Country Director / Medical Emergency Relief International (Merlin)

Please note that this is an accompanied position based in Kinshasa.
Benefits include flight and insurance for 3 dependents and your own
accommodation.

Merlin International Profile

Merlin is the only specialist UK charity which responds worldwide with
vital health care and medical relief for vulnerable people caught up in
natural disasters, conflict, disease and health system collapse. Each
year, Merlin helps more than 15 million people in up to 20 countries.

Context and Background

Merlin has been operational in the Great Lakes region since 1994. Our
projects have assisted refugees and displaced people on both sides of
the eastern border of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Since
March 1997, Merlin has provided extensive support to health zones in
South Kivu, North Kivu, Kasai Oriental, and Maniema provinces of
eastern DRC. Other Merlin projects have provided assistance to host and
displaced populations in western DRC in Kamonia province.

Specific areas of intervention include the following:

• Health Systems Strengthening for improved health service delivery
• Primary Healthcare Programs including water and sanitation projects
• Emergency Preparedness and Response including support to national surveillance systems
• CDC projects for HIV, TB, Malaria and neglected diseases
• Construction and Rehabilitation of health facilities and community health infrastructures

Merlin is the sole source of essential medical support for over 200
primary & secondary health facilities, providing health care to
over 1,800,000 beneficiaries. In Maniema Province, Merlin is
implementing a DFID (British government) funded 3 years free health
care project throughout 10 health zones. In North Kivu, Merlin
implements primary healthcare projects in several health zones
including emergency support. North Kivu is funded through several
institutional donors and UN agencies.

Main purpose of the role

The Country Director will provide overall leadership, strategic
direction and operational management in line with Merlin’s vision and
objectives as lined out in the Strategic Plan for DRC. The Country
Director will also assume responsibility for the smooth running and
development of Merlin programmes through analysis of the humanitarian
context, needs assessments and appropriate responses. The post also
includes responsibility at country level for identifying and securing
donor funding and an expectation to increase Merlin’s profile through
representation to external actors and advocacy on behalf of vulnerable
populations.

Objectives of the role

• Provide leadership and representation for Merlin DRC Programme
• Develop and implement DRC programme Strategy and ensure its timely implementation.
• Ensure a human resource plan is in place for the management of all programme staff
• Ensure appropriate logistical systems and procedure are established and maintained in line with Merlin policies and procedures
• Ensure that Merlin’s policies, systems and guidelines are implemented, used and adhered to
• Oversee budget preparation and ensure relevant financial structures exist to support programme activities and compliance
• Ensure the safety of all Merlin DRC staff

Responsibilities

Leadership

• Develop and maintain a coherent country programme strategy that contributes to Merlin's global objectives
• Coordinate and manage the overall planning and direction of Merlin's operations at country level
• Create a shared vision, among all staff, of Merlin's programme aims and their role in achieving these.

Representation

• Represent Merlin to Local & National Authorities,
  donors, (I)NGOs and other relevant partners both at Kinshasa as well as
  field level
• Develop/enhance key networking and partnership with relevant actors
• Place emphasis on raising and maintaining a high profile for Merlin in DRC
• Manage external communications in collaboration with the PR Department in London.

Programme Development

• Develop and secure long-term funding for new programmes based on identified needs
• Ensure effective coordination of relevant departments (e.g. health, logistics, etc.) in proposal development
• Maintain Merlin's emergency preparedness capacity
  as relevant to the geo-political and humanitarian situation in the
  Great Lakes
• Organise and/or undertake needs assessments as necessary
• Develop and maintain productive working
  relationships with donors and undertake all in-country negotiation
  related to programming and contracts
• Ensure the development and implementation of a mission wide M&E process.

Programme Management

• 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

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 evaluations, disciplinary processes as per Merlin policies,
  etc.
• Establish systems for maintaining an overview of all staff activity in pursuit of programme aims
• Line manage senior staff, including conducting regular performance management and appraisals
• Ensure effective teamwork among staff
• Develop and apply policies, terms and conditions following both Merlin guidelines and local employment law
• Ensure that personnel are funded according to programme budgets.
• Take an active part in staff recruitment for the region in coordination with Merlin London HR dept.

Administration and Logistics

• Ensure that appropriate logistic, administrative and
  financial structures and procedures are established and / or maintained
  in accordance with the Merlin guidelines
• Maintain regular communications with head office
  using the established procedures i.e. communications and other
  reporting procedures
• Ensure programme activities are carried out within Merlin guidelines.
• Ensure that reports for both internal and external
  distribution, as requested by the desk and as stated in the operational
  contracts signed with donors, are timely compiled

Security

• knowledge, expertise and equipment is in place in all Merlin bases to guarantee maximum/adequate response to security situations

Finance Management

• Oversee budget preparation, setting the parameters and the process
• Ensure that country programmes are implemented within budget allocation and according to donor procedures
• Ensure and anticipate donor reporting schedules, including spending plan projections
• Establish and / or maintain the Merlin field accounting systems
• Ensure all finance/procurement/logistics procedures are according to donors and Merlin compliance 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.
• Extensive experience of international development work, including strategic planning
• Knowledge of the health sector in a developing country
• Experience in emergency programmes
• Considerable experience in working within an insecure environment with responsibility for security monitoring and management

– Leadership

• Ability to create and maintain and innovative and enthusiastic working environments at all levels
• Ability to lead a diverse team
• Ability to provide high quality supervision, line management and support to staff.
• 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-ordinations and forum concerned with
  development in DRC

– Personal qualities

• Excellent time management
• Ability to work in a timely manner, to listen to and disseminate information as appropriate
• Self-motivated, with personal resilience and ability to sustain performance
• Ability to work with challenging deadlines and multi-tasking
• Qualifications
• Graduate level education in a relevant discipline
• Excellent written and spoken French and English
• Professional experience of project cycle (Design,
  Monitoring and Evaluation) implementation, ensuring the delivery of
  high quality programmes

Desirable

• Previous experience in the region
• Comprehensive knowledge of the geopolitical situation in DRC
• Knowledge of public health policies and policy environment in developing countries

How to apply

Reference Code: RW_7MCFY6-37