Project Director, Preconception Nutrition & Care, India

Nutrition International; New Delhi; On-site; INR 4,473,000 - 5,467,000; Full time

Job summary

Nutrition International in New Delhi, India, seeks a Project Director for the Preconception Nutrition & Care project to lead a small team, coordinate with state and national government, and serve as the primary voice with donors and partners. You will work with NI portfolios and regional colleagues to advance nutrition before pregnancy and ensure impact across the region.

You will guide project activities, manage resources and monitoring, engage government stakeholders, and foster strong

Qualifications

• PhD or MD from a recognized university in nutrition/public health, with 10–12 years in international NGO or UN-type settings.
• At least 5 years in senior project management roles and experience managing complex partnerships.
• Fluency in English is essential; Hindi or local languages are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for donor/s, government representatives, and strategic partners to lead negotiations on priorities, scope, and deliverables.
• Facilitate shared understanding of project scope, goals and deliverables among staff, partners and stakeholders.
• Guide the implementation of project activities to ensure execution per the approved plan.
• Manage relations with partners, service providers and consultants, including contracting and monitoring.
• Develop annual workplans with government stakeholders and partners and update regularly for timely completion.
• Cultivate and manage relationships with implementing partners, authorities, donors and stakeholders.

Skills

Fluency in English

Stakeholder management

Project leadership

Education

PhD or MD degree

Job description

Employment Type:Project, Full Time

Title:Project Director, Preconception Nutrition & Care, India

Location:New Delhi, India

Deadline for submission:October 31, 2025 (Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the position may be closed once a suitable candidate is identified.)

About us

Nutrition International (NI) 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 a broader development agenda. For more than 30 years now, we have 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. Our work is guided by a dedicated and talented team of experts working globally, regionally and within countries to end malnutrition worldwide.

About the Project

The Preconception Nutrition and Care project is an exciting new initiative in India. It aims to change how families begin: by reaching couples of reproductive ages with nutrition, health interventions and counselling before pregnancy, so that women enter pregnancy healthier and better nourished. Healthier beginnings lead to better maternal and birth outcomes. The project takes a systems-based approach. It brings together service delivery, evidence generation, learning and government partnership, so that preconception care becomes integrated into overall health system delivery. At the heart of the project is a commitment to putting the nutritional needs of women and couples at the center of design and implementation. The project aims to generate evidence and learning from implementation, and to use it to shape national dialogue on preconception nutrition and care.

About the role

The Project Director will lead this work from New Delhi. You will head a small, focused team, guide a range of implementing partners and engage with state and national government. You will also be the primary voice of the project with the donor, government, research bodies and the private sector. You will work closely with Nutrition International’s Maternal Newborn Health and Nutrition and Health Economics and Nutrition Financing portfolios, as well as colleagues in the Asia Regional Office and headquarters in Ottawa.

This is a rare opportunity to lead a high-visibility project, with full accountability for results, partnerships and resources. You will help set the direction for how India, and the wider region, approaches nutrition and care before pregnancy. In this role you will be responsible to:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for donor/s, national government representatives and strategic partners to lead evidence-based negotiations on project priorities, scope, and deliverables
• Facilitate shared understanding of project scope, goals and deliverables and among project staff, partners and stakeholders.
• Guide the implementation of project activities and ensure project staff and partners are executing the project according to the approved project plan.
• Manage relations with partners, service providers and consultants of the project, according to Nutrition International’s policies. This includes the development of terms of reference, service provided and consultant/firm selection, contracting, monitoring and end of contract processes.
• Oversee and work closely with government stakeholders and partners to develop detailed annual workplans that clearly define the strategies, activities and resources (time, budget and equipment etc.) required for effective implementation of the project; and update workplans regularly to ensure the timely completion of activities and achievement of the deliverables
• Cultivate and manage strong, collaborative relationships with implementing partners, government authorities, donors and other key stakeholders. Ensure open communication channels and a shared understanding of the project’s goals, responsibilities, and timelines.
• Identify and engage with potential new partners that align with the project's objectives, ensuring their capacities complement the project's needs and strategies.
• Ensure monitoring and learning strategies and systems are applied within the project in collaboration with the Monitoring, Data and Learning sub-unit.
• Ensure a monitoring plan is developed and followed by the project team and partners. Ensure monitoring data is analyzed and used for course correction as needed.
• Ensure that the project has a comprehensive staffing strategy with the appropriate composition of team members to ensure adequate oversight and quality assurance of all work within the project.
• Manage project staff contracts and consultants in a timely manner and according to local legislation and Nutrition International policies.
• Provide financial oversight for the full scope of the project. Maintain oversight on all sub-grants within the project and their associated budget(s) and ensure that partners establish appropriate financial procedures and tools required to be in alignment with Nutrition International requirements and standards
• Develop regular cash flow projections and monitor expenditure and review variance analysis to ensure the project operates within its budget parameters.
• Ensure all project funds are managed according to established accounting policies, procedures and donor regulations.
• Ensure donor stewardship with our committed donors to sustain relationships. Build and strengthen relationships with key project stakeholders and partners to ensure the project is harmonized with other donors funded project/programs and facilitates government leadership and ownership.
• Establish mechanisms for regular communication within the project team, Country leadership and across partners and with Nutrition International leadership to maximize opportunities for program integration and to elevate issues or risks

About you

You will have PhD or MD degree from a recognized university in one of the following areas: nutrition, public health, reproductive health and/or a related field, with atleast 10-12 years of work experience with international NGOs, UN agencies or similar working on public health, reproductive health, nutrition related programs with at least 5 years of senior level experience in project management. You will also have demonstrated the experience in managing complex partnerships with multiple stakeholders, including government bodies, NGOs, and international organizations.

Fluency in English is essential. Knowledge of Hindi and /or local languages of project states would be an advantage.

What we offer

Nutrition International offers a competitive market pay, including health and wellness benefits, medical insurance, accidental insurance plan, flexible work hours, four weeks of vacation (plus public holidays), and support for learning and development opportunities. We offer a collaborative and engaging work environment.

Nutrition International is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to an inclusive, equitable, and accessible work environment. Upon request, accommodation due to a disability are available throughout the selection process.

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

The closing date for receiving applications is October 31, 2025.

The starting salary range for the position is INR 49,70,154/- per annum.

NI is a non-smoking work environment.