Country director, Kenya (Merlin)

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Merlin Job Description 1 Job Description Position: Country Director Country: Kenya Responsible To: Head of Region Working With: All Merlin Kenya staff; Joint Merlin Kenya and Somalia Support teams, Somalia CMT, Non-Merlin Kenya Partners (e.g. Government of the Kenya, Donors, UN agencies, NGOs, etc) Location: Nairobi with regular travel to all field sites (30-40% of time) Start Date: January 2013 Duration: 2 years (subject to funding) Salary: £39,470.00 - £40,220.00 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. Please note that an assessment is currently being carried out to confirm whether this position can be accompanied. The outcome of the assessment will be communicated at the interview stage. 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 International Profile Merlin specializes 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 Kenya since 1998 and currently runs programmes in two regions of the country – the Nyanza Province in the Western Highlands and Turkana in Northern Kenya – in partnership with the Ministry of Health. As such, Merlin supports 72 outreach sites and 86 clinics, including health centers hospitals. In Turkana, Merlin offers essential primary health and nutrition services to the drought affected population. Because of the area's high maternal mortality rate, Merlin also provides maternal health services to improve safe motherhood. In Nyanza province, Merlin has been supporting the Ministry of Health in the provision of HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria preventative and curative services. 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 Kenya. 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. Merlin Kenya currently shares an office with Merlin Somalia – all support functions, such as Finance, Logistics and HR are shared between the two offices. Merlin Kenya CD is expected to work Merlin Job Description 2 closely with Merlin Somalia CD in ensuring a smooth running of the office and adequate support to each country programme. Overall Objectives (scope) Will be to: ? Provide the overall strategic direction of the Kenya programme ? Build and strengthen team dynamics, capacity and clarity of vision ? Ensure the successful development and implementation of Kenya’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 ? With Head Office Regional team identify and agree key strategic issues for influencing, developing and implementing an action plan to achieve this 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. 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 Kenya informs organisational policy development, as appropriate Quality and Accountability ? Ensure that the Kenya programme has robust quality management and quality assurance systems in place. ? Implementation of the Merlin health information system (HIS) Merlin Job Description 3 ? 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 programme coordinators 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 Kenya team and that of Partner(s) 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 ? Establish and / or maintain 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 for the country in coordination with Merlin ? London HR department 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 Merlin Job Description 4 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) Other ? Carry out any other responsibilities as requested by the Head of Region Person Specifications Essential Qualifications, experience and competences ? 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 ? Relevant 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 ? Relevant IT skills and confident use of MS office ? Excellent communication skills and the ability to represent Merlin to a broad range of people and organizations including donors, government officials etc. ? Experience of managing large teams situated in multiple geographic locations ? Problem solving skills in day to day and crisis situations ? Ability to analyze information quickly and accurately ? Experience of a flexible approach to managing and prioritising a high workload and multiple tasks in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines ? Masters degree in a relevant area or equivalent ? 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 experience in health/food security/ nutrition programming ? Previous experience of managing emergency response projects/programmes ? Previous experience within the East Africa

How to apply:
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. Merlin Job Description 5 If you are unable to apply online for any technical reason, please contact applications@merlin.org.uk. 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.