Haiti Country Director
Salary: £39’770 to £40’520 per annum pro-rata (dependant on relevant experience) inclusive of supplementary annual Cost of Living allowance. Benefits: Insurance cover, accommodation, free return flights, R&R and 24 days annual leave (pro-rata)
Closing date: 09th August 2011
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 an accompanied post may be considered for employee and partner only. (Subject to security assessment and funding availability).
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 On 12th January 2010 a powerful earthquake struck a highly populated area in Ouest Departement of Haiti, causing severe structural damage in and around Port-au-Prince. The Haitian Red Cross estimates that up to 3.5 million people were affected; the exact number of fatalities remains unknown.
Merlin’s initial response focussed on a surgical intervention to carry out ‘limb salvaging’, using combined teams of orthopaedic/plastic surgery specialists (mainly from the UK national health service) based in a tented hospital in the suburb of Delmas 33 in Port au Prince. An OPD was also set up to treat trauma and PHC patients.
The primary health care phase of the country programme commenced in late March, with mobile teams operating in the area around Petit Goave (Ouest Departement). Further teams started in Port au Prince after the closure of the surgical unit in March.
Merlin scaled up once again in response to the cholera outbreak in late 2010, opening a new base in Nord-Est department. Now the programme is continuing with the transition to longer-term projects, both in PaP and in the forgotten rural areas; whilst retaining the ability to respond to renewed cholera outbreaks or other emergencies.
Main purpose of the role
To lead Merlin’s contribution to the cholera response, and in due course to manage the transition back to health system rebuilding and strengthening.
Responsibilities General • To manage all aspects of the Haiti programme. • To oversee the transition from emergency response to rehabilitation and development, whilst responding to renewed emergencies as necessary. • To continue the development of Merlin’s medium-term strategy for Haiti. • To coordinate with the relevant clusters, donors, other sector actors and national/local authorities as necessary.
Leadership of the Country Programme • Coordinate and manage the overall planning and direction of Merlin's operations at country level • Develop and maintain a coherent strategy that contributes to Merlin's global objectives • Ensure good communication, collaboration and team spirit within the teams managed
Programme Development • Continue the ongoing reorientation and expansion of the programme to help meet the cholera outbreak • Organise and/or undertake needs assessments as necessary • Develop and secure funding for emergency response and longer-term projects • Develop and maintain Merlin's emergency preparedness capacity • In due course, plan and manage the transition from emergency response to rehabilitation and development phases.
Programme Management • Ensure that projects remain within the remit of their initial design and budget; propose and prepare any amendments when necessary • Support field sites in the fulfilment of their duties according to programme design • 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
Representation • Represent Merlin to local & national authorities, clusters, international donors, & (I)NGOs • Decide which coordination networks Merlin should invest time in, and commit time to those where participation will yield best results for Merlin • Manage external communications in collaboration with the communications department in London. • Take the lead in developing local partnership when appropriate. Staff Management / Human Resources • Ensure that the level of both national and international staff is appropriate to the programme goals; and review staff levels as the situation evolves. • Manage staff effectively, including appropriate and systematic delegation • Co-ordinate and support national and international staff, ensuring that the individuals work effectively together as a team to achieve the programme objectives • Line manage senior staff, including regular performance management and appraisals • With the assistance of the HR Manager, develop and apply policies, terms and conditions following both Merlin guidelines and national employment law • Ensure that personnel are funded within the frame of programme budgets • Take an active part in staff recruitment in coordination with the programmes and HR departments in London
Logistics • Ensure that appropriate logistic structures and procedures are established and / or maintained in accordance with the Merlin guidelines • Oversee the timely and efficient procurement and supply of items essential to the cholera response.
Security Management • Responsible for the security of all international and national staff. • Ensure that appropriate security guidelines and procedures are established, maintained / updated regularly and adhered to by the team • Monitor the security context (including participating in local/national INGO/UN security meetings) and act on any deterioration in this that could affect operations and provide guidance to teams/sites as required • Provide support and advice for improved security management to project field sites and Country Management Team • Facilitate the evacuation of field based teams if necessary
Administration and Finance • Ensure that appropriate administrative and financial guidelines and procedures are established, maintained / updated regularly and adhered to by the team as well as any basic systems required in country • Maintain regular communications with head office using the established procedures • Ensure that reports and articles are produced for both internal and external distribution as requested by the London desk and as stated in the operational contracts signed with donors, including monthly and quarterly reports • Oversee budget preparation, setting the parameters and the process • Establish and / or maintain Merlin field accounting systems • Oversee the completion and return to London of the monthly field accounts within the agreed deadlines
Person Specification Essential Qualifications, experience and competences • Extensive experience in a senior management position in an INGO environment, including responsibility for project management and budget control, management and donor compliance issues • Knowledge and experience of the health sector in a developing country • Significant experience of leading emergency response programmes • Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English and French • Extensive experience of representation to a broad range of people and organisations including donors, government officials, etc • An ability to identify and analyse opportunities that contribute to strategic aims, translate them into practical plans and implement them • Experience of working within an insecure environment with responsibility for security planning, monitoring and management • Experience of delivering and facilitating training in all aspects of the programme cycle • Confident and proficient in the use of MS Office • Willingness to live and work in a challenging environment and undertake frequent travel • Good leadership skills and 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 • A qualification in public health • Previous experience in the region • Knowledge of Merlin systems and procedures
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.
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