Country: South Sudan - Reuters AlertNet

Merlin Job Description 1
Job Description
Position: Country Director
Country: South Sudan
Responsible To: Head of Region
Working With: All Merlin South Sudan staff; Non-Merlin South Sudan Partners (e.g.
Government of the Republic of South Sudan Ministries, Donors, UN
agencies, NGOs, etc)
Location: Juba with regular travel to all field sites (30-40% of time)
Start Date: November 2012
Duration: 2 years (subject to funding)
Salary: £45,110 - £45,860 per annum (dependant on relevant experience),
inclusive of annual Cost of Living Allowance.
Benefits: Insurance cover, accommodation, R&R, 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.
Merlin
Merlin is an international health charity, saving lives by responding to need in the world’s toughest places. Merlin is a Force for Health.
Merlin is an international health charity, saving lives in the world’s toughest places. Merlin responds with healthcare, when people are overwhelmed by natural disaster, conflict or disease and in need of immediate help. We focus on treating those who are beyond the reach of existing health services. After the immediate crisis, Merlin stays on to assist recovery. Using our expertise, we support health workers and strengthen existing health services. We build resilience by helping those at risk of future health disasters, to be better prepared.
We think everyone should have access to lasting healthcare. We believe good health is fundamental to transforming people’s lives, that’s why Merlin is a Force for Health.
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 working in Southern Sudan since 1998 and has had a continuous presence in the country since 2004. While Merlin is currently working in Eastern Equatorial state and in Boma Payam, Pibor County, Jonglei state. Merlin is currently running projects covering
Merlin Job Description 2
primary and secondary healthcare, HIV/AIDS, Sleeping Sickness and Malaria. Merlin has just completed an assessment of Maban in Upper Nile state and will be supporting GOAL’s emergency response with the delivery of health and nutrition services. Merlin expects to partner with NGOs and CBOs in the delivery a Basic Package of Health Services (BPHS) for the government of South Sudan’s Ministry of Health (MoH). The principal objective for Merlin in Southern Sudan is to substantially improve the quality, accessibility and sustainability of the basic preventive and curative health services, while at the same time enhancing the capacity of local staff.
Main purpose of the role
The Country Director will provide overall leadership, strategic direction and operational management in line with Merlin’s vision and objectives as lined out in the Strategic Plan for South Sudan. The Country Director will also assume responsibility for the smooth running, quality and development of Merlin programmes through analysis of the humanitarian context, needs assessments and appropriate responses. The post also includes responsibility at country level for identifying and securing donor funding and an expectation to increase Merlin’s profile through representation to external actors and advocacy on behalf of vulnerable populations.
Overall Objectives (scope)
The overall objectives of the role will be to:
 Provide the overall strategic direction of the South Sudan programme
 Build and strengthen team dynamics, capacity and clarity of vision
 Ensure the successful development and implementation of South Sudan’s quality public health programme
 Explore the possibilities for further programme development and in-country funding opportunities according to strategy
 Represent Merlin to national authorities, international donors, international organisations and other NGOs at the national level
 Ensure the integration of monitoring and evaluation into all aspects of country programming
 Ensure timely and effective support systems in line with Merlin policy and standards
 In collaboration with Head Office departments, identify and agree key strategic issues and direction and develop a relevant action plan
Responsibilities
Leadership
 Establish, coordinate and manage the overall planning and direction of Merlin's operations at country level
 Develop and maintain a coherent strategy that contributes to Merlin's global objectives
 Coordinate and manage the overall planning and direction of Merlin's operations at country level, including exit strategies
 Create a shared vision, among all staff, of Merlin's programme aims and their role in achieving these.
 Identify and secure donor funding and increase Merlin’s profile through representation to external actors such as government ministries, UN clusters and donors.
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Security
 Ensure that appropriate security guidelines and procedures are established, maintained / updated quarterly or according to significant incident, and adhered to by the team
 Manage security incidents and evacuations in cooperation with HO, ensuring that all incidents are reported in a timely manner using the Merlin Security Incident Report format
 Maintain an overall understanding of the general context and security scenarios with analyses and appropriate adaptation in Merlin areas of operation.
Programme Development
 Explore plans for programme expansion (activities and / or geographically) and develop the potential for further programme funding, in consultation with Merlin’s Head of Region
 Develop Merlin’s emergency preparedness capacity in relation to the humanitarian context and advise the Head of Region and Health Advisor accordingly
 Monitor national geo-political, health and humanitarian situation
 Organise and/or undertake needs assessments as necessary
 Develop concept notes/project proposals for identified donors
 Regularly assess donor environment and opportunities for funding
 Undertake negotiations on behalf of Merlin for new programming with donor representatives
 Coordinate with Merlin HO Health and Policy Department to ensure Merlin’s practical experience in South Sudan informs organisational policy development, as appropriate
Quality and Accountability
 Ensure that the South Sudan programme has robust quality management and quality assurance systems in place.
 Implementation of the Merlin health information system (HIS)
 Achieve compliance with the HAP Standard in Accountability and Quality Management
 Implementation of an agreed annual monitoring and evaluation plan
Programme Support
 Ensure implementation of all existing and new projects in line with approved project proposals and budgets, anticipating and communicating issues/problems in advance to Merlin HO and preparing written amendments as required
 Ensure compliance to Merlin, Donor and National policies, procedures and guidelines that relate to: programme (monitoring, reports, evaluations, etc), health, finance, logistical and human resource management
 Support field sites in the fulfillment of their duties according to programme design; in particular providing supervision, direction and mentoring to national Medical
 Coordinator and NGO partners’ medical staff, ensuring programme quality to relevant internationally recognized standards
 Ensure that appropriate systems and plans are in place for dealing with emergencies, and provide leadership for staff and volunteers in emergencies
 Establish systems and standards for assessment and monitoring/evaluation of programmes
 Ensure there are regular documented meetings for all key staff to discuss and plan programme objectives and work/activity plans.
Capacity building
 Enhance programme management skills of national team through formal and non-formal training
 Improve capacity for facility supervision and service provision of Merlin’s South Sudan team and that of Partner(s)
Merlin Job Description 4
Representation
 Decide which development networks Merlin should invest time in, and commit time to those where participation will yield best results for Merlin
 Represent Merlin to National Authorities, International Donors, International Organisations and other NGOs at the national level
 Contribute towards the dissemination of Merlin’s health work through publications (general, health sector, academic) in consultation with Merlin HO Health and Communications departments
 Manage external/international communications with the media in consultation with the Communications section in Merlin HO
Staff Management / HR
 Manage staff effectively, including appropriate and systematic delegation
 Co-ordinate and support/team build national and international staff teams, ensuring that the individuals work effectively together and achieve the programme objectives
 Oversee the development and implementation of HR management tools, e.g. organisational charts, job descriptions, salary scales, staff appraisals, etc.
 Maintain good inter-team communications, engender good team dynamics, and take suitable action when problems occur
 Develop and apply policies, guidelines, terms and conditions following both Merlin and donor policies and guidelines and national employment law(s)
 Ensure that all personnel costs are adequately funded by programme budgets in coordination with the Country Finance Director
 Take an active part in staff recruitment and induction for the country in coordination with Merlin
 Involve London HR department on a regular basis to address complex HR issues, supported by the HR Manager
 Organise and lead quarterly team meetings with the international staff
Finance Management
 Oversee budget preparation, setting the parameters and the process, ensuring compliance to Merlin, donor and national requirements
 Ensure that country programmes are implemented within their budgets
 Ensure and anticipate donor reporting schedules, including spending plan projections
 Ensure the maintenance of the Merlin field accounting systems
 Ensure the completion and return to London of the monthly and annual field accounts within the agreed deadlines
Administration and Logistics
 Ensure that appropriate logistic, administrative and financial structures and procedures are established and / or maintained in accordance with the Merlin, donor and national government guidelines and policies to ensure compliance
 Maintain regular communications with HO using established reporting procedures
 Prepare reports and articles for both internal and external distribution as requested by Merlin HO and as stated in the operational contracts signed with donors, including monthly and quarterly reports
 Ensure draft donor reports and proposals are shared with and comments received by HO in a timely manner as agreed prior to submission
 Ensure timely agreement with HO on any commitment that carries organizational risk (financial and/or reputational, such as MoUs, new proposals etc)
Merlin Job Description 5
Other
 Carry out any other responsibilities as requested by the Head of Region
Person Specifications
Essential
Qualifications, experience and competences
 Masters degree in a relevant area or equivalent
 Substantial experience of strategic thinking, including identifying, analysing, problem solving and responding to opportunities and challenges and the ability to translate into practical plans of action.
 Extensive experience of securing substantial external funding and grants. Evidence of understanding the challenges of donor and contract management and the implications for programme management.
 Extensive experience in a senior management position in an NGO environment, including responsibility for project management and budget control
 Considerable experience in working overseas in the development and humanitarian sector
 Experience of working within an insecure environment with responsibility for security planning, monitoring and management. Use of a range of management tools to ensure effective running of the programmes and the management and development of staff
 Knowledge and experience of the health sector in a developing country
 Experience of programme development in a transitional/developmental context
 Excellent communication skills and the ability to represent Merlin to a broad range of people and organizations including donors, government officials etc. with excellent written and spoken English
 Experience of managing large teams situated in multiple geographic locations
 Experience of budget management and donor compliance
 Ability to build and develop strong teams and working relationships with colleagues from different functions and cultures
 Experience of proactively identifying and addressing issues and demonstrable problem solving skills in day to day and crisis situations
 Ability to analyze information quickly and accurately
 Identify and analyze opportunities that contribute to strategic aims, translate them into practical plans and action
 Reflect on and learn from own performance and the performance of the programme and act upon that learning
 Confident and proficient in the use of MS Office
 Experience of a flexible approach to managing and prioritising a high workload and multiple tasks in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines
 Ability to travel regularly, both within country and internationally, sometimes for weeks at a time
 An understanding of and commitment to Merlin’s mission and values
Desirable
Qualifications, experience and competences
 Previous responsibility for managing a health programme in either an emergency or transitional/development setting
Merlin Job Description 6
 Previous experience of managing emergency response projects/programmes
 Previous experience of managing Food Security and nutrition programmes
 Previous experience in the East Africa region
 Master degree in Public Health
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 for any technical reason, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Please note that we do not accept CVs. Unfortunately due to the number of applications we receive, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
Data Protection
Please note that in accordance with the 1998 Data Protection Act, Merlin will hold and use personal information that you have given for the purpose of recruitment and employment. This information can be stored in manual and/or electronic 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.