Essential Job Details

• Position Title: Program Officer – Nutrition
• Location: Kilifi, Tharaka Nithi, or Makueni Counties, Kenya
• Employment Type: Full-Time
• Number of Vacancies: 1
• Salary: Not Disclosed
• Category/Department: Health and Nutrition
• Reporting To: Senior Program Manager – Transforming Lives
• Application Deadline: 10 June 2025

Introduction

This transformative Program Officer – Nutrition opportunity in Kenya is a career-defining role for professionals passionate about improving maternal and child health. As Kenya continues its national agenda on universal healthcare, this Program Officer – Nutrition role aligns directly with critical nutrition interventions targeted at pregnant women, infants, and young children. The position presents a full-time engagement that promises significant impact at the grassroots level while advancing the professional trajectory of the successful candidate.

The Program Officer – Nutrition will be deployed to one of three counties: Kilifi, Tharaka Nithi, or Makueni, where they will take charge of the county-level implementation of the Transforming Lives through Nutrition initiative. The successful candidate will work in tandem with local authorities and stakeholders to integrate high-impact nutrition programs into public health structures, thereby enabling underserved communities to access vital services. This is not just a job; it’s a meaningful vocation to strengthen Kenya’s health ecosystem through a gender-equitable, community-driven, nutrition-first approach.

About Helen Keller International

Helen Keller International is a global health organization guided by the enduring legacy of Helen Keller, a beacon of resilience and advocacy. Operating across 20 countries, HKI addresses some of the most pressing public health challenges by focusing on vision, health, and nutrition. In Kenya, the organization has a decade-long presence with successful rollouts of multiple micronutrient supplementations, Vitamin A campaigns, exclusive breastfeeding advocacy, and malnutrition treatment programs.

The Kenya country program has demonstrated substantial impact in reducing infant mortality and improving nutritional outcomes through evidence-based interventions. Helen Keller Intl works alongside local communities and county governments to reinforce systems that ensure sustainable change. By maintaining a sharp focus on nutrition as a human right, the organization builds programs that are data-driven, inclusive, and scalable.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical guidance and supervision to County project teams to implement the Transforming Lives through Nutrition Project with fidelity to the work plan.
• Lead the integration of nutrition interventions into County Annual Work Plans (AWPs), aligning activities with Kenya’s national nutrition strategies.
• Prepare timely reports including monthly updates, quarterly summaries, and semi-annual reviews in compliance with project reporting standards.
• Coordinate interdepartmental collaboration at county level across Health, Agriculture, Water, and Social Services to promote a unified approach to nutrition.
• Monitor and support budget utilization, ensuring proper financial tracking and alignment with set targets to maintain a healthy burn rate.
• Support livelihood initiatives by integrating food security and dietary diversification programs within the first 1,000 days of life.
• Document project learnings, innovations, and successes for internal sharing and public dissemination.
• Design MEL frameworks in collaboration with the project M&E team to track impact indicators and outcomes across programmatic activities.
• Supervise CHPs and community-based implementers, ensuring alignment with technical nutrition guidelines and Helen Keller standards.
• Convene community dialogue forums to co-design local solutions that support household nutrition security.
• Champion gender-sensitive nutrition policies by engaging women-led groups and promoting women’s leadership in community nutrition.
• Lead county-level review meetings and contribute to sub-county and regional feedback forums to improve project quality.
• Build strategic partnerships with NGOs, CBOs, and government entities to expand the reach and effectiveness of the program.
• Organize and facilitate training sessions on nutrition, WASH, and food systems for health practitioners and local leaders.
• Ensure compliance with internal organizational policies and donor guidelines across all aspects of implementation.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition, Public Health, Food Science, or related discipline from a recognized institution.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive work experience in public health nutrition, preferably in an NGO or government health agency.
• Deep knowledge of Kenya’s county health systems, including national nutrition policies and frameworks.
• Technical expertise in micronutrient supplementation, exclusive breastfeeding, and treatment of acute malnutrition.
• Ability to analyze program data and generate insights for continuous improvement.
• Experience in budget planning and financial reporting, with strong grasp of cost controls and donor compliance.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with ability to influence stakeholders across multiple levels.
• Proficiency in digital data tools, including Excel, KoboToolbox, DHIS2, and Google Workspace.
• Multilingual proficiency: Fluency in English and Swahili is required; local dialects are an added advantage.
• Demonstrated commitment to gender equality and inclusion in health programming.
• Ability to travel frequently within the assigned counties and work in semi-rural environments.
• Self-starter attitude with strong problem-solving capabilities and decision-making acumen.
• Creative thinker with ability to design scalable community interventions in nutrition.

Company Culture and Values

Helen Keller International is an equal opportunity employer that upholds diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels. The organizational culture thrives on innovation, transparency, and accountability. Staff are empowered to lead initiatives, experiment with adaptive learning models, and contribute actively to cross-functional teams.

The organization maintains a collaborative work environment with frequent capacity-building opportunities, mentorship, and room for upward mobility. Its Kenya program is people-centric, gender-sensitive, and results-driven, ensuring that interventions are inclusive and reflective of community needs.

Helen Keller Intl is committed to:

• Gender Equality and Inclusion
• Decentralized Decision-Making
• Evidence-Based Programming
• Community Participation and Ownership
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Alignment

How to Apply

Apply now for the Program Officer – Nutrition position.

Qualified candidates are encouraged to submit their applications consisting of a single PDF file containing:

• A Cover Letter
• Updated Curriculum Vitae
• Contact details of three professional references

Submission Email: kenya.recruitment@hki.org
Subject Line: Application for Program Officer – Nutrition

Early submissions are highly encouraged as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Deadline: 10th June 2025

Important Notices:

• Helen Keller Intl does not recruit via third-party agencies.
• The organization does not request payment or banking information from applicants.
• All recruitments are conducted in line with ethical hiring practices.

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TAGS: Program Officer – Nutrition Kenya 2025, maternal and child health job Kenya, nutrition job Makueni Kilifi Tharaka Nithi, Helen Keller Intl job vacancy, Transforming Lives through Nutrition project job