Position:
Operations Manager Programme: Liberia Line Manager: Country Director
Responsible for: Project Coordinators and Project Officer?
Works with: CMT, ME&RC, HCs, and Partners (e.g., Government of Liberia, Ministries, National NGOs, etc) among others
Location: Monrovia with extensive travel to Field Sites
Start Date: ASAP
Duration: 2 years (subject to funding)
Salary: £32,950 – £33,700 per annum (dependant on relevant experience)
Benefits: Insurance cover, accommodation, R&R, annual leave entitlement of 24 days per annum rising to 30 days at the completion of 12 months of continuous employment with Merlin.
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. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. 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 Due to a lack of qualified health workers, a dilapidated health infrastructure and insufficient government funds following two civil wars, Liberia’s health care system is only beginning to make the transition from emergency to development phase. Merlin was one of the few agencies to remain throughout the last civil war and since 1997, has been working with the Ministry of Health in Liberia to renovate health facilities, supply medicines and equipment, and train and supervise health workers.
Merlin supports 81 health facilities (clinics, hospitals and health centres) in 6 counties in the county (10 of these facilities through a local partner). Merlin’s support is aimed at strengthening referral linkages, monitoring/supportive supervision mechanisms, developing health information systems and capacity building first level service providers as well as the County Health and Social Welfare Team (CH&SWT) management staff. The support also includes the re-vitalization of the network of Community Health Volunteers (CHVs), increasing community awareness/acceptance for preventive health services through health education and the delivery of cross-cutting Reproductive Health (RH), Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) /AIDS projects. Merlin is currently also working with two local partner organisations in Liberia.
All Merlin projects are designed to build the capacity of Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoH&SW) staff and Merlin has implemented specific projects to provide national level training of County Health and Social Welfare Teams (CH&SWTs) to develop their management skills and capability to assist in the transition of service delivery support to the government. Merlin remains committed to supporting the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoH&SW) during Liberia’s transitional phase from emergency relief to development. Merlin is transitioning to a counterpart approach of programming specifically targeted at strengthen the CH&SWT in a decentralised health system in line with the national health plan focused on the delivery of the basic package of health services (BPHS).
Main purpose of the role as the Operations Manager, you will oversee the implementation of actual field activities that aim at achieving the strategic objectives of the country programme. You will provide supervision to the Programme Managers Project Coordinators and the Project Officer to ensure the timely implementation of donor-funded projects based on the Merlin Project Management Cycle (PMC).
Duties & Responsibilities
General
• Manage all programme operations, review management systems and make appropriate improvements.
• Co-ordinate activities between the field sites and the capital office.
• Monitor and maintain compliance with standard Merlin procedures and guidelines.
• Play a key role in developing Merlin’s position within Liberia.
• Maintain a strong working relationship with other Country Management Team members and all Project Coordinators
• Represent the Country Director when required
• Play a key role in the implementation of the Counterpart Approach/Partnership for Health System Strengthening to working with the Ministry of Health Country Health Teams
• Responsible for grant management and donor compliance in the implementation of Merlin projects
Operational Management
• Overall responsibility for effective and efficient management of project implementation at all project sites, consistent with the project management cycle, program objectives, activities and indicators
• Coordinate the drawing-up of plans, proposals, and budgets for new projects & extensions of projects in conjunction with the other Country Management Team members and the field sites’ teams
• In collaboration with the Monitoring & Evaluation Coordinator ensure project monitoring systems are in place and that reviews are undertaken periodically in conjunction with the team, the country Director, project partners and relevant local stakeholders
• Initiate regular project team meetings at all field sites to ensure project time-line fulfilment and donor/ Merlin compliance
• Ensure reports are completed in accordance with deadlines/ compliance requirements; and undertake report editing where necessary
• Pro-actively contribute to programme development and strategy
• Monitor the evolving humanitarian situation in the project regions and consider strategic and immediate responses
• Line manage Project Coordinators and Project Officer to ensure that appropriate Merlin management, administration, personnel, logistic, finance, and communication systems are in place.
• Undertake regular travel to all field sites as dictated by the needs of the project, security and staff etc.
Logistics/ Finance/ Administration
• Ensure appropriate administrative, financial and logistical Merlin systems/ procedures are in place, maintained and adhered to so that all support functions are carried out effectively and efficiently
• Maintain familiarity with donor compliance issues, ensuring all projects are compliant with donor and Merlin procedures/ requirements
• Ensure appropriate documentation of projects for transparency and future donor inspection/ audit
• Assist the Logistics Manager in follow-up and coordination of logistical issues with field sites
• In coordination with the Logistics Manager undertake logistics systems monitoring/ review
Human Resource Management
• Undertake expatriate staff performance management for Programme Managers, Project Coordinators and Project Officer under direct line-management
• Where relevant, contribute to job descriptions and staff selection
• Support team members professionally and monitor/ support stress management
• Maintain good inter-team communications & engender positive team dynamics
• Monitor staff welfare in the field sites and ensure appropriate steps are taken to improve living and working conditions where necessary
Communication/ Representation
• Ensure regular communications are maintained between the field sites and the Country Management Team, acting as the focal person for communication
• Represent field site teams at the Country Management Team meetings, and the Country Management Team in the field sites
• In coordination with the Country Director, represent Merlin to government officials, donors, NGOs, local and national health authorities, and any other parties as required
• Support the Country Director’s strategic co-operation initiatives with the MoH&SW, and international community active in Liberia
Other
• Provide coverage for other posts when necessary and carry out any other responsibilities as reasonably requested by the Country Director
Person Specification
Essential
• Relevant degree in development studies/community development/administration
• Relevant previous experience in an overseas post-conflict or development environment
• Proven experience of working in development
• Strong international project coordination and management experience, including: ? Project needs assessment ? Project proposal development ? Logical framework development ? Report and proposal writing ? Security management ? Personnel management
• Experience of representation/ liaison with government officials, local authorities, NGOs, civil society groups and donors
• Ability to write and edit quality project proposals and reports
• Proven administrative, problem solving and organisational skills
• Proven experience in budget management
• Understanding of logistics systems
• Diplomatic and effective communication skills
• Strong leadership skills and a supportive management style
• Experience of managing large teams situated in multiple geographic locations
• Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English
• Experience of proactively identifying and addressing issues
• An understanding of and commitment to Merlin’s mission and values
• Experience of different donor funding mechanisms
• 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 • An understanding of and commitment to Merlin’s mission and values
Desirable
• Experience in basic and preventative health care
• Previous experience within Africa
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: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
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.