Closing date: 31 Jan 2010 -- (CLOSED)
Location: Kenya
Programme: Kenya and Somalia
Responsible To: Regional Programmes Manager (RPM) at London Head Office (HO)
Works With: All Merlin and Non-Merlin Partners
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Starting Date: October 2009
Contract Duration: 12-24 months
Salary: £29,303 - £31,528 per annum (dependant on relevant experience) inclusive of annual Cost of Living allowance, plus an additional £2000 bonus to be paid over the first 4 months of contract
Benefits: Insurance cover, accommodation, return flights, annual loyalty bonus, and 24 days annual leave rising to 29 days after 12 months.
Please note this is an accompanied position. Benefits include flight and insurance for up to three dependents and separate accommodation.
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.
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
Merlin has been working in Kenya since 1998 and it maintains a regional office in Nairobi, which directly manages Kenya programmes and through remote management provides support to Somalia country programmes.
Merlin has been working in Somalia since 2004 and is currently implementing health and nutrition programme in El Buur district in Galgadud region; emergency health and nutrition programme in Awdal (Somaliland) with the field office in Hargeisa; HIV/AIDS, TB and emergency preparedness programmes in Puntland State of Somalia with an office in Garowe, where it was nominated to be the lead agency for Interagency Health Cluster. Throughout Somalia Merlin also provides technical coordination and capacity strengthening for the GFATM malaria programme.
In Kenya Merlin provides nutrition assistance to the draught affected population in Wajir and Turkana district of Northern Kenya with offices in Lodwar and Wajir towns respectively. Other operations in Kenya include malaria, HIV/AIDS, and TB programme in Nyanza province with field office in Kisii town.
The mission of Somalia and Kenya programmes is to address humanitarian and health crises while increasing capacity of local structures to deliver effective and quality primary health care services. It works with local healthcare actors including community groups and NGOs to improve access to quality health care services and to contribute to a reduction of health inequalities and the reversal in the current downward trend in health related indicators. Merlin also collaborates closely with the Ministry of Health and builds partnerships with the agencies working in complementary sectors (i.e. water/sanitation and livelihoods).
Main purpose of the role
As the Country Director you will have the overall responsibility for the Programme, including Security, Logistics, Finance and Human Resource elements of the programme. You will also ensure that the programme objectives are met, that the programme continues to improve and play a key role in contributing to Merlin’s development in Somalia and Kenya.
Responsibilities
Security
- Responsible for the security of all Merlin staff in Somalia and Kenya
- Ensure that appropriate security guidelines and procedures are established, maintained/updated regularly and adhered to by all teams
- Ensure knowledge, expertise and equipment is in place in all Merlin bases to guarantee maximum/adequate response to security situations in the areas of intervention in Somalia and Kenya
- Responsible for the security management in Somalia and Kenya
- Ensure timely and appropriate sharing of security-related information between teams and headquaters office (HO)
Leadership
- Develop and roll-out a coherent country programme strategies for Somalia and Kenya that contribute to Merlin's global objectives, ensuring overall direction amongst all team members and project sites
- Coordinate and manage the overall planning and direction of Merlin's operations in Somalia and Kenya, taking appropriate decisions in coordination with the HO as necessary
- Create a shared vision, among all staff, of Merlin's programme's aims, quality standards and their role in achieving these
Representation
- Represent Merlin to Local & National Authorities, donors, (I)NGOs and other relevant partners, particularly Ministry of Health (MoH)
- Place emphasis on raising and maintaining a positive and solid profile for Merlin
- Manage external communications in collaboration with the Regional Programme Manager (RPM) and PR Department in HO.
Programme Development
- Develop and secure long-term funding for the existing and new programmes based on identified needs
- Ensure effective leadership and coordination of relevant field personnel and departments (e.g. health, logistics, finance etc.) in proposal and report development
- Ensure that Merlin's emergency preparedness and response capacity is maintained relevant to the geo-political and humanitarian situation
- Organise and/or undertake needs assessments, in cooperation with other actors where relevant
- Develop and maintain productive working relationships with donors and undertake all in-country negotiation related to programming and contracts
- Develop/enhance key networking and partnership with relevant actors, including those working in comlementary sectors: i.e. water/sanitation and livelinhoods
Programme Management
- Ensure Remote Management guidelines are updated, relevant and rolled-out in a practical manner to field project sites
- Ensure appropriate and timely country office and integrated project plans exist for each site and they are monitored and reported on regularly
- Ensure that projects remain within the remit of their initial design, budget and propose and prepare any amendments when necessary
- Support field sites in the fulfilment of their duties according to programme design
- Ensure that appropriate systems and plans are in place for dealing with emergencies, and provide leadership for staff and volunteers in emergencies
- Establish systems and standards for assessment and monitoring/evaluation of programmes against their strategic aims
- Ensure there is a regular, documented forum / meeting for all key staff to discuss and plan programme objectives and plans according to each country
- Ensure regular monitoring and support visits by all SMT members for all project sites
- Ensure timely submission of monthly/quaterly sitreps with feedback from all sites
Staff Management / HR
- Manage staff effectively, including appropriate and systematic delegation
- Co-ordinate and support the national and international staff teams, ensuring that the individuals work effectively together and achieve the programme objectives
- Establish and /or maintain HR management tools incl. organisational charts, job descriptions, salary scales, performance appraisals, disciplinary processes as per Merlin policies, etc.
- Establish systems for maintaining an overview of all staff activity in pursuit of programme aims, including staff leave and R&R
- Line manage senior staff, including regular performance management and appraisals
- Ensure a strong team management and support
- Develop and apply policies, terms and conditions following both Merlin guidelines and local employment law with approval from the RPM and HR Advisor
- Take an active part in staff recruitment for the region in coordination with HO HR department
Administration and Logistics
- Primary responsibility to ensure that appropriate logistic, administrative and financial systems and procedures are established and/or maintained and followed in accordance with Merlin guidelines
- Ensure appropriate communications equipment and assets management for all field
- Ensure that reports and articles for both internal and external distribution are approved by the desk as well as the operational contracts to be signed with donors and monthly/quarterly reports
- Ensure support is given by the Nairobi team (SMT) to all field sites both proactively and reactively
Finance Management
- Ensure all finance/procurement/logistics systems and procedures are according to donors and Merlin compliance systems and ensure systems are followed and implemented effectively
- Oversee budget preparation, setting the parameters and an inclusive process
- Ensure that country programmes are implemented within budget allocation and according to donor procedures with relevant budget holder appraisal
- Ensure that personnel are funded according to programme budgets
- Ensure and anticipate donor reporting schedules, including spending plan projections
- Establish and / or maintain the Merlin field accounting systems
- Oversee the completion and return to London of the monthly field accounts within the agreed deadlines
Other
- Carry out any other responsibilities as requested by the regional Regional Programmes Manager or Programmes Director
Person Specification
Essential
Qualifications, experience and competences
Experience
- Extensive experience of creating productive donor partnerships
- Extensive overseas management experience including strategic planning and management of large and complex budgets
- Significant experience of project/programme management in a senior capacity
- Knowledge of the health sector in a developing country
- Experience in both emergency and developmental programmes
- Experience of establishing strong working relationships with colleagues from different functions and cultures
Security
- Considerable experience in working within an insecure environment with responsibility for security monitoring and management
- Knowledge of security guidelines and procedures
Leadership
- Ability to create and maintain an innovative and enthusiastic working environment at all levels
- Ability to lead diverse teams
- Ability to provide high quality supervision, line management and support to staff across the country programmes
- Ability to initiate policy, research effectively and analyse complex information.
- Ability to make and implement decisions
- Ability to provide leadership and coordination in planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation
- Ability to take on significant financial management responsibilities
Representation
- Ability to develop and maintain relationships with other NGOs, government and other relevant stakeholders
- Ability to build and maintain relationships with donor agencies with the aim of creating partnership and increasing funding for the country programme
- Ability to participate effectively and where necessary take the lead in co-ordination and forum concerned with development in the country of operations
Personal qualities
- Excellent time management
- Ability to meet working deadlines, to listen to and disseminate information as appropriate
- Self-motivated, with personal resilience and ability to sustain performance
- Good analytical skills
- Experience of proactively identifying and addressing issues
- An understanding of and commitment to Merlin’s mission and values
- Confident and proficient in the use of MS Office
- Experience of a flexible approach to managing and prioritising a high workload and multiple tasks in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines
Qualifications
- Graduate level education in a relevant discipline.
- Professional experience of project cycle (Design, Monitoring and Evaluation) implementation, ensuring the delivery of high quality programmes.
Desirable
Qualifications, experience and competences
- Previous experience in the region
- Comprehensive knowledge of the geopolitical situation of the region.
- Knowledge of public health policies and policy environment in developing countries
Data Protection
Please note, on submitting your application, you are agreeing to Merlin holding and using the information that you have given for the purposes of recruitment and employment – should an offer be made. Where required by donors funding requirements, some job offers are conditional on our ensuring that potential employees’ names do not appear on counter terrorism lists generated by the United Nations, European Union or the United States. On submitting your application, you are agreeing to Merlin using the information that you have given for checking that your name does not appear on these lists.
Reference Code: RW_7Y4LR2-51
