Closing date: 26 Jan 2010 -- (CLOSED)
Location: Sudan (the)
Responsible To: Logistics Coordinator
Works With: Nyala, Kalma and Sanyafundu logistics, administration and HR staff
Location: Nyala
Contract Duration: 6 months
Starting Date: ASAP
Salary: £19,704 - £21,928 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 short listed 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 Sudan mission is to address humanitarian and health crises within Sudan, with particular focus on Darfur (Western Sudan) while increasing capacity of local structures to deliver effective and quality primary health care services.
Over two million people are now thought to have been displaced since the commencement of hostilities in the Darfur region, many of whom continue to be in acute need of emergency assistance. These needs are further exacerbated by seasonal rains & food shortages due to interruptions of agricultural cycles. Developments at the peace process level may initiate population returns in certain areas, while other areas continue to experience displacement.
Merlin has been working in Darfur since late 2004, and currently runs 3 projects across South Darfur. Merlin’s primary health care interventions provide quality services through both static and outreach mobile clinic services. Activities increase community-level access to health care by establishing static primary health clinics in former mobile clinic locations, and starting new mobile sites where population movements indicate severe need. The programme will also extend health education: Merlin believes that preventive health care has significant impacts on health status. This is embedded in a context where Merlin collaborates closely with Sudan’s Ministry of Health and other government agencies for material and human resource support for projects.
Main purpose of the role
Support the Logistics Coordinator in all logistics activities consistent with Merlin protocols and procedures, to ensure site objectives are achieved in collaboration with the project team.
Overall Objectives (scope)
- To deliver logistical support to Merlin’s programme (procurement, fleet management, asset management warehousing…)
- To submit to the Logistics Coordinator monthly report
- To be actively involved in the capacity building activities of the logistics national staff team
Responsibilities
Procurement
- Implement and maintain Merlin standard procurement practices, keeping records to full audit trail standard under Donor regulations as well as Merlin Internal Procurement Procedures for Merlin activities in Darfur
- Ensure to obtain the necessary authorizations / approvals, execute the purchase of appropriate supplies in Monrovia for all Merlin projects and arrange delivery in a timely and cost effective manner
- Maintain a clear communication with the projects to ensure procurement processes, deliveries of supplies and related activities are followed up and all required information is shared with the destination sites
- Ensuring for the elaboration and maintenance of accurate and up-to-date supplier information and market prices databases for regularly purchased items
- Ensure the maintenance of a good professional working relationship with suppliers
Transport & Vehicles’ maintenance
- Oversee the Nyala fleet management and ensure the provision of transport services to Merlin program departments and staff are efficient, sufficient and always secure
- Ensure safety standards in all vehicles in the fleet, including availability of necessary safety accessories and communication equipment
- Oversee the maintenance / repair activities for all Merlin Nyala vehicles & generators as well as for vehicles & generators coming from other field sites, ensure that the maintenance works are of quality standards, efficient, are taking place in a timely manner and information sharing within relevant projects and departments is optimal
- Oversee the fuel consumption as well as maintenance overall costs of vehicles & generators and comment / alert the Logistics Coordinator whenever normal rates and standards are exceeded.
Assets management & maintenance
- Implement Merlin Assets management (registration, control and tracking) system in the Nyala Merlin base
- Keep an up-to-date list of all assets and the inventory items for Merlin Nyala in compliance to Merlin policy
- Cooperate with relevant departments to monitor assets movements and changes through assets tracking methods and ensure proper control of all equipment at all times
- Conduct regular physical checks on the assets and inventory items of Merlin Nyala offices and living compounds
- Act as focal point for Nyala as well as other project sites for maintenance and repairs of assets. Liaise with the appropriate staff and arrange for the repair of any damages reported for Nyala as well as for the project sites. Ensure that all field sites receive timely and quality service on their requests for repairs and maintenance
- Ensure that the structure of the compounds, electricity, water supply, power supply, equipment, are in working order and any faults are reported and repaired promptly
Warehousing / Stock control
- Implement, supervise and monitor Merlin standard warehousing practices, keeping records to full audit trail standard under Donor regulations as well as Merlin Internal Warehousing Procedures for Merlin activities in Nyala
- Act as focal point for all shipments procedures by monitoring and cooperating with the appointed external agent for receiving goods from the transport agents.
Reporting
- Elaborate and submit to the Logistics Coordinator comprehensive reports on monthly basis, including asset management, communication, procurement, fleet management and warehouse stock movement and management reports for the Nyala base in compliance to Merlin policy
Local staff Capacity building
- Be actively involved in capacity building and provide adequate training support for procurement, transport, fleet and warehouse officers in Merlin Nyala
Person Specification
Essential
Qualifications, experience and competences
- Proven experience in logistics in international humanitarian aid programs
- Technical skills in a number of the following: Mechanics, Radio Communications, Drugs supply management, Cold chain management
- Supply chain management skills, procurement, warehousing / stock control, distribution
- Ability and flexibility to understand the cultural and political environment and to work well with the local authorities
- Able to work as part of a team and work closely with different Merlin projects
- Management and personnel skills to enable the motivation, encouragement and participation of team. Team Builder.
- Good training skills and a commitment to national staff capacity development
- Level headed and able to manage stress
- Flexible and able to easily adapt to different environments
- 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
Desirable
Qualifications, experience and competences
- Previous experience with Merlin
- Previous experience in North Sudan
- Previous academic experience in Logistics and/or supply chain management
Reference Code: RW_7Y6KUV-36
