Intake - Center for Dietary Assessment is a FHI 360 initiative funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The overarching aim of Intake is to help improve the nutritional status of vulnerable populations by increasing the availability and use of reliable dietary data in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). The current duration of Intake is November 1, 2016 to July 15, 2021.
The Senior Dietary Data Advisor for Intake will work as part of a technical team of senior-level professionals. S/he will co-lead the provision of technical assistance related to the collection, analysis and use of quantitative dietary intake data in Nigeria and will also contribute to Intake’s technical assistance work in other low-and middle-income countries. In addition, the Senior Dietary Data Advisor will contribute to the development of dietary data-related capacity building tools, guidance briefs, and reference materials for broader, LMIC use – particularly in relation to dietary data analysis and dietary data use. This position requires experience analyzing quantitative 24-hour recall dietary data, and a high-level understanding of statistics, to guide the appropriate methodologic treatment of dietary data and the appropriate interpretation of results from a dietary survey.
This position may be based in Washington, DC, or could be based remotely (US or international).
Lead Intake’s technical support to the Nigeria Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey (NFCMS) related to data quality assurance procedures, data cleaning, data analysis, and data use. This work will include the following responsibilities:
- Provide technical assistance during the initial period of data collection to help provide oversight/supervision, trouble-shoot, and refine methods and procedures.
- Review batches of dietary data to perform data quality checks.
- Provide input into the drafting of an analysis plan for the dietary data collected; and review and comment on other portion of the analysis plan for the survey, if requested.
- Contribute to the training and technical support for the processing and cleaning of the dietary data collected.
- Contribute to the training and technical support the analysis of dietary data.
- Contribute to the design and facilitation of workshops to review dietary data results and promote use of the data to inform program and policy decisions.
- Provide input into the drafting of the survey report and other publications, as requested.
Co-lead Intake’s technical assistance work for advancing all pre-survey activities for the planned Nigeria National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey (NFCMS). This work will include the following responsibilities:
- Provide and consolidate Intake technical input into the survey protocol and questionnaire instrument; and support the logistic planning for the survey, including recommendations with respect to survey team structure and composition to allow for ease of movement and facilitate data quality assurance.
- Co-lead the design and facilitation of in-country trainings, in collaboration with the Nigeria survey team, in relation to: portion size estimation methods, standard recipe data collection, informal market survey work, and for the quantitative 24-hour recall dietary component of the Nigeria NFCMS.
- Develop technical assistance guidance materials, data collection plans and instruments, and any related standard operating procedures, as deemed useful, to support the Nigeria NFCMS.
- Work intensively with the survey team in Nigeria to prepare the food, recipe, and ingredient list for the NFCMS; to identify appropriate portion size estimation methods to use by food type; to compile (and collect) all necessary conversion factors; and to develop an appropriate probe list for enumerators to use for the dietary component of the survey.
- Provide technical assistance for the pre-testing and piloting of all survey tools and methods to be used for the dietary component of the survey.
- Represent Intake on the Technical Advisory Committee for the Nigeria NFCMS, and participate in TAC meetings in Nigeria, as requested.
- Contribute to Intake’s technical assistance and capacity building efforts related to the collection, analysis, and use of dietary data in other LMICs, as requested.
- Lead and/or contribute to the development of capacity building tools, publications, and guidance materials related to the collection, analysis and use of dietary data in LMICs.
- Contribute technical input to the scope, design and execution of activities carried out by consultants and sub-contractors, as requested.
- Contribute content to Intake’s website and annual reporting, as appropriate.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with a job.
- 8-11 years of experience carrying out research or providing specialized technical assistance related to nutrition.
- At least 5 years of experience analyzing quantitative 24-hour recall dietary data in multiple contexts.
- Experience collecting quantitative dietary data for large-scale surveys in LMICs is strongly desired.
- Experience carrying out pre-survey work in multiple contexts, to develop the food, recipe, and ingredient list for the survey, identify and test portion size estimation methods, and compile (and collect) conversion factors, is strongly desired.
- Experience working with governments in LMICs strongly preferred; Experience working in Nigeria highly desirable.
- Evidence of a strong publication record desirable.
- Ability to communicate technically complex information clearly and succinctly.
- Ability to translate technical material into practical tools and guidance materials.
- Ability to work effectively in a team of people with different technical backgrounds and varying levels of technical training.
- Superior presentation skills, both written and oral.
- Strong background in statistics and data analysis is required.
- Proficiency with SAS is highly desired. Proficiency with R and Stata is a plus.
- Experience using the NCI macros for analysis of 24-hour recall data is highly desired.
- Proficiency with software (e.g. CS Dietary) to process dietary data is highly desired.
- English fluency (written and spoken) is required. French fluency is highly desired.
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