Nutritionist

About the IRC

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future, and strengthen their communities. Since 2007, IRC has worked with refugees and other vulnerable populations in Jordan, focusing on urban and camp interventions addressing health, protection, economic development, and early childhood development for Syrian refugees and host communities.

About the Role

The Nutritionist will support the IRC Primary Health Care (PHC) team at Zaatari refugee camp by providing nutritional assessment, counseling, and treatment services to Syrian refugees. Working under the direct supervision of the Senior Health Officer, the Nutritionist will collaborate with internal medicine, reproductive health, and pediatric care providers to deliver integrated nutrition support for patients with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), reproductive health needs, and children, including identification and management of malnutrition. The role ensures nutrition care aligns with each patient's clinical treatment plan, in accordance with national and international nutrition protocols and standards.

Responsibilities

• Conduct nutritional assessments for patients using standardized anthropometric and clinical measures (e.g., weight, height/length, MUAC, BMI).
• Identify and classify cases of malnutrition (acute, chronic, micronutrient deficiencies) among children, pregnant and lactating women, and adults with NCDs, in accordance with MoH/WHO protocols.
• Develop and implement individualized nutrition care plans in coordination with the referring physician, aligned with each patient's overall clinical treatment plan.
• Provide therapeutic and supplementary feeding guidance for malnourished patients and monitor progress through scheduled follow-up visits.
• Refer complicated malnutrition cases or cases requiring specialized medical intervention to the appropriate physician or external facility and track outcomes.
• Provide dietary counseling and diet planning support for patients with diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and other NCDs, in coordination with the Internist.
• Support patient education on the role of nutrition in the prevention and management of chronic diseases, including weight management and adherence to therapeutic diets.
• Provide nutrition counseling for pregnant and lactating women, including guidance on micronutrient supplementation (e.g., iron, folic acid) in coordination with the RH team.
• Support the identification and management of nutrition-related risks during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
• Provide infant and young child feeding (IYCF) counseling to caregivers, including guidance on breastfeeding, complementary feeding, and age-appropriate nutrition practices.
• Screen children for acute malnutrition and growth monitoring and coordinate referral and treatment pathways with pediatric care providers.
• Collaborate closely with the Internist, RH team, pediatric care providers, and other specialized doctors to ensure nutrition care is integrated into each patient's broader clinical management.
• Participate in case discussions and clinical meetings to align nutrition interventions with treatment plans across specialties.
• Provide technical guidance and training to clinic staff on basic nutrition screening and referral procedures.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date nutrition assessment records, care plans, and follow-up documentation in the Health Information System (HIS).
• Prepare periodic reports on nutrition activities, malnutrition caseloads, and outcomes, as required by the Senior Health Officer.
• Perform other related duties within the clinic as may be assigned by the Senior Health Officer.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in nutrition.
• Minimum 3 to 5 years of experience in a clinical nutrition role, preferably including experience in the management of malnutrition, maternal and child nutrition, and NCD-related dietary counseling.

Skills

• Strong knowledge of nutritional assessment methods, including anthropometric measurement (weight, height/length, MUAC, BMI) and clinical signs of malnutrition.
• Knowledge of MoH/WHO protocols for the management of acute and chronic malnutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies.
• Knowledge of infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices and maternal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation.
• Knowledge of the role of nutrition in the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases (diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, etc.).
• Ability to work collaboratively with physicians and specialists across internal medicine, reproductive health, and pediatric care to integrate nutrition care into treatment plans.
• Experience developing and delivering nutrition education and counseling to patients and caregivers from diverse backgrounds.
• Knowledge of Health Information Systems (HIS) and experience with clinical documentation and reporting.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and counseling skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage a caseload within a primary health care setting.
• Good computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Fluency in Arabic required; working knowledge of English is required.

Working Environment

The position is based in Zaatari camp. The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct: Integrity, Service, and Accountability.