Logistician

Programme: Central Maniema, Democratic Republic Of Congo
Responsible To: Functionally: Program Manager
Technically: Maniema Deputy Logistics Coordinator
Responsible For: Kindu logistics and rehabilitation teams
Working With: Field non-medical and medical team
Location: Based in Kindu, Maniema, DRC (with frequent field visits)
Start Date: ASAP
Duration: 12 Months
Salary: £24,230- £24,980 per annum (dependant on relevant experience),
inclusive of annual Cost of Living Allowance
Benefits: Insurance cover, accommodation, R&R, 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.

Please note that this is an unaccompanied position.

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 operational in the Great Lakes region since 1994. Our projects have assisted refugees and displaced people on both sides of the eastern border of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Since March 1997, Merlin has provided extensive support to health zones in South Kivu, North Kivu, Kasai Oriental, and Maniema provinces of eastern DRC. Other Merlin projects have provided assistance to host and displaced populations in western DRC in Kamonia province.

Specific areas of intervention include the following:

• Health Systems Strengthening for improved health service delivery
• Primary Healthcare Programs including water and sanitation projects
• Emergency Preparedness and Response including support to national surveillance systems
• CDC projects for HIV, TB, Malaria and neglected diseases
• Construction and Rehabilitation of health facilities, schools and community health infrastructures

Main purpose of the role
This position will have the overall responsibility for all logistics functions (procurement & supply chain, fleet management, warehouse management, fixed assets management, facilities management, and communication for the Merlin’s Kindu programme, which includes Kindu base and Kampene sub-base. The post holder will be under the direct supervision of Kindu Program Manager with technical support and supervision from the Maniema DLogCo. The role also includes ensuring proper use and application of Merlin and donor required logistic procedures and standards, ensuring the smooth function of the logistics operation of the two bases (houses, stores, fleets and offices) and monitoring the ongoing rehabilitation work in the region.

Overall Objectives (scope)
• Rehabilitation supervision
• Coordination of all logistic activities in Kindu
• Logistics Human Resource Management
• To work towards the implementation of the Merlin strategic objectives in the project area.

Responsibilities

Rehabilitation
• Prepare plans, schemes of work and costing for materials for construction / watsan work in coordination with Maniema DLogCo and Maniema Construction Manager, and in line with the need and the funding available under the supervision of the Kindu PM.
• Negotiate with companies and sub-contractors or local suppliers to obtain the best written quotations for construction materials available in Maniema in collaboration with Maniema Kindu PM and Maniema DLogCo.
• Monitor progress at each base with field visits, or supervision of assigned logistic staff, and report to Kindu PM and Maniema DLogCo on a regular basis

Coordination of all logistic activities in Kindu
• Oversee Kindu’s logistical activities, including national and local procurement, communication systems, vehicle fleet and office/residence equipment maintenance and management in co-ordination with the Deputy Logistics Coordinator (Maniema), Goma Medical and Non-Medical Supply Chain/Procurement Teams and PM (Kindu).
• Responsible for maintaining the DRC Merlin logistics systems / supply chain in Kindu
• Work with the medical supply chain team based in Goma to ensure correct information on medical supply chain is transmitted accurately and on time.
• Ensure proper transport planning concerning Kindu projects
• Ensure proper maintenance and monitoring procedures for fleet and technical equipment
• are in place
• Follow up all stock transfers and ensure proper storage procedures and standards are in
• place
• Ensure that logistics reports are completed (availability report, stock & inventory tracking, assets, fuel consumption, narrative procurement planning) and timely submitted as per the Filed Manual logistics reporting requirements;
• Make frequent visits to the field including Kampene sub-base and prepare field visit reports accordingly;
• Participate in field assessments, project planning and the preparation of donor proposals/
• budgets and reports in collaboration with the PM

Human Resources Management
• Responsible for the direct management of the logistics national staff team in Kindu under the supervision of the PM. This includes participation with recruitment, team building, and appraisals.
• Act on behalf of the PM as required with donors, government or beneficiaries.
• Build the capacity of the logistics teams through ongoing training and staff development
with the aim of increasing skills and responsibilities within the national team according to
the budget.

Recording keeping/Filing system
• Ensure that proper filing system (both electronic and hard copies) exists across all logistics functions;

Monitoring of Logistics Systems & Controls
• Monitor the implementation and ensure compliance with Merlin logistics policy for Kindu base;
• Conduct controls to ensure that users understand logistics systems and for every weakness discovered, provide technical support to strengthen staff understanding and application of policy;

Security
• Participation in the on-going monitoring of the security situation
• Assist the PM in implementation of SOPs according to Merlin security guidelines and monitoring of same, ensuring security and safety at both bases and for all staff
• Act as Security Focal Point for the base during absence of the PM .
• Facilitating the evacuation of field based teams if necessary

Person Specification
Essential
Qualifications, experience and competences
• Strong communication skills with fluent spoken and written English and a good level of spoken and written French
• Previous experience as a logistician in an NGO.
• Experienced in construction works and/or watsan programmes
• Experience of fleet management
• Experience of office and communication equipment maintenance
• Experience in finance or related issues.
• Experience of managing security
• Confident and proficient in the use of MS Office (Word for Windows, Excel, e-mail).
• Ability to work under stressful conditions in an isolated area with less supervision.
• Excellent management and personnel skills to enable the motivation, encouragement and participation of a mainly national team.
• Strong team communicator and facilitator between the interests of different department
• Strong capacity building skills
• Ability and flexibility to understand the cultural and political environment and to work well with the local authorities.
• Ability to remain calm and to be diplomatic
• 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
• Work experience in the region
• Advanced IT skills
• Good report writing skills

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 please download and complete an application form and email it to: [email protected].

Please note that we do not accept CVs and any application must therefore be made online or by completing our application form. Unfortunately due to the number of applications we receive, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Data Protection
In accordance with the 1998 Data Protection Act Merlin will hold and use personal information that you have given for the purposes of recruitment and employment should an offer of employment be made. This information will be stored in manual and/or computer 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.