Flying Fleet Management Advisor/Mechanic

The overall purpose of MSF is to preserve life and alleviate suffering while protecting human dignity and seeking to restore the ability of people to make their own decisions. MSF accomplishes this through the provision of medical aid and a personal commitment to act as witness to events surrounding populations in danger. This work is essentially performed in periods of crisis, when a situation is no longer held in balance and the very survival of a population may be threatened. The underlying basis for realising its objectives is respect for medical ethics, humanistic ideals, human rights and international humanitarian law.

The Logistics Department (LogD) of the OCA supports the overall purpose of MSF, providing excellent logistics and technical support to the OCA field operations. The department is responsible for providing strategic direction, integrated advice and hands on support to logistics and technical issues in the field. The department is made up of the Field Support Unit (FSU), the Amsterdam Procurement Unit (APU) and the Nairobi Supply Centre (NSC).

The FSU consists of a group of generalist Front Officers (based in Amsterdam, Toronto and Berlin) working directly with operations in HQ and the field and a group of technical/expert Back Officers who are responsible to provide specific support in a number of disciplines.

The APU consists of Operational- and Tactical Procurement Officers next to a number of specialists. APU is responsible for all international supply to MSF OCA field missions together with the NSC. The advisors of the Field Support Unit make regular field trips, produce tools and guidelines, provide (de)briefings and develop training for logistical/technical staff of MSF. They do so in close co-operation with the logistics/technical/procurement departments of the other MSF sections.

Effective immediately the Logistics Department of Medecins sans Frontieres is looking for a:

Flying fleet management advisor / mechanic 80-100% (field based position managed by hq)

Position within the organisation

The Flying fleet management advisor / mechanic resorts under the Head of the Logistics Department and reports directly to the Co-ordinator of the Field Support Unit. He/she will be functionally managed by the FSU Back Officer Transport. He/she co-operates closely with the members of the Field Support Unit (Front & Back office), the Procurement Unit, other support departments, and logistics Co-ordinators in the field.

Main objectives of the post

• Support implementation of the MSF-OCA fleet management policy in OCA missions by

o analysing the current situation in the field and designing and implementing improved strategy and systems where needed

o Asses the local market for availability of quality spares

o Asses the quality of local mechanic workshops

o Assist the LogCo with writing the mission specific annex to the MSF-OCA Fleet Management Policy

• Support local fleet management and mechanic capacity by providing on the job training to MSF-OCA fleet managers, drivers and mechanics.

Core responsibilities and tasks

• Assess vehicle management systems in MSF projects (use of logbook, periodical checks and maintenance, workshop administration, fuel administration and -control, use of genuine spares, spares stock levels and -ordering, responsibilities and organigram) according to MSF standards.
• Assess local suppliers for quality and availability of spares.
• Assess local (sub-)contractors for quality of services
• Write improvement plans with the related job descriptions, planning, organigram and budget
• Supervise established and on-going mechanical work
• Help selecting local drivers and mechanics
• Train local staff on-the-job (mechanics, drivers, chief drivers, fleet managers)
• Assist the BO vehicles of the FSU in improving field tools based on experience gained in this job

Candidate profile and qualifications

Education and experience

• MSF experience, preferably as techlog or all-round log
• Proven mechanical skills and knowledge, familiar with Toyota EPC (electronic parts catalogue)
• Proven training skills and knowledge
• Good communication skills
• Willingness to spend approximately 90% of his/her time in the field on assignments of around 2 months each and 10% in the Amsterdam office
• A high degree of work autonomy is required
• Fluency in English (written and spoken); good working knowledge of French is an advantage
• Willingness to travel and work with different field teams

We offer

A 100% appointment with the possibility to chose for a part-time appointment. A part-time appointment will result in full-time work while in the field and compensation in time between assignments.

* A gross monthly field salary in scale B between EU 1,485 and EU3,347 depending on relevant professional work experience

* A stimulating, professional working environment in an international organisation

* A one-year contract with renewal options

More information?

If you are interested in this post and would like additional information, please contact Olaf Pots, Coordinator of the FSU, at: +31 (0)20 520 8015

Application

Please send your letter of application and CV before 30-06-2014 to the attention of Ms Amanda van Hoorn (Personnel Officer HQ) by email to officejobs@amsterdam.msf.orgmentioning "Flying Mechanic" in the subject line.