Programme: Democratic Republic Of Congo Responsible To: Country Director Responsible For: Project managers (PMs) and project coordinators (PCs).
Location: Goma, North Kivu with frequent travel to field sites Start Date: January 2012 Duration: 12 – 24 Months Salary: £36,480 to £37,230 per annum (dependant on relevant experience), inclusive of Cost of Living Allowance
Benefits: Insurance cover, accommodation, annual leave entitlement of 24 days per annum rising to 30 days at the completion of 12 months of continuous employment with Merlin.
Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be short-listed on a regular basis and we may offer this post before the closing date.
Please note: this is an unaccompanied position.
Merlin International Profile Merlin specialises in health, saving lives in times of crisis and helping to rebuild shattered health services. Each year, Merlin helps more than 15 million people in up to 20 countries
The Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) is the third largest country in Africa and one of the poorest. Decades of dictatorship and an ongoing, unresolved civil war has left much of the national infrastructure destroyed. Merlin has been operational in eastern DRC since 1997 when it established emergency medical support to populations in Maniema Province. Merlin teams have been providing emergency medical care to the most vulnerable, accessible populations in Maniema Province, Kasai Oriental Province, North Kivu and Orientale Province, and in response to the Goma volcanic eruption of Jan 2002. Activities include: emergency response, primary health support and supply, secondary health support and supply, reproductive health, institutional capacity building, nutrition, wat/san, rehabilitation of health facilities. • Merlin is the sole source of essential medical support for over 200 primary & secondary health facilities, providing health care to over 1,800,000 beneficiaries.
• In Maniema Province, Merlin is implementing a DFID (British government) funded 3 years free health care project throughout 10 health zones. • In North Kivu, Merlin implements DFID, , OFDA and ECHO funded primary healthcare projects in Manguredjipa, Biena, Oicha, Vuhovi Health Zones, in Kayna, Rutshuru and Birambizo Health Zones with emergency support to IDP’s within the province.
Merlin’s Goma office is a management and support office for nine field-site projects in eastern DRC. The office handles the financial and reporting aspects of a multi-millions dollar grant portfolio, the HR and administrative requirements for approximately 40 expatriates and 450 national staff, most national and all international purchasing, and in-country transportation (often by air) – of staff and material between the Goma office and field sites.
Main purpose of the role To support the Country Director in the operational management of the DRC programme, including recruitment, security, logistics and human resources. Line manage the Programme Coordinators and ensure compliance to Merlin policy and procedures. In addition the DCD will assist the CD as required in coordinating the work of the country management team (CMT)
Objectives • To act as Country Director (CD) in the CD’s absence • To manage all programme operations in eastern DRC, review management systems, and make appropriate improvements • To play a key role in developing Merlin’s position within eastern DRC • To monitor and maintain compliance with administrative and logistics procedures • To work closely with CD and Logistics Coordinator (Logco) in the monitoring of security and compliance with security guidelines • To assist CD in all expatriate and national staff recruitment and management • To monitor the master budget with the CD
Responsibilities Operational Management • Assist in drawing up plans, proposals, and budgets for new projects and extensions of projects in conjunction with the capital and field sites teams • To assist CD in identifying new areas of need and potential areas for project development and donor funding in eastern DRC • Ensure regular communications are maintained between the field sites, Merlin Goma, Merlin Kinshasa and Merlin London • Maintain a strong working relationship with the Country Management Team: Country Director, Country Health Director, Logco, HR/Admin Manager and Finance Manager. • Ensure adherence to timelines for all proposals and review proposals as necessary. • Ensure reports are completed in accordance with deadlines and undertake report editing where necessary. • Assist in assessment or evaluation planning and execution in Merlin field sites.
• Line manage all relevant Project managers and Project Coordinators to ensure that appropriate Merlin management, administration, personnel, logistic, finance, and communication systems are in place. • Travel to the project in country as per the DRC mission needs.
Security • Ensure field site security guidelines are reviewed at least quarterly • Ensure all security incidents are appropriately recorded and reported by project managers to relevant parties • Actively monitor field site security and advise the CD about developments • Act as the security focal point for Eastern DRC • Notify CD, international, and national staff of any increases outbreaks of insecurity and advise on specific actions that should be taken.
Logistics/Finance/Administration • Ensure all projects adhere to Merlin’s systems and procedures • Ensure that project implementation meets donor compliance requirements • Review budgets for submission to donors • Provide advice and assistance to PM/PC regarding their budgets on project spending and budgeting where necessary • Monitor and advise on the master budget • Maintain an overview of project spending and financial reporting
Human Resource Management • Maintain good team communication, engender good team dynamics and take remedial action when problems occur • Support team members professionally and monitor and support stress management • Carry out appraisals according to Merlin’s Human Resource procedures • In liaison with CD, ensure all new team members are adequately briefed on arrival in the field, and departing team members are debriefed • Work with CD to maintain up-to-date job descriptions for senior international staff and prepare and maintain job descriptions for national staff • Review international staff applications and conduct interviews for short-listed candidates • Provide support to administrative team in the recruitment process for national staff • Ensure with HR/Admin Manager that international staff leave requests are processed and HR files regularly updated • Ensure procedural compliance for: • International staff appraisal deadlines for anyone immediately managed by the relevant Operations Coordinators or relevant Project Coordinators. • Staff movements, ensuring all relevant parties are informed (Goma, Field sites, Kinshasa, London) in a timely fashion • Maintain good inter-team communications and engender positive team dynamics. • Plan national and international staff requirements and liaise with the CMT and the Human Resource department in London with approval of the CD
Representation • In coordination with the CD, represent Merlin in eastern DRC to donors, local and national health authorities, other NGOs, and any other parties as required. • Support the CD’s strategic co-operation initiatives with international and national NGOs active in Eastern DRC
Other • Provide coverage for other posts when needed and carry out any other responsibilities as requested by the Country Director.
Person Specification Essential Qualifications, experience and competences • Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English & French • Extensive field humanitarian experience in a management role • Strong project management skills and tools as well as proposal drafting and report drafting • Understanding of logistics • Strong knowledge of donors compliance such as ECHO, DFID, OFDA, DEC and GFATM • Strong security management experience • Strong leadership skills • Proven problem solving and organisational skills • Flexibility and the ability to remain calm under pressure • Experience of conducting needs assessments and project development • Experience of financial and administrative management • Experience in HR management • Ability to work under stressful conditions in an isolated area with basic living conditions • Good team-worker and able to live and work closely with a small team • Experience of establishing strong working relationships with colleagues from different functions and cultures • Experience of a flexible approach to managing and prioritising a high workload and multiple tasks in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines • Experience of proactively identifying and addressing issues • Confident and proficient in the use of MS Office • Ability and willingness to undertake frequent travel to field sites • An understanding of and commitment to Merlin’s mission and values
Desirable Qualifications, experience and competences • Previous experience of working in East/Central Africa, particularly the Great Lakes region • Experience in the health sector
To apply for this position To apply for this job, please go to www.merlin.org.uk/jobs and apply using our online recruitment system. In order to apply for a job with Merlin online you will need to complete a short registration process and create an account – the online recruitment system explains how to do this. Once your account has been created, you will be able to save the information that you have entered in your application and re-visit it at any time before you submit it.
If you are unable to apply online please download and complete an application form and email it to: applications@merlin.org.uk.
Please note that we do not accept CVs and any application must therefore be made online or by completing our application form. Unfortunately due to the number of applications we receive, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
Data Protection In accordance with the 1998 Data Protection Act Merlin will hold and use personal information that you have given for the purposes of recruitment and employment should an offer of employment be made. This information will be stored in manual and/or computer form. This information may also be disclosed to third parties in accordance with the Data Protection Act. In cases where a job offer is conditional on ensuring that potential employees’ names do not appear on counter terrorism lists generated by the United Nations, European Union or the United States due to donor funding requirements, Merlin will use the information that you have given for checking that your name does not appear on these lists.
Location: Goma, North Kivu with frequent travel to field sites Start Date: January 2012 Duration: 12 – 24 Months Salary: £36,480 to £37,230 per annum (dependant on relevant experience), inclusive of Cost of Living Allowance
Benefits: Insurance cover, accommodation, annual leave entitlement of 24 days per annum rising to 30 days at the completion of 12 months of continuous employment with Merlin.
Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be short-listed on a regular basis and we may offer this post before the closing date.
Please note: this is an unaccompanied position.
Merlin International Profile Merlin specialises in health, saving lives in times of crisis and helping to rebuild shattered health services. Each year, Merlin helps more than 15 million people in up to 20 countries
The Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) is the third largest country in Africa and one of the poorest. Decades of dictatorship and an ongoing, unresolved civil war has left much of the national infrastructure destroyed. Merlin has been operational in eastern DRC since 1997 when it established emergency medical support to populations in Maniema Province. Merlin teams have been providing emergency medical care to the most vulnerable, accessible populations in Maniema Province, Kasai Oriental Province, North Kivu and Orientale Province, and in response to the Goma volcanic eruption of Jan 2002. Activities include: emergency response, primary health support and supply, secondary health support and supply, reproductive health, institutional capacity building, nutrition, wat/san, rehabilitation of health facilities. • Merlin is the sole source of essential medical support for over 200 primary & secondary health facilities, providing health care to over 1,800,000 beneficiaries.
• In Maniema Province, Merlin is implementing a DFID (British government) funded 3 years free health care project throughout 10 health zones. • In North Kivu, Merlin implements DFID, , OFDA and ECHO funded primary healthcare projects in Manguredjipa, Biena, Oicha, Vuhovi Health Zones, in Kayna, Rutshuru and Birambizo Health Zones with emergency support to IDP’s within the province.
Merlin’s Goma office is a management and support office for nine field-site projects in eastern DRC. The office handles the financial and reporting aspects of a multi-millions dollar grant portfolio, the HR and administrative requirements for approximately 40 expatriates and 450 national staff, most national and all international purchasing, and in-country transportation (often by air) – of staff and material between the Goma office and field sites.
Main purpose of the role To support the Country Director in the operational management of the DRC programme, including recruitment, security, logistics and human resources. Line manage the Programme Coordinators and ensure compliance to Merlin policy and procedures. In addition the DCD will assist the CD as required in coordinating the work of the country management team (CMT)
Objectives • To act as Country Director (CD) in the CD’s absence • To manage all programme operations in eastern DRC, review management systems, and make appropriate improvements • To play a key role in developing Merlin’s position within eastern DRC • To monitor and maintain compliance with administrative and logistics procedures • To work closely with CD and Logistics Coordinator (Logco) in the monitoring of security and compliance with security guidelines • To assist CD in all expatriate and national staff recruitment and management • To monitor the master budget with the CD
Responsibilities Operational Management • Assist in drawing up plans, proposals, and budgets for new projects and extensions of projects in conjunction with the capital and field sites teams • To assist CD in identifying new areas of need and potential areas for project development and donor funding in eastern DRC • Ensure regular communications are maintained between the field sites, Merlin Goma, Merlin Kinshasa and Merlin London • Maintain a strong working relationship with the Country Management Team: Country Director, Country Health Director, Logco, HR/Admin Manager and Finance Manager. • Ensure adherence to timelines for all proposals and review proposals as necessary. • Ensure reports are completed in accordance with deadlines and undertake report editing where necessary. • Assist in assessment or evaluation planning and execution in Merlin field sites.
• Line manage all relevant Project managers and Project Coordinators to ensure that appropriate Merlin management, administration, personnel, logistic, finance, and communication systems are in place. • Travel to the project in country as per the DRC mission needs.
Security • Ensure field site security guidelines are reviewed at least quarterly • Ensure all security incidents are appropriately recorded and reported by project managers to relevant parties • Actively monitor field site security and advise the CD about developments • Act as the security focal point for Eastern DRC • Notify CD, international, and national staff of any increases outbreaks of insecurity and advise on specific actions that should be taken.
Logistics/Finance/Administration • Ensure all projects adhere to Merlin’s systems and procedures • Ensure that project implementation meets donor compliance requirements • Review budgets for submission to donors • Provide advice and assistance to PM/PC regarding their budgets on project spending and budgeting where necessary • Monitor and advise on the master budget • Maintain an overview of project spending and financial reporting
Human Resource Management • Maintain good team communication, engender good team dynamics and take remedial action when problems occur • Support team members professionally and monitor and support stress management • Carry out appraisals according to Merlin’s Human Resource procedures • In liaison with CD, ensure all new team members are adequately briefed on arrival in the field, and departing team members are debriefed • Work with CD to maintain up-to-date job descriptions for senior international staff and prepare and maintain job descriptions for national staff • Review international staff applications and conduct interviews for short-listed candidates • Provide support to administrative team in the recruitment process for national staff • Ensure with HR/Admin Manager that international staff leave requests are processed and HR files regularly updated • Ensure procedural compliance for: • International staff appraisal deadlines for anyone immediately managed by the relevant Operations Coordinators or relevant Project Coordinators. • Staff movements, ensuring all relevant parties are informed (Goma, Field sites, Kinshasa, London) in a timely fashion • Maintain good inter-team communications and engender positive team dynamics. • Plan national and international staff requirements and liaise with the CMT and the Human Resource department in London with approval of the CD
Representation • In coordination with the CD, represent Merlin in eastern DRC to donors, local and national health authorities, other NGOs, and any other parties as required. • Support the CD’s strategic co-operation initiatives with international and national NGOs active in Eastern DRC
Other • Provide coverage for other posts when needed and carry out any other responsibilities as requested by the Country Director.
Person Specification Essential Qualifications, experience and competences • Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English & French • Extensive field humanitarian experience in a management role • Strong project management skills and tools as well as proposal drafting and report drafting • Understanding of logistics • Strong knowledge of donors compliance such as ECHO, DFID, OFDA, DEC and GFATM • Strong security management experience • Strong leadership skills • Proven problem solving and organisational skills • Flexibility and the ability to remain calm under pressure • Experience of conducting needs assessments and project development • Experience of financial and administrative management • Experience in HR management • Ability to work under stressful conditions in an isolated area with basic living conditions • Good team-worker and able to live and work closely with a small team • Experience of establishing strong working relationships with colleagues from different functions and cultures • Experience of a flexible approach to managing and prioritising a high workload and multiple tasks in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines • Experience of proactively identifying and addressing issues • Confident and proficient in the use of MS Office • Ability and willingness to undertake frequent travel to field sites • An understanding of and commitment to Merlin’s mission and values
Desirable Qualifications, experience and competences • Previous experience of working in East/Central Africa, particularly the Great Lakes region • Experience in the health sector
To apply for this position To apply for this job, please go to www.merlin.org.uk/jobs and apply using our online recruitment system. In order to apply for a job with Merlin online you will need to complete a short registration process and create an account – the online recruitment system explains how to do this. Once your account has been created, you will be able to save the information that you have entered in your application and re-visit it at any time before you submit it.
If you are unable to apply online please download and complete an application form and email it to: applications@merlin.org.uk.
Please note that we do not accept CVs and any application must therefore be made online or by completing our application form. Unfortunately due to the number of applications we receive, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
Data Protection In accordance with the 1998 Data Protection Act Merlin will hold and use personal information that you have given for the purposes of recruitment and employment should an offer of employment be made. This information will be stored in manual and/or computer form. This information may also be disclosed to third parties in accordance with the Data Protection Act. In cases where a job offer is conditional on ensuring that potential employees’ names do not appear on counter terrorism lists generated by the United Nations, European Union or the United States due to donor funding requirements, Merlin will use the information that you have given for checking that your name does not appear on these lists.