job Overview:
How do you drastically increase accessibility of the current set of treatments for malnutrition? How do you develop behavioral interventions that address the need to focus on prevention and which are culturally-relevant but have potential to scale. – These and other high priority areas is where the Airbel wants to innovate and we want you to help us develop projects to address these critical questions.
The Nutrition Specialist will be a key team member of a ~4-person interdisciplinary working team that will identify and evaluate new innovations to prevent and treat malnutrition. Applying your deep expertise in programs to prevent and treat malnutrition, enthusiasm for exploring new solutions and technologies, and relationships in the nutrition field, you will provide both an expert’s eye when assessing new ideas. This team will also make the case for accelerating the development of new technologies and techniques for preventing and treating malnutrition globally, and as such you will help communicate concepts to the nutrition community, and help the team understand what’s required to catalyze support in the nutrition community.
Major Responsibilities:
Researching existing best practice on contextually-relevant ideas for malnutrition prevention
Participating in qualitative research, design research, and country-level policy analysis in-country to help generate new ideas for malnutrition prevention
Provide expertise and be a principal contributor to quantitatively assess the potential impact from IRC’s current proposed approach to treatment of malnutrition
Liaise with existing social sector experts and practitioners in the malnutrition network to establish buy-in and solicit improvements on IRC’s proposed approach, including: Helping organize a convening among prominent players in the malnutrition network
Key Working Relationships:
Position Reports to: R&D Team Lead
Position directly supervises: N/A
Indirect Reporting: N/A
Other Internal and/or external contacts:
Internal:
Chief Innovation Officer
Airbel Strategy Project Team
Technical Unit Directors and Team Members
Country and Regional Directors
External:
Global nutrition community leaders
Nutrition researchers and experts
Global social innovation & design communities
Job Requirements:
Minimum Requirements
Deep, rigorous knowledge of the proximate causes and presentation of malnutrition, as well as the set of existing treatment protocols
2-3 years of experience working on malnutrition treatment or prevention program management, policy, or service delivery in either low-income or fragile states
Willingness to work out of IRC’s R&D headquarters in New York
Preferred Requirements
Advanced academic training in public health (MPH or Master’s), with a specialty in nutrition strongly preferred
Experience working or desire to work on a fast-paced, social innovation team
Familiarity with design, qualitative, ethnography, and/or anthropology research methods
Willingness to travel to IRC program sites in the countries and communities IRC serves
Quantitative analysis skills, especially as relates to prevalence measures like the Lives Saved Tool (e.g., Excel, basic knowledge of statistics)
Working Environment:
Standard work office environment