Project Director, Ethiopia

Role: Full Time

Contract Duration: 2 Years

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Deadline for submission: 24th June 2026

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

About Us

Founded in 1992, Nutrition International is a global organization dedicated to delivering proven nutrition interventions to those who need them most. Working in partnership with countries, donors and implementers, our experts conduct cutting-edge nutrition research, support critical policy formulation, and integrate nutrition into broader development programs. In more than 60 countries, primarily in Asia and Africa, Nutrition International nourishes people to nourish life.

For more than 30 years now, Nutrition International has focused on delivering low-cost, high-impact, nutrition interventions to people in need, driven by our mission to achieve a world where everyone, everywhere, is free from malnutrition and able to reach their full potential. Nutrition International’s work is guided by a dedicated and talented team of experts working globally, regionally and within countries to end malnutrition worldwide.

About the role

The Project Director will provide overall leadership and accountability for the Double Fortified Salt with Iron and Folic Acid (DFS-IoFA), Ethiopia project. This role will lead and oversee the management of all aspects of the project and is accountable for the results. This includes responsibility for day-to-day planning, implementing, and tracking progress against project deliverables, to ensure targets are met through the efficient and effective management of resources.

A key function of this leadership role will be to develop and steward excellent relationships with Government, the donor, and other stakeholders such as research bodies, the private sector, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), as appropriate. This project, led by Nutrition International, is a consortium between University of California at San Franciso, EPHI, and the University of Toronto. 

Key responsibilities 

Project Management 

Provide strategic leadership and oversight for project implementation by ensuring effective stakeholder coordination, partner and government engagement, quality assurance, innovation, and the integration of gender equality and safeguarding to achieve project objectives and long-term sustainability.

Partnership Management 
Build and maintain strong partnerships with implementing partners, government authorities, and other stakeholders by fostering effective communication, collaboration, and alignment on project goals, while identifying and engaging strategic partners, strengthening partner capacity, and proactively addressing challenges to support successful and sustainable project implementation.

Project Learning and Effectiveness

Strengthen project monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems by leveraging data for continuous improvement, ensuring effective knowledge management and stakeholder communication, and delivering timely reports on project performance and results.

Team Leadership and Human Resources Management

Lead a comprehensive staffing strategy with the appropriate composition of team members to ensure adequate oversight and quality assurance of all work within the project.

Financial and Grant Management

Provide overall financial leadership and oversight for the project, ensuring effective budget management, compliance with organizational and donor requirements, sound financial controls, accurate forecasting, and prudent stewardship of project funds across all partners and sub-grants.

Thought Leadership, External Representation and Positioning

Provide leadership and actively engage in strategic discussions in Ethiopia to influence national dialogue, strengthen technical collaboration, and position Nutrition International and its work in line with the project scope, while externally representing the organization and cultivating relationships with institutional and private donors to raise its profile and support current and future project work.

Partnerships and Growth

Lead donor and stakeholder engagement by fostering strong relationships, ensuring effective communication and timely responses, coordinating collaboration with government and partners, sharing project progress and learning, and identifying opportunities to mobilize additional resources for supplementary nutrition components from government and private sector.

Project Team Collaboration

Promote effective communication and collaboration across project teams, partners, and organizational levels by fostering a positive working environment, strengthening coordination, and supporting timely identification and escalation of issues to enhance program integration and uphold Nutrition International’s values

Education/Professional Designations/Experience:

• MS or PhD from a recognized university in one of the following areas: nutrition, public health, and/or a related field.
• 10-12 years of work experience with international NGOs, UN agencies or similar working on public health / nutrition related programs with at least 5 years of senior level experience project management.
• Demonstrated understanding and commitment to Gender Equality and Safeguarding.
• Demonstrated experience in managing complex partnerships with multiple stakeholders, including government bodies, NGOs, and international organizations.
• Strong expertise in generative evidence and learnings from projects and integrating it with health systems.
• Strong experience in financial management, including budgeting, reporting, and ensuring compliance with donor requirements.
• Demonstrated experience in partnership brokering. Experience in fostering collaborative environments and ensuring the alignment of partner activities with overall project goals is essential.
• Demonstrated experience in donor stewardship.
• Extensive experience in managing teams in a cross-cultural, multi-regional environment.
• Demonstrated experience of successfully presenting and engaging at high level meetings, conferences, advisory groups on behalf of the organisation
• Strong ability to identify, rank and mitigate risks, and manage complex time sensitive problems.
• Able to work as part of multi-cultural global team in a dynamic and growing organisation.

Skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
• Superior communications skills (oral and written) including good technical writing and presentation skills.
• Superior communications skills (verbal and written).
• Fluent in written and spoken English. An understanding of Amharic is an added advantage

A competitive market pay, health benefits, pension plan, flexible work hours, vacation, support for learning and development opportunities and health and wellness. We offer a collaborative and engaging work environment.

Nutrition International upholds a zero-tolerance policy on safeguarding concerns and sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH).  Following the principles of the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, reference checks will include safeguarding verifications with previous employers. By applying to this position, candidates acknowledge and consent to these reference checks being conducted with previous employers. 

Please note that all our offers are conditional subject to appropriate screening checks and satisfactory reference checks.

For more detailed information about the role, please click on the attached Job description.

Please click on the Apply button to submit your application.