Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be shortlisted on a regular basis and we may offer this post before the closing date.

It is a non accompanied position.

Merlin International Profile

Merlin is the only UK specialist charity, founded in 1993, which responds worldwide, with vital healthcare and medical relief for vulnerable people affected by natural disasters, conflict and healthcare collapse. Each year, Merlin assists more than 15 million people, in up to 20 countries, through working with local healthcare actors including government, community groups and NGOs.

Context

The Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) is the third largest country in Africa and one of the poorest. Decades of dictatorship and an ongoing, unresolved civil war has left much of the national infrastructure destroyed.

Merlin has been operational in eastern DRC since 1997 when it established emergency medical support to populations in Maniema Province. Merlin teams have been providing emergency medical care to the most vulnerable, accessible populations in Maniema Province, Kasai Oriental Province, North Kivu and Orientale Province, and in response to the Goma volcanic eruption of Jan 2002. Activities include: emergency response, primary health support and supply, secondary health support and supply, reproductive health, institutional capacity building, nutrition, wat/san, rehabilitation of health facilities.

- Merlin is the sole source of essential medical support for over 200 primary & secondary health facilities, providing health care to over 1,800,000 beneficiaries.
- In Maniema Province, Merlin is implementing a DFID (British government) funded 3 years free health care project throughout 10 health zones.
- In North Kivu, Merlin implements DFID, UNICEF, OFDA and ECHO funded primary healthcare projects in Manguredjipa and Biena Health Zones, in Rutshuru Health Zone and in Birambizo Health Zone with emergency support to IDP’s within the province.

Merlin’s Goma office is a management and support office for nine field-site projects in eastern DRC. The office handles the financial and reporting aspects of a multi-million dollar grant portfolio, the HR and administrative requirements for approximately 30 expatriates and 300 national staff, most national and all international purchasing, and in-country transportation (almost exclusively by air) of staff and material between the Goma office and field sites.

Following recurrent insecurity in the “Nord Kivu”, several thousands of peoples have fled their homes. Some lives in makeshift shelter gathering and some others are hosted within the host families. Access to health care is very low, due to the lack of support of the health infrastructure and also because of the insecurity. Also the living conditions are getting worse as the conflict intensified and spread in the province. Thousands of civilian population are or have fled conflicted areas, seeking refuges in other part of the province. However this makeshift shelter camps, lack adequate sanitation as well as potable water. As to address this issue, Merlin is currently setting up a programme as to address theses needs.

Core Responsibilities

The Project Officer is responsible for the implementation of the project activities in the field. He/She is reporting to the Project Coordinator based in Goma. The main responsibilities are as set out below.

Project Management and Development

- Plan and monitor project activities and outputs.
- To ensure the delivery of the project according to objectives and time-frames
- Reporting – internal and external - for daily and weekly site communications.
- Ongoing evaluation and development of proposals

Security

- Respect and comply to local security guidelines
- Along with Field Log, ensure that security guidelines are in place at all field sites

Administration and Finance

- Manage the program budget and ensure regular communication with the Financial Manager on all budget matters.
- Manage cash on field sites, ensuring compliance with Merlin procedures in relation to cash security.
- Ensure activities in field sites comply with all legal and bureaucratic requirements of DRC.
- Manage the national administrator activities.
- Prepare timely cash forecasts to be submitted to the PC.
- Filing systems and record keeping.

Human Resources

- To recruit all non-medical staff and assist the Medical Officer (MO) with the recruitment of all medical staff.
- To work with the MO to ensure that a regular appraisal system is followed.
- To ensure that all staff management is carried out according to the Merlin internal regulations and the DRC labour code.
- To provide the HR department in Goma with monthly staff information updates and keep them informed on all disciplinary matters.
- In coordination with the PC and Medical Officer, to assess the continuing training needs of the national staff and ensure training needs are appropriately met and within budget.

Capacity building

- To capacity build her/his national counter part in order to ensure a smooth nationalization of the position by the end of his/her contract

Representation

- In liaison with the PC, represent Merlin and its activities to key stakeholders (community, authorities, donors, other (I)NGOs, partners) whenever asked.

Other

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

Personal/Professional Requirements

Essential

- High-level of spoken English and French and written English
- Strong project management skills and knowledge of appropriate project management tools
- Security management experience in an unstable environment
- Experience in finances or related issues
- Knowledge of project management tools (Logical Framework analysis, project cycle management, indicators etc.)
- Computer skills (Word for Windows, Excel, E-mail)
- A strong interest in basic curative and preventative health care
- Proven problem solving and organizational skills, flexibility and calm under pressure
- Good team worker, able to live and work closely with a team under pressure
- Ability to work under stressful conditions in an isolated area
- Good communicator
- Leadership skills and a supportive management style
- Focused individual with capacity to plan and manage in a multiple deadline-working environment.
- Good training/capacity building and management skills.
- Willing to work in an insecure environment.
- Ability to work on own initiative.

Advantageous

- Spoken Kiswahili
- Working experience in the region
- A strong interest in community participation

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. In order to process your job application, it may be necessary for your CV to be sent to the Country Director/Operations Coordinator (in the country you are applying for) for consideration. If you do not agree with this, please can you state so when applying.

How to apply

Reference Code: RW_7KMJJ2-44