Responsible To: Operations Manager
Working With: Medical coordinator, Roving Logistician and non medical team members
Location: Haut-Mbomou - Central African Republic
Start Date: ASAP
Duration: 6 months
Salary: £27,530 - £28,280 per annum (dependant on relevant experience) inclusive of additional Cost of Living Allowance
Benefits: Insurance cover, accommodation, R&R, return flights, and 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 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
The UN has described the situation in CAR as “the world’s most silent crisis.” Following a decade of coups and mutinies which have destroyed infrastructure and shattered the economy, the resurgence of armed conflict in October 2005 between the government and rebel forces in the north of CAR sparked a humanitarian crisis. The most affected areas were the prefectures of Bamingui-Bangoran, Vakaga, Nana-Gribingui, Ouham, Ouham-Pende and Nana-Mambere.
In response to this situation Merlin conducted an assessment in CAR in May 2007 which identified significant unmet needs in the health sector. Merlin subsequently set up a primary health care (PHC) project in Kaga Bandoro, the capital of Nana Gribizi prefecture as part of a 3-year strategy to increase access to and the capacity of government health services in CAR.
This programme has comprised of curative, inpatient observation, reproductive health services in 11 health facilities, expanded programme on immunisation (EPI) in three fixed facilities, preventive and promotive health services, disease surveillance, capacity building and HIV/AIDS awareness in the community. Merlin handed over its activities in this region in the course of 2010. Merlin’s work in CAR is continuously adapting to the situation on the ground and recent developments have led the organisation to focus its activities in Nana Mambere prefecture, in the west of the country. Merlin started a programme in August 2008 in Bouar and its surroundings supporting 14 health facilities. Merlin will scale up in this region in 2011,, continuing its work on primary health care and nutrition programme.
Merlin is currently planning to make an Emergency response to displaced persons in the Mbomou prefecture in the South East of the country as a result of rebel forces.Merlin shall work with the MoH in setting up a temporary static health centre for the IDPs and conduct mobile clinics to the IDPs of Mbomou with vaccination, maternity services and a community based treatment of malnutrition to be organized within the camp with volunteers.
After a needs assessment in September 2011.Merlin shall be expanding further South East to the Sous –prefecture of Obo and opening a base in Obo to serve both the host, IDP and refugee communities in the area.

Main purpose of the role
The Project Coordinator will assume overall responsibility for setting up a base and supporting health facilities in Haut-Mbomou. He/she will report to the Operations Manager based in Bangui. The main responsibilities are as set out below.


Responsibilities
Operational Management
• Ensure collaborative stakeholder management including involving the relevant authorities in the planning and implementation of Merlin’s activities
• Be responsible for the effective and efficient management of the project consistent with the project management cycle and compliant with Merlin procedures, systems and guidelines
• Establish and implement project monitoring and evaluation plans
• Provide regular written and verbal reports to the CMT (Country Management Team) on project progress and issues
• Prepare high-quality and timely donor reports
• Line manage and ensure effective management of national staff
• Optimize the use of human, logistical, and financial resources
• Monitor the evolving humanitarian situation and consider immediate and strategic responses
• Contribute to preparing plans, proposals, and budgets for project extensions
• Responsible for the effective and efficient management of ongoing project activities in line with the Merlin project management cycle procedures, systems and guidelines
• Ensure collaborative stakeholder management including involving the relevant authorities in the planning and implementation of Merlin’s activities
• Ensure effective HR management for all project staff through the use of job descriptions, monthly planning and appraisal processes.
• Ensure that supplies needed by the projects are properly managed in collaboration with medical storekeeper and logistics staff at both HautMbomou and Bangui level
• Support the process of joint assessment, planning and supervision between the local health authorities and Merlin
• Participate in the writing of timely and accurate donor proposals and reports in collaboration with the Medical coordinator
• Prepare and write timely and accurate monthly activity reports for inclusion in the monthly situation report submitted to the office in Bangui

Security
The Project Coordinator has responsibility for security in the field site including:
• Managing day-to-day security of the team field team and liaising with the security focal point
• Briefing all project staff on arrival in the field on the security context and its implications
• Monitoring the political, military and security situation in all project areas and respond accordingly
• Establishing security guidelines in working areas in collaboration with the security focal point and keep these up to date and ensure adherence by all project staff
• Providing timely verbal and written security incident reports to the Country Director
• Attending security meetings and maintain regular contact with other actors (e.g. OCHA, military) in the field

Logistics/Finance/Administration
• Ensure all projects adhere to Merlin’s systems and procedures
• Ensure that project implementation meets donor compliance requirements
• Responsible for budgetary control and overall financial management at the project site, including maintaining oversight of expenses and procurement
• Ensure that the programme complies with all legal and bureaucratic requirements in CAR.
• Responsible for budgetary control and overall financial management at the project site, including maintaining oversight of expenses and procurement
• Ensure all projects adhere to Merlin’s systems and procedures
• Ensure that project implementation meets donor compliance requirements

Human Resource Management
• Maintain good team communication, engender good team dynamics and take remedial action when problems occur.
• Support team members professionally and monitor and support stress management
• Conduct and document regular team meetings for planning and reporting purposes.
• Carry out appraisals according to Merlin’s Human Resource procedures
• Ensure all new team members are adequately briefed on arrival in the field, and departing team members are debriefed.
• Maintain up-to-date job descriptions for international staff and prepare and maintain job descriptions for national staff
• Assume overall responsibility for national staff selection, recruitment, and disciplinary procedures and assist with recruitment of expatriate staff in project area.
• Be responsible for capacity development and training of national personnel
• Plan national and international staff requirements and liaise with the CMT

Representation
• Represent Merlin to donors, authorities, (I)NGOs and other parties as necessary. Ensure all relevant parties are kept informed of Merlin activates as appropriate (e.g. donors, health authorities etc.)
• Be the project’s contact with press and media when requested under approval of the Country Director

Other
• Provide coverage for other posts when needed and carry out any other responsibilities as requested by the Country Director


Person Specification
Essential
Qualifications, experience and competences
• Strong communication skills with a high-level of spoken and written English & French
• Strong project management skills and knowledge of appropriate project management tools
• Previous field humanitarian experience in a management role
• Security management experience in an unstable environment
• Experience of conducting needs assessments and project development
• Experience of financial and administrative management
• Knowledge of project management tools (Logical Framework analysis, project cycle management, indicators etc.)
• Confident and proficient in the use of MS Office
• A strong interest in basic curative and preventative health care
• Experience of a flexible approach to managing and prioritizing a high workload and multiple tasks in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines
• Good team worker, able to live and work closely with a team under pressure
• Ability to work under stressful conditions in an isolated area
• Experience of establishing strong working relationships with colleagues from different functions and cultures
• Leadership skills and a supportive management style
• Good training/capacity building and management skills.
• Willing to work in an insecure environment.
• Ability to work on own initiative.
• Experience of proactively identifying and addressing issues
• An understanding of and commitment to Merlin’s mission and values


Desirable
Qualifications, experience and competences
• Working experience in the region
• A strong interest in community participation
• Experience in the health sector

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: applications@merlin.org.uk.

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.