Programme Manager/Engineer Job Vacancy in Liberia

Deadline: 04 April 2011 Job type: Contract
Salary: TBD
Location: Liberia
Organisation: Merlin – UK
Position: Programme Manager/Engineer
Responsible To: Operations Manager
Responsible For: Management of EU co-funded sustainable energy project and the project team.
Works With: MoH&SW, Implementing partners, Logistics Department, Grants Manager
Location: Monrovia, Liberia
Contract Duration: 24 months
Starting Date: ASAP
Salary: £27,600 – £28,350 per annum (dependent 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.

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 offers an exciting opportunity for a qualified engineer in the field of renewable solar energy to work closely with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Liberia in the implementation of an innovative and challenging project aimed at providing solar energy to approximately 205 primary health care facilities in Liberia. This person will work closely with the Ministry, a local partner and the Renewable Rural Energy Agency (RREA) of Liberia.

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
Merlin has been operational in various counties throughout Liberia since 1997 and has developed an extensive reputation in the health sector. The main focus of Merlin’s programme in Liberia at present is supporting the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoH&SW) with the provision of quality primary and secondary level health care services and influencing policy at decision making level.

Merlin’s activities include technical and logistical support to the County Health Teams (CHTs), capacity building of CHT staff, and supervision and training of health personnel to ensure improved quality of care in the supported facilities. In 2010 Merlin will be supporting 43 primary health care facilities in Montserrado, Maryland, Grand Bassa, Sinoe, Grand Kru and Grand Gedeh counties, and 4 hospitals in Buchanan, Zwedru, Greenville and Harper.

Merlin also runs a Reproductive Health/Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) project, cross-cutting four counties to improve maternal health outcomes. HIV and AIDS are incorporated into all Merlin projects as a cross-cutting theme.
Merlin is actively collaborating with the MoH&SW, UN Agencies, local partner NGOs, and other INGOs and agencies. .

Sustainable Energy Project
Funding has been granted to Merlin to provide sustainable energy to 205 remote heath facilities. This two- year project will deliver sustainable solar power to these clinics so that energy is always available for lighting and communications systems. The impact of this project will save lives as community health teams will be able to operate during night hours. The new power system will enable the remote health facilities to communicate with county hospitals either using cell-phone in areas with coverage or HF radio elsewhere. This will enable local health teams to refer medical cases which cannot be dealt with locally.

This project will run for three years and will be delivered in partnership with a local solar installation company and the MOH&SW Infrastructure Department. A team of installation technicians will be employed for the duration of the project and then transferred to the MoH&SW to form a new permanent maintenance unit for all solar installations at MoH&SW health facility sites.

Main purpose of the role
The Programme Manager/Engineer will coordinate the implementation of a 3-yr solar energy project in close partnership with the MOH&SW Infrastructure Department, a local implementing partner and other health sector INGOs. The PC will ensure including all elements of planning, management, M&E, reporting, staffing direction and control and successful execution. S/he will ensure a proper transition and handing over of the project to the MOH&SW at the end of 2-years.

Overall Objectives (scope)
 To be an effective and efficient manager of the project consistent with the project management cycle, program objectives, activities and indicators.
 To develop and maintain an effective installation team
 To ensure team safety and compliance with security regulations
 To represent Merlin to the County Health and Social Welfare Team (CH&SWT), other NGOs, UN agencies, local government bodies and other relevant parties
 To 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
 Ensure partner implementation of project in line with Merlin and donor compliance

Specific Responsibilities
Engineering and Operational Management:
 Manage and take full responsibility for all aspects of Merlin’s engineering project. The management will include the following:
 Ensure the consistent use of Merlin standard procedures, systems and guidelines
 Providing quality assurance and ensure that all installations meets Merlin’s and MOH&SW standards through regular site visits and inspections, meeting with contractors, MOH&SW infrastructure department, etc.
 Develop a procurement plan for the project materials and manage the tendering process for procurement of materials under the supervision of Merlin Logistics Manager to ensure compliance with Merlin standard contracting policies including developing specifications, bill of quantities, and contracts based on Merlin’s standards.
 Effectively monitor the progress of construction against the given timeline and provide adequate reporting on a weekly, monthly basis and verbal reports to Merlin Head Office.
 Develop a professional relationship with relevant government officials, other INGOs, Contractors, etc to create an effective network to assist Merlin in its construction objectives.
 Hold regular meetings with project managers from the implementing partners, health sector I/NGOs and with the MOH&SW Infrastructure Director.
 Report in line with the relevant donor contracts and compliance requirements
 Interact regularly with the Operations Manager to ensure project fulfillment and donor / Merlin compliance.
 Liaise with the Technology Manager (London) as necessary on technical specification matters.
 Ensure that all project activities are implemented in close coordination with the CH&SWTs
 Implement systems and procedures such that Field sites can provide quality assurance at all installation sites.
 Overall responsibility for all financial aspects of the installation project.

Security:
 Be responsible for the safety of workers on site and the security of materials and equipment during project implementation and ensure security guidelines are followed by all team members
 Pro-actively monitor the political, military and security situation in the project area and respond accordingly. For security issues inform the Ops Manager, Logistics Manager, security officer and Country Director (CD).
 The Programme Manager/Engineer is responsible for the execution of the project against the agreed objectives and within the agreed budgets; however, in carrying out these responsibilities the safety and security of the team are paramount.

Programme Development:
 Ensure all relevant authorities are included in the planning and implementation of projects as appropriate

Logistics/ Finance/ Administration:
 Maintain familiarity with donor compliance issues for Donors, ensuring the project is compliant with donor and Merlin procedures
 Ensure regular communications are maintained between the project team and the Monrovia office
 Prepare and submit projected expenditures each month (cash forecasting)
 Be responsible for financial management and accurate control of the project budget
 Document the project for transparency and future donor inspection/ audit.
 Be responsible for overall line management of the field site’s logistical activities including procurement and installation.

Human Resource Management:
 Optimise, in conjunction with other team members, the use of human, logistical and financial potential
 Where relevant, contribute to job descriptions, staff selection and person specifications assess HR needs, hire, and manage national technical officers and community mobilisers to assist in the installation and community mobilisation. Specifically:
 Provide clearly defined objectives and evaluations of all staff
 Provide training/mentoring to staff in all pertinent areas including project management and technical areas.
 Plan national and international staff requirements and liaise with relevant staff at the Monrovia office
 Maintain good inter-team communications, engender good team dynamics, and take suitable action when problems occur
 Support team members professionally and monitor/ support stress management
 Ensure that appraisals are carried out as per Merlin standard requirements and procedures

Representation:
 Participate in donor visits and relevant discussions with donors
 Represent the project/ Merlin to local government authorities and other parties as necessary
 In discussion with the CD, and according to Merlin guidelines, be the project’s contact with the local media
 Ensure all relevant parties are kept informed on Merlin activities as appropriate.

Grant Management:
 Provide adequate reporting with input into the Merlin monthly report and weekly progress updates to the Operations Manager
 In liaison with the Grants Manager, Edit and compile donor and quarterly reports from partners
 Monitor and support expenditure of budget by partners
 Provide logistical support where possible to partners to ensure fulfillment of objectives
 Coordinate all procurement done by Merlin on behalf of partners
 Act as focal point for communications between Merlin and partners in the project
 Ensure regular, minuted project review meetings with both management and field teams in implementing partners

Person Specification

Essential
Qualifications, experience and competences
 Professional qualification in electrical engineering
 Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English
 Proven ability to coordinate and develop a team that includes working with Merlin’s health professionals, local employees and professional technical counterparts with varied language skills and socio-cultural backgrounds
 Substantial knowledge, understanding, and ability to form and conform engineering design and construction contracts, bills of quantities, and specifications
 Relevant field experience in a humanitarian and/or development context in all aspects of project cycle management.
 Experience in logistical, financial, human resource and administrative management
 Ability to work under stressful conditions and to remain flexible and calm under pressure
 Ability to live and work in a hot and humid environment in a remote location
 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
 Physically fit enough to walk in a rural environment to reach remote project sites

Desirable
Qualifications, experience and competences
 Previous experience of working in Africa within health care projects.
 Experience and understanding of public health and community health
 Recognised project management qualification.

To apply for this position
Please download an application form from our website www.merlin.org.uk Completed form should be emailed to applications@merlin-uk.org stating in the subject field ‘Programme Manager/Engineer-LIB.’

Data Protection
Please note, on submitting your application, you are agreeing to Merlin holding and using the information that you have given for the purposes of recruitment and employment – should an offer be made. Where required by donors funding requirements, some job offers are conditional on our ensuring that potential employees’ names do not appear on counter terrorism lists generated by the United Nations, European Union or the United States. On submitting your application, you are agreeing to Merlin using the information that you have given for checking that your name does not appear on these lists.