Closing date: 31 Dec 2009 -- (CLOSED)
Location: Sudan (the) - Torit
Programme: Basic Services Fund Programme (BSF) in Torit, Lopa (Lafon) and Ikwoto Counties of Southern Sudan
Responsible to: Operations Coordinator
Location: Torit County, Eastern Equatoria, South Sudan with frequent travel between project sites
Start Date: ASAP
Duration: 12 months
Salary: £25,658 to £27,883 per annum (dependant on relevant experience) inclusive of annual Cost of Living allowance.
Benefits: Insurance cover, accommodation, free return flights, annual loyalty bonus, R&R and 24 days annual leave.
Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be shortlisted on a regular basis and we may offer this post before the closing date.
Please note that 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.
Context and Background
The goal of the southern Sudan mission is to address the humanitarian and health crises within southern Sudan while increasing the capacity of local structures to deliver effective and quality health care services.
Main purpose of the role
The Project Coordinator who will be based in Torit and will have overall responsibility for the effective and efficient management of Merlin’s Emergency Health Care Support project in collaboration with the Country Director, Operations Coordinator and Country Health Director. S/he will ensure that the project is consistent with the project management cycle and for compliance with Merlin procedures, systems and guidelines.
Overall Objectives (scope)
- Operational Management of Torit project site
- Provide guidance and support in security management and lead on security management at the site level
- Ensure quality quality programme implementation by leading on logistics, finance and administrative management of the project as well as oversight of technical support to the health facilities and the Ministry of Health
- Manage all human resource related issues
- Represent Merlin as and when required
Responsibilities
Operational Management
- Overall responsibility for effective and efficient management of the BSF project/programme consistent with the project management cycle and compliance with Merlin and donor procedures, systems and guidelines.
- Support the implementation of monitoring systems and project reviews under the direction of theOperations Coordinator, Country Health Director (CHD) and Country Director (CD).
- Overall responsibility for the effective management and support of the expatriate, regionally recruited and local project staff.
- Monitor the evolving humanitarian situation within the project areas and consider strategic and immediate responses to the same in consultation with the Operations Coordinator, CHD and CD.
- Ensure all relevant authorities, including State Ministry of Health, Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and County Commissioners and partners are included in the planning and implementation of the projects as appropriate.
- Ensure that capacity building of staff and relevant partners, particularly the MoH, is prioritised and actioned.
- Lead on the preparation of project proposals, budgets and reportsat the field level for new projects/extensions of the project(s) in conjunction with the CHD and the CD.
Security
- Ensure that security guidelines are appropriate and followed in the project location and that any breaches of these are handled appropriately.
- Ensure that security procedures are regularly reviewed with the project team and updated accordingly.
- Monitor the political, military and security situation in the project areas and communicate and respond accordingly
- Record and report any security incidents to the Operations Coordinator, Country Director and the Logistics Coordinator.
- Ensure that HF and Thuraya communications are maintained at all times with Torit and that any changes in security are reported.
- Attend security meetings at the local level and maintain regular contact with other NGO/UN security focal points.
- N.B. The project coordinator has the overall responsibility for the execution of the project against the agreed objectives and within the agreed budgets. In carrying out these responsibilities the safety and security of the team are paramount. Regular contact with other agencies, authorities and with Merlin offices should be maintained.
Logistics/Finance/Administration
- Ensure Merlin complies with all legal and bureaucratic requirements in Eastern Equatoria.
- Ensure that agreed communication fora and tools (ie: meetings and sitreps) are conducted, prepared and disseminated in a timely manner.
- Review and reconcile the monthly project accounts and forecast projections for onward presentation in the Country Office.
- Responsible for accurate budget control and overall responsibility for financial management at the project sites in compliance with Merlin systems and procedures.
- Responsible for initiating and overseeing logistical procurement as may be required by the project in compliance with Merlin systems and procedures.
- Review/approve bills of quantities and purchase requests within authorisation limits and refer for authorisation for those that are above agreed limits.
- Ensure that appropriate warehouse management, asset recording, and fleet management tools are in place and effective.
- Review the monthly logistics reports for onward presentation to Country Office.
Human Resource Management
- To be responsible for safety and well-being of all team members of the projects in conjunction with the Country Director and the Human Resource Manager.
- Directly manage the programme support staff, including logistics and administration and ensure that all departments and positions are working effectively towards the implementation of agreed activities
- Functionally supervise the PHC Coordinator in conjunction with the CHD (CHD to provide technical line management)
- Liaise with the HR department on national and expatriate staffing requirements.
- Ensure that local staff selection, recruitment and dismissal procedures are carried out at site level in conjunction with relevant staff members and with the guidance of the Country Office.
- Maintain good inter-team communications, engender good team dynamics, and take suitable action when problems occur.
- Ensure that staff appraisals are conducted as per Merlin standard requirements and procedures and in a timely manner.
- Ensure that Merlin’s staff policies and procedures are understood and correctly followed.
- Ensure all new team members are adequately briefed on arrival in the field, and departing team members are debriefed
- Coordinate trainings and training needs assessments in collaboration with the relevant staff both at country and local level and ensure that capacity building is central to the working environment and activities
- Update and compile the R&R and leave schedules for the expatriate and regionally recruited staff for onward compiliation/review/approval by the Operations Coordinator with the support of the HR department.
Representation
Responsible for project’s contact with press and media, only after discussion with the Country Office.
Represent Merlin to local authorities, NGOs and other parties as necessary.
Person Specification
Essential Qualifications, experience and competences
- Strong previous field experience essential, preferably in a co-ordination role
- An understanding of secondary and primary health care
- Proven security management experience
- Proven problem solving and organisational skills
- Strong international project management skills and experience including:
- Project proposal development, logical framework and report writing
- Project monitoring and evaluation in development projects
- Personnel management and development
- An understanding of logistics and adherence to internal controls
- Good experience in budget management
- Ability to work under stressful conditions in an isolated area
- Good teamworker; able to live and work closely with a small team
- Supportive personnel management style and ability to manage teams
- Strong leadership skills
- Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English
- Confident and proficient in the use of MS Office
- 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
- An understanding of and commitment to Merlin’s mission and values
Reference Code: RW_7Y4FLT-67
