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Save the Children

Global independent charity improving children's lives

Nutrition Assistant

Nursing & Frontline Patient CareConfirmed live in the last 24 hours
Full-timeMaicao, La Guajira, Colombia

About the Job

Requirements

  • A technologist credential, later-semester student status, or professional qualification in a health field is required, including Nutrition and Dietetics, professional nursing, or humanities and social sciences with work experience in health areas, or a related field.
  • Must be available to reside in Maicao, La Guajira, and travel to other municipalities in the department and other cities in Colombia as project requirements dictate.
  • At least two years of certified professional experience in health care or community settings, especially prevention and health-promotion programs.
  • A good understanding of breastfeeding and complementary-feeding practices.
  • Strong communication and counseling skills for infant and young-child feeding.
  • Sensitivity to gender and ability to apply an inclusive, differentiated approach in activities.
  • Ability to maintain accurate records and follow-up documentation.
  • Knowledge of health-promotion and maintenance strategies.
  • Ability to prioritize, plan, coordinate, and supervise one’s own work while fostering teamwork.
  • Ability to work in changing environments with limited resources and keep skills current through continued learning.
  • Ability to recognize and respect confidential matters.
  • Interest in child welfare and children’s rights, including experience with the Children’s Rights framework.
  • Knowledge of the armed-conflict context in Colombia.
  • Proactivity and independence in carrying out duties.
  • Diplomacy and assertiveness, including the ability to respectfully discuss sensitive matters with diverse stakeholders.
  • Demonstrated leadership, verbal and written communication, conflict management, and ability to work in complex, high-risk, multicultural, multidisciplinary, and interinstitutional contexts.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and implement actions that promote food and nutrition security for individuals, families, and communities.
  • Provide individual and community breastfeeding counseling, workshops, and support groups to promote good breastfeeding practices.
  • Identify new territories for service and carry out community engagement.
  • Support the Health and Nutrition Coordinator and Officer in initial engagement with partner organizations and community leaders.
  • Assess pregnant and lactating women and children under 59 months to determine nutritional risk.
  • Routinely take anthropometric measurements of children aged 0–59 months.
  • Provide technical support to assistants conducting nutrition diagnoses.
  • Assess lactating women and newborns, classify their needs, and determine whether to provide outpatient support or refer them to higher-level services when necessary.
  • Provide outpatient support, including breastfeeding counseling and guidance on identified issues such as hygiene practices and health-seeking behaviors.
  • Provide individualized breastfeeding counseling to mothers experiencing breastfeeding difficulties, including demonstrations of breastfeeding techniques and breastfeeding support.
  • Make appropriate referrals and connect mothers and babies with existing services according to their support needs.
  • Provide daily or weekly activity information as requested by the Food Security and Nutrition Officer and SAN coordination.
  • Collect success stories and challenges to inform global learning about the program component.
  • Attend training sessions and team meetings as requested.
  • Work with the organization’s cross-functional teams and teams from other sectors.
  • Maintain coordination with the Health and Nutrition Officer to carry out established duties and new territorial implementations aligned with the Health and Nutrition sector.
  • Ensure the quality of health services delivered through the intervention.
  • Perform other duties inherent to the position.

Desired Qualifications

  • Training in breastfeeding and complementary feeding.
  • Previous experience working with non-governmental organizations.
  • Previous experience in pediatric or neonatology services, gynecology and obstetrics services, or nutritional recovery units.

About the Company

Save the Children

Global independent charity improving children's lives

Save the Children is a global, independent charity that helps children in crisis and everyday life. It works in about 120 countries by running programs and campaigns that aim to keep children alive, protect them, help them develop, and let them participate in society. The organization directly delivers services and also advocates for policy changes, working with local partners and communities. Its approach combines field programs with advocacy and partnerships to reach millions of children—last year more than 55 million were helped through its work. What sets it apart is its large international footprint, its clear focus on children’s rights, and its commitment to transparency, collaboration, and integrity while pursuing concrete, measurable changes. The goal is to ensure every child has the right to survival, protection, development, and participation, and to drive immediate and lasting improvements in children’s lives.

Company size
10,001+
Company stage
Not listed
Total funding
Not listed
Headquarters
Toronto, Canada
Founded
1919

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