Senior Technical Officer, Early Childhood Development (ECD)

About FHI 360

FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. Our staff includes experts in health, education, nutrition, environment, economic development, youth, research, and technology — creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today's interrelated development challenges.

We are currently seeking qualified candidates for a Senior Technical Officer, Early Childhood Development (ECD) position. The role supports implementation of integrated ECD interventions within existing maternal, newborn and child health, nutrition, and immunization platforms and contributes to efforts to strengthen integration of nurturing care within Mozambique's primary health care system. The Senior Technical Officer ECD is based in Nampula City, Nampula Province.

Job Summary

Under the supervision of the Senior Technical Advisor, Newborn and Child Health, the Senior Technical Officer ECD provides technical and implementation support to strengthen the quality, integration, and sustainability of ECD services within Nampula’s health system. The position works closely with FHI 360 project teams, provincial and district health authorities, community partners, and other stakeholders to integrate nurturing care, responsive caregiving, early stimulation, developmental monitoring, and referral systems into routine health services.

Accountabilities

Technical Leadership and Program Support 

• Manages day-to-day implementation of the ECD activities across project-supported districts, facilities, and communities.

• Under the direction of the Senior Technical Advisor, Newborn and Child Health, leads development and use of technical tools, job aids, training materials, reports, and learning products that support ECD integration.

• Provides capacity strengthening and technical expertise to FHI 360 project staff and to government stakeholders to advance sustained implementation of evidence-based ECD interventions. 

• Collaborates with FHI 360 technical team to integrate ECD approaches into existing activities, tools, and technical support to antenatal care, postnatal care, immunization, healthy child clinics, sick child services, nutrition services, and community platforms.  

• Manages and supports implementation of caregiver-focused interventions that promote responsive caregiving, early stimulation, father engagement, caregiver wellbeing, and support for adolescent and young mothers.

• Identifies, designs and supports approaches that strengthen linkages between maternal, newborn and child health, nutrition, immunization, WASH, community health, and ECD programming. 

• Collaborates with project teams to ensure activities are implemented in accordance with MISAU guidance, project workplans, and global best practices.

• Participates in technical working groups, stakeholder meetings, professional forums, and partner coordination platforms related to maternal and newborn health, child health, immunization, nutrition, quality improvement, and ECD, focused on the provincial level.

•  Collaborates with government counterparts and partners to strengthen coordination, alignment, and institutionalization of ECD approaches at subnational level. 

Monitoring, Learning, and Reporting 

• Contributes to work planning, implementation monitoring, and routine review of project performance.

• Supports integration and use of ECD indicators within existing health information and quality improvement systems.

• Assists health system stakeholders to identify service delivery gaps and apply data-driven improvements.

• Contributes to documentation of lessons learned, technical reports, presentations, and other knowledge products to support program improvement and future scale-up.

Applied Knowledge and Skills 

• Advanced knowledge of maternal, newborn and child health, immunization, nutrition, and ECD approaches, including nurturing care frameworks.

• Demonstrated understanding of Mozambique's health system, policies, technical working groups, and stakeholder landscape related to child health and ECD.  

• Ability to support development and implementation of technical strategies, tools, guidelines, and quality improvement approaches. 

• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills. 

• I would write Fluency in written and spoken Portuguese required; professional working proficiency in English preferred Excellent written and verbal skills in Portuguese.

• Ability to build and maintain productive working relationships with government agencies, donors, implementing partners, academic institutions, professional associations, and community organizations. 

• Demonstrated ability to work independently while contributing effectively within multidisciplinary teams. 

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with colleagues and other stakeholders  

Competencies:

• Project Management (Planning and Time Management) - Accurately scopes out length and difficulty of tasks (sets objectives/goals/measures). Breaks down work into steps, schedules, task/people assignments. Marshals people, time, and resources efficiently. Arranges information in a useful manner and orchestrates multiple activities at once.

• Creating and Managing Systems and Processes – Recognizes the need for standardization and balances client and organization need in systems design. Anticipates the effects of process change on people while optimizing task efficiency and simplicity.

​Problem Solving & Impact:

• Works on problems of moderate to complex scope that require review of various factors. Exercises good judgment with selecting methods and techniques to determine appropriate action.

•  Decisions may cause delays and affect a work unit or area within a department.

• Identifies and raises issues to senior technical staff.

• Networks with key internal and external personnel.

Supervision Given/Received:

• Determines methods and procedures on new projects and assignments.

• May mentor other lower-level personnel.

• No supervisory responsibilities are envisioned for this position.

• Reports to the Senior Technical Advisor, Newborn and Child Health.

Education

• Master’s degree in public health, health management, pediatrics, nursing, medicine, or related field.

• Clinical background as MCH nurse, or medical doctor, strongly preferred.

Experience

• Minimum six (6) years of progressively responsible experience supporting health programs in Mozambique, including experience working within or closely supporting Mozambique’s public health system through government institutions, NGOs, international development organizations, or other relevant health and development partners, as well as experience in community-based health programming.

• Demonstrated experience in child health, nutrition, quality improvement, health systems strengthening, and/or early childhood development programming.

• Experience supporting policy development, technical guidance, capacity strengthening, and stakeholder engagement activities.

• Experience working on donor-funded health programs, U.S. Government-funded programs, preferred.

Typical Physical Demands:

•  Typical office environment.

• Ability to spend long hours looking at a computer screen and doing repetitive work on a keyboard.

• Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time. Ability to lift/move up to 5 lbs.

Technology to be Used:

• Technology to be Used: Personal Computer/Laptop, Microsoft applications (i.e., Office 365, SharePoint, Zoom/Teams), cell phone/mobile technology, and standard office equipment.

Travel Requirements

• Up to 40% travel within Nampula and to Maputo as needed.

The expected hiring salary range for this role is USD 47,000 - 57,000 for annual  basic salary. When determining an offer amount, FHI 360 factors in multiple considerations, including but not limited to: relevant years of experience and education possessed by the applicant, internal equity, market pay,  and budget. For internal candidates, salary placement will also follow FHI 360’s current promotional increase guidelines.

This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

FHI 360 is an equal opportunity employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

Our values and commitments to safeguarding: FHI 360 is committed to preventing any type of abuse, exploitation and harassment in our work environments and programs, including sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment. FHI 360 takes steps to safeguard the welfare of everyone who engages with our organization and programs and requires that all personnel, including staff members and volunteers, share this commitment and sign our code of conduct. All offers of employment will be subject to appropriate screening checks, including reference, criminal record and terrorism finance checks. FHI 360 also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), facilitated by the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response. In line with the MDS, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any substantiated findings of sexual abuse, exploitation and/or harassment during the applicant’s tenure with previous employers. By applying, job applicants confirm their understanding of these recruitment procedures and consent to these screening checks.

FHI 360 will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws.

FHI 360 will never ask you for your career site username or password, and we will never request money, goods or services during the application, recruitment or employment  process. If you have questions or concerns about correspondence from us, please email [email protected].

FHI 360 fosters the strength and health of its workforce through a competitive benefits package, professional development and policies and programs that support a healthy work/life balance. Join our global workforce to make a positive difference for others — and yourself.

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