Medical Emergency Relief International (Merlin) Jobs: Logistician

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.

Closing date: 31 Oct 2009

Location: Kenya - Nairobi

Programme: Kenya and Somalia
Responsible To: Country Director
Location: Nairobi with occasional travel to field sites

Start Date: ASAP
Duration: 4 weeks

Salary: £18,426 - £20,651 per annum (dependant on relevant experience) inclusive of annual Cost of Living allowance

Benefits: Insurance cover, accommodation, return flights, annual loyalty bonus, and 24 days annual leave rising to 29 days after 12 months.

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 this is an unaccompanied position

Context and Background

Merlin has been working in Kenya since 1998 and it maintains a regional office in Nairobi, which directly manages Kenya programmes and through remote management provides support to Somalia country programmes.

Merlin has been working in Somalia since 2004 and is currently implementing health and nutrition programme in El Buur district in Galgadud region; emergency health and nutrition programme in Awdal (Somaliland) with the field office in Hargeisa; HIV/AIDS, TB and emergency preparedness programmes in Puntland State of Somalia with an office in Garowe, where it was nominated to be the lead agency for Interagency Health Cluster.

Throughout Somalia Merlin also provides technical coordination and capacity strengthening for the GFATM malaria programme.

In Kenya Merlin provides nutrition assistance to the draught affected population in Wajir and Turkana district of Northern Kenya with offices in Lodwar and Wajir towns respectively. Other operations in Kenya include malaria, HIV/AIDS, and TB programme in Nyanza province with field office in Kisii town.

The mission of Somalia and Kenya programmes is to address humanitarian and health crises while increasing capacity of local structures to deliver effective and quality primary health care services.

It works with local healthcare actors including community groups and NGOs to improve access to quality health care services and to contribute to a reduction of health inequalities and the reversal in the current downward trend in health related indicators. Merlin also collaborates closely with the Ministry of Health and builds partnerships with the agencies working in complementary sectors (i.e. water/sanitation and livelihoods).

Main purpose of the role

The Interim Capital Logistician is responsible for managing and delivering an efficient and effective logistics service across all programmes and field sites. This includes implementing, monitoring and following-up across all logistics disciplines to ensure that Merlin’s standard policies and best practice is adhered to. The role will provide leadership, technical support and capacity building to the international and country logistics staff in all areas of their roles..

Overall Objectives (scope)

The overall objective of this interim position is to coordinate all of the daily logistics functions and provide adequate and timely support to all Merlin programmes in Kenya and Somalia. Addressing a number of key issues regarding Procurement & Asset Management.

Responsibilities

Leadership

• Coordinate and manage the overall logistics functions of Merlin office in Nairobi and project sites in Kenya and Somalia
• Ensure that the Merlin logistics standards, systems, policies and procedures including procurement, warehousing, supply/stock movement control, freight management, asset management, IT, as well as documentation, filling and reporting, are well established and fully implemented in Nairobi office and all field sites
• In consultation with the Kenya and Somalia Country Director (CD), review logistics structures and functions in response to any changing needs and scope of activities managed within the two countries

Programme Support/Development

• Provide adequate and timely logistical support to all Merlin Kenya and Somalia country programme including timely procurement and delivery of supplies and goods; transport, IT, communications as well as emergency preparedness and response
• Actively participate in and provide support for new programme development/designing initiatives and activities including undertaking assessments
• In consultation and jointly with programme staff particularly Project Coordinators and Field Medical Coordinators, develop, implement, review, and monitor procurement, construction and rehabilitation plans for all projects to ensure adequate lead time for timely procurement and delivery of supplies and goods as well as completion of activities
• Provide regular updates and feedback to field project sites, Project Coordinators (PC), finance department, Country Director (CD), Country Health Directors (CHD) and other relevant staff on logistics procurement and movements of goods to allow proper and advance project implementation planning
• Be involved in any incident response / urgent security matters.

Technical Support/Logistics Management

• Ensure that all Merlin logistics systems, policies and procedures are set-up and fully implemented and adhered to in Nairobi and all field sites
• Act as technical adviser for all Merlin’s missions supported by the Nairobi office on technical areas such as water/sanitation, rehabilitation, maintenance, vehicles, radios, office equipment, cold chain, generators etc.
• Ensure that all logistics reports from the field sites and Nairobi office are prepared, compiled and submitted to the Country Director (and HO Regional Logistic Officer) on a monthly basis
• Be familiar with donor funding agreements, regulations and requirements and ensure that Merlin logistics operations such as procurement are undertaken in accordance and line with the donor procedures
• Responsible for preparing and submitting to the Country Director, Country Health Director and/or Project Coordinator any logistics and related reports and information, such as fixed asset list, required by donors
• Working closely with finance department, establish and maintain accurate and up-to-date fixed asset register records for each Merlin project assets in Kenya and Somalia
• Ensure that all communications equipment (radios, etc.) are in good working conditions in all sites at all times and establish and maintain sound communication systems and mechanisms within the field sites as well as between field sites and Nairobi office
• Ensure that IT services and systems are well set up and maintained in all sites

Staff Management / HR

• Directly line manage the logistics department staff including Transport & technology officer in Nairobi office and provide adequate management, technical, supervision, and capacity building support to all Nairobi and field based logistics staff
• Ensure that all logistics staff in Nairobi and the field sites have up-to-date job descriptions, carry out timely staff performance appraisals, provide guidance, training (including on the job training and mentoring) and support to enable them fulfil their duties and responsibilities effectively and successfully
• Plan and provide training on Merlin logistics systems, policies and procedures including procurement, communications and IT, to all relevant Merlin Kenya and Somalia staff
• In consultation with the HR Manager and Project Coordinators, actively participate in the recruitment, induction, and debriefing of logistics staff in Nairobi and all field sites
• Evaluate the logistical HR requirements of existing or new projects, advising on opening or closures of logs position

Person Specification

Essential

Qualifications, experience and competences

• Experience of undertaking a logistics role within an international NGO and ideally within difficult operating environments (e.g. insecurity, lack of infrastructure, natural disasters)
• Demonstrable technical knowledge across a the following technical logistics disciplines:

1. Supply Chain
2. Asset Management

• Good experience of leading and driving the development and implementation of a logistics departments strategy
  
• Good experience in recruitment, training, development & performance management of staff
• Experience of financial management of logistics including budget preparation, forecasting and monitoring
• Able to live, work and travel in an insecure environment, following strict security guidelines at all times
• 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

• Previous work experience in Africa
• Knowledge of the Somalia context is an advantage

How to apply

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 the job title, country and reference number (if any).

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