Merlin Logistics Manager Job Vacancy in Liberia

Location: Liberia, 60% based in Monrovia, 40% in the field
Start Date: ASAP
Duration: 24 months
Salary: £33,580 – £34,330 per annum (dependant on relevant experience),
Benefits: Insurance cover, accommodation, annual leave entitlement of 24 days per annum rising to 30 days at the completion of 12 months of continuous employment with Merlin.
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
Undaunted and determined, Merlin saves lives. We deliver medical expertise to the toughest places. And we stay to help build lasting health care.

Our mission is to end the needless loss of life in the poorest countries caused by a lack of effective health care. We help communities set up medical services for the long term including hospitals, clinics, surgeries and training for nurses and other health workers.
We do whatever it takes and we stay for as long as it takes.

Context and Background
Merlin has been operational in various counties throughout Liberia since 1997 and has developed a good reputation as a key partner of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOH&SW) in Liberia. The main focus of Merlin’s programme in Liberia at present is supporting the (MoH&SW) with the provision of quality primary and secondary level health care services and influencing policy at the national level. In the course of implementing its activities in Liberia, Merlin supports over 800 MoH&SW workers through incentive payments. Merlin actively collaborates with the MoH&SW, UN Agencies, local partner NGOs, and other INGOs and agencies such as Mentor Initiative and International Committee of the Red Cross.

Merlin’s activities include technical, capacity building and logistical support to the County Health and Social Welfare Teams (CH&SWTs) as well as capacity building health facility staff through training, mentoring and/or supervision to ensure improved quality of care in the supported facilities. In 2012 Merlin will be supporting 66 primary health care facilities in Maryland, Grand Bassa, Sinoe, Grand Kru and Grand Gedeh counties, and 5 hospitals in Grand Gedeh, Greenville, Barclayville and Harper. Merlin also has a Reproductive Health/Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) team to mainstream maternal health promotion and HIV/AIDS prevention into all Merlin projects as a cross-cutting theme.

Merlin Liberia is working with the MoH&SW and CH&SWTs in each supported county to create a more coordinated strategy in line with the MoH&SW lead partner approach.
The Logistics Manager will be involved in coordinating logistical activities of the Country Programme, providing logistical support to field teams by designing and implementing clear and efficient logistical procedures in all project areas. The Logistical Manager will provide high level logistical coordination and management to Merlin’s operations in Liberia, playing an essential role in ensuring that logistical backup and service works seamlessly in supporting the medical programme.

The Logistics Manager also will play a central programmatic role by inputting into the design and implementation of MOH&SW logistical systems and SOPs that are being rolled out by the government countrywide. In collaboration with the field logistics teams, the Logistics Manager will support the capacity building of CHT logistics officers and advice on the implementation of the supply chain SOPs of the MOH& SW.

Responsibilities
Logistics Management
• Overall coordination and management of the country logistics teams and systems.
• As member of the Country Management Team (CMT) actively participate in planning and organizing, ensuring country logistics are in optimal efficiency level, allowing the program to be productive and smoothly implemented.
• Ensure that procurement reflects the Merlin policy and is compliant with appropriate donor guidelines and reinforce adherence to Merlin logistics procedures through training of local staff (Merlin staff, partner NGO staff and County Management Teams (CHT)) to ensure transparency and accountability of all logistics activities
• Responsible for managing Country Programme logistical activities including international and local procurement, in collaboration with relevant staff within Merlin and the partner organizations.
• Carry out, in cooperation with the Operations Manager and Project Coordinators, professional logistics planning to ensure appropriate and cost efficient procurement, stocking and distribution of all required relief supplies to ensure effective and transparent supply chain management
• Supervise the Monrovia log team to ensure efficient and appropriate logistical support for the appropriate warehousing (including cold chain) and transportation of medical equipment, drugs and other supplies to primary and secondary health care facilities
• Supervise the Senior Roving Logistician to ensure implementation of Merlin Liberia logistical policy and procedure in the field.
• Ensure maximum availability and implementation of control and monitoring mechanisms for all logistics assets such as vehicles, generators and all other technical items using either petrol, diesel or kerosene to maximize efficiency, eliminate theft and fraud, and ensure regular maintenance
• Responsible for overseeing and monitoring asset management within the Country Programme; an asset list to be updated monthly as required
• Maintain familiarity with logistics related donor/Merlin compliance issues to ensure compliance.
• Ensure appropriate systems for vehicles’ fleet and generators management, including fuel consumption monitoring, spare parts consumption and replenishment and service scheduling are in place and sufficiently implemented throughout Merlin Liberia.
• Assist in budget development, preparation of procurement plans and spending plans relating to logistics expenditure and operational costs.

Administration
• Participation in project planning and the preparation of donor proposals and internal/ donor reports in collaboration with relevant staff
• Ensure implementation of logistic standards and benchmarks and ensuring operations’ adherence and synchronization / consistency of systems across the country.
• Coordinate and ensure the establishment and proper implementation of all Merlin standard warehousing and stock control systems in the country.
• Coordinate and ensure proper drugs supply chain cycle including order, store, distribution and control / monitoring.
• Ensure appropriate logistics filing systems (in Merlin, and within the implementing partners) to include all equipment manuals, maintenance schedules and Merlin standard documentation
• Ensure appropriate management of communications systems within the program, including set up of HF & VHF radios, internet systems and satellite phones communication
• Ensure the compliance to Merlin logistics reporting policy throughout Merlin Liberia. Collect, compile and submit country logistics overall reports to HQ on a monthly basis.
• Assist the program department in the procurement and transportation of material and equipment for construction projects – and to strongly support these projects as necessary.

Human Resources and Capacity Building
• Directly manage based Senior Logistics Officer, Senior Fleet and Safety Officer, IT Manager and Senior Roving Logistician.
• As country technical logistics manager, support the program logistics teams in terms of recruitment, team building, and conducting appraisals.
• Continuously assess and monitor logistics staffing status and coordinate with the CMT to address findings / needs.
• Assess the continuing training needs of the project logistics expatriate and national staff and ensure training needs are appropriately addressed.
• Line-manage/coach the field site’s Merlin national logistics staff, including participation in recruitment, team building, and conducting appraisals
• Organization of weekly progress meeting with Logistics staff in Monrovia to ensure smooth activity implementation.
• Assess the continuing training needs of the field site’s national logistics staff (Merlin staff, partner NGO staff and logistics CHT staff) and ensure training needs are appropriately met.
• Coordinate training of CHT logistics offices in 5 counties
• Improve the professional capacity of the national logistics staff by providing regular on the job training, as well as topic specific training sessions if needed

Security
• Assist the Country Direction in security management by acting as security focal point for Merlin – Liberia. Ensure that security guidelines are respected and followed by all Merlin staff. Ensure ongoing security information is collected and analyzed and acquired knowledge passes on sufficiently to new members.
• Assist Country Director in developing, reviewing and maintaining adequate security systems including evacuation plans, security guidelines and preparedness procedures.
• Participation in the on-going monitoring of the security situation and providing regular updates to the CMT
• Implement security measures according to Merlin security guidelines
• In collaboration with the PCs, ensure field site security and security of all Merlin staff and assets as well as NGO partner staff and assets
• If necessary facilitate the evacuation of field based teams in collaboration with the Country Director.

Other
• Any other duties that may be required or assigned by the Country Director

Person Specification
Essential
Qualifications, experience and competences
• Substantial previous experience in logistics management of an International Humanitarian Aid program.
• Technical skills in a number of the following: Mechanics, Radio Communications, Construction management, Water and Sanitation, Drugs supply management, International Procurement, Cold chain management.
• Proven experience in security management in insecure environments
• 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
• Excellent management and personnel skills to enable the motivation, encouragement and participation of team. Team Builder
• Excellent managerial skills; able to delegate and follow-up on tasks to effectively manage a high workload
• 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
• Willing to travel and visit Merlin project sites and make assessments in the region
• Proven ability to take on responsibilities/tasks which go beyond the job description for the benefit of the program.
• 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
• Degree level qualification in logistics management or other relevant field OR significant practical experience in the same.
• Previous experience in Liberia

How to apply

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 for any technical reason, please contact applications@merlin.org.uk.

Please note that we do not accept CVs. Unfortunately due to the number of applications we receive, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Application deadline: August 9, 2012