COUNTRY DIRECTOR POSITION AT MERLIN

Job Description
Job Title: Country Director
Responsible To: Regional Programmes Manager at London HQ
Location: Africa (The specific country will be given before interview)
Start Date: ASAP
Duration: 12-24 months
Allowance: £23, 731 – £28,181 per annum, an annual cost of living allowance
(varies depending on country of posting), insurance cover,
accommodation and return flights.
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 is the only specialist UK charity which responds worldwide with vital health care and
medical relief for vulnerable people caught up in natural disasters, conflict, disease and health
system collapse. Each year, Merlin helps more than 15 million people in up to 20 countries.
Context and Background
Merlin currently implements primary healthcare programmes in Liberia, Ivory Coast, Democratic
Republic of Congo, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Georgia,
Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Occupied Palestinian Territories. The current
portfolio of global programs can be characterized as a continuum from emergency relief
projects, transition PHC programs to longer term development programs. Donors include,
OFDA, DFID, ECHO, Global Fund, DEC – Tsunami funding, Rockefeller Foundation, Austcare,
DCI, BuZa, SV, UN, Japanese Government, USAID, JOA, Futures Group, Finnish Government
and Band-Aid.
Merlin’s public health approach is needs responsive, focusing on the most vulnerable
populations in underserved and under resourced areas. Adopting a concomitant approach, of
working closely with communities and local health partners, ensures more lasting healthcare
services. This is achieved through reinforcement of community resilience mechanisms,
introduction of health financing mechanisms at the health facility level and capacity building of
local counterparts at all levels. As an active partner with WHO Health Action in Crises and in
collaboration with the London School of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene Conflict & Health Unit,
Merlin continues to inform the international debate, to respond more effectively to the needs of
war affected populations, through building the capacity of local partners to reinvigorate health
systems in conflict and post-conflict environments.
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Merlin also foster working relations with both local and international NGOs with a strong
emphasis on consortium projects, as demonstrated currently through a DFID funded consortium
for support to health and nutrition in Northern Kenya and an EU funded program for integrated
transitional development in South Sudan.
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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 the
relevant country programme. The Country Director will also assume responsibility for the
smooth running 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)
• Provide leadership and representation for Merlin Country Programme
• Develop and implement country programme Strategy and ensure its timely
implementation.
• Ensure a human resource plan is in place for the management of all programme staff
• Ensure appropriate logistical systems and procedure are established and maintained in
line with Merlin policies and procedures
• Ensure that Merlin’s policies, systems and guidelines are implemented, used and
adhered to
• Oversee budget preparation and ensure relevant financial structures exist to support
programme activities and compliance
• Ensure the safety of all Merlin staff
Responsibilities
Leadership
• Develop and maintain a coherent country programme strategy that contributes to Merlin’s
global objectives
• Coordinate and manage the overall planning and direction of Merlin’s operations at country
level;
• Create a shared vision, among all staff, of Merlin’s programme’s aims and their role in
achieving these.
Programme Development
• Develop and secure funding for new programmes based on identified needs
• Ensure effective coordination of technical inputs (e.g. health, logistics, etc.) in proposal
development
• Maintain Merlin’s emergency preparedness capacity as relevant to the geo-political and
humanitarian situation.
• Organise and/or undertake needs assessments as necessary.
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• Develop and maintain productive working relationships with donors and undertake all incountry
negotiation related to programming and contracts
Programme Management
• Ensure that projects remain within the remit of their initial design, budget and propose and
prepare any amendments when necessary.
• Support field sites in the fulfilment of their duties according to programme design
• 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
against their strategic aims
• Ensure there is a regular, documented forum / meeting for all key staff to discuss and plan
programme objectives and plans.
Representation
• Represent Merlin to Local & National Authorities, international donors, and (I)NGOs
• Decide which coordination networks Merlin should invest time in, and commit time to those
where participation will yield best results for Merlin.
• Manage external communications in collaboration with the PR Department in London.
Staff Management / HR
• Manage staff effectively, including appropriate and systematic delegation
• Co-ordinate and support the national and international staff teams, ensuring that the
individuals work effectively together and achieve the programme objectives.
• Establish and /or maintain HR management tools incl. organisational charts, job
descriptions, salary scales, performance evaluations, disciplinary processes as per Merlin
policies, etc.
• Establish systems for maintaining an overview of all staff activity in pursuit of programme
aims
• Line manage senior staff, including regular performance management and appraisals
• Ensure effective teamwork among staff.
• Develop and apply policies, terms and conditions following both Merlin guidelines and local
employment law
• Ensure that personnel are funded according to programme budgets.
• Take an active part in staff recruitment for the region in coordination with Merlin London HR
dept.
Administration and Logistics
• Ensure that appropriate logistic, administrative and financial structures and procedures are
established and / or maintained in accordance with the Merlin guidelines.
• Maintain regular communications with head office using the established procedures i.e.
communication and other reporting procedures.
• Ensure programme activities are carried out within Merlin guidelines.
• Ensure that reports and articles for both internal and external distribution as requested by
the desk and as stated in the operational contracts signed with donors, including monthly
and quarterly reports.
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Security
• Responsible for the security of all international and national staff
• Ensure that appropriate security guidelines and procedures are established, maintained /
updated regularly and adhered to by the team.
Finance Management
• Oversee budget preparation, setting the parameters and the process
• Ensure that country programmes are implemented within their budgets.
• Ensure and anticipate donor reporting schedules, including spending plan projections
• Establish and / or maintain the Merlin field accounting systems
• Oversee the completion and return to London of the monthly field accounts within the
agreed deadlines.
Other
• Carry out any other responsibilities as requested by the Regional Programmes Manager or
Programmes Director.
The following are considered essential for this post
Experience/ Skills / Knowledge
• Senior management position in an NGO environment, including extensive responsibility for
project management including budget control
• Experience of working within an insecure environment with responsibility for security
monitoring and management
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to represent Merlin to a broad range of people
and organizations
• Knowledge, practical understanding of and ability to work within both relief and
development NGO contexts
• A strong understanding of security management and insecure environments
• 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.
• Team working, flexibility and relationship building skills
• Problem solving skills in day to day and crisis situations
• Quick information analysis.
• Identify and analyse opportunities that contribute to strategic aims, translate them into
practical plans and implement them
• Reflect on and learn from own performance and the performance of the programme and act
upon that learning
• A relevant qualification (post graduate level)
Person Specification
Essential
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Qualifications, experience and competences
• Extensive overseas experience in an INGO senior management role in a complex
emergency
• Experience of programme development in a transitional/developmental context
• Able to think and plan strategically and manage Merlin Country programme through the
period of transition from emergencies to development
• Identify and analyze opportunities that contribute to strategic aims, translate them into
practical plans and implement them
• Experience of working in security planning, monitoring and management
• Experience of managing large teams of multiple locations
• Extensive experience of budget management and donor compliance issues
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Able to represent Merlin to a broad range of people and organizations including donors,
government officials etc.
• 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
To apply for this vacancy
Please download an application form from our website www.merlin.org.uk Completed
applications should be emailed to applications@merlin-uk.org stating in the subject field the job
title, country and reference number (if any)
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 application
to be sent to the Country Director (in the country you are applying for) for consideration. If you
do not agree with this, please state so when applying.

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