Closing date: 29 Feb 2012
Organization: Merlin
Job Description Position: Liaison and Safety Coordinator Programme: North Sudan Responsible To: Country Director Working With: Operations/Project Coordinators, Health, Logistics and Finance/Admin Teams Location: South Darfur/Nyala Start Date: ASAP Duration: 24 Months Salary and Benefits: £38,850 – £39,600 per annum dependant on relevant experience
including 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.
Please note: this is an unaccompanied position.
Merlin Undaunted and determined, Merlin saves lives. We deliver medical expertise to the toughest places. And we stay to help build lasting health care.
Our mission is to end the needless loss of life in the poorest countries caused by a lack of effective health care. We help communities set up medical services for the long term including hospitals, clinics, surgeries and training for nurses and other health workers.
We do whatever it takes and we stay for as long as it takes.
Context and Background The goal of the Sudan mission is to address humanitarian and health crises within Sudan, with particular focus on Darfur (Western Sudan) while increasing capacity of local structures to deliver effective and quality primary health care services.
Over two million people are now thought to have been displaced since the commencement of hostilities in the Darfur region, many of whom continue to be in acute need of emergency assistance. These needs are further exacerbated by seasonal rains & food shortages due to interruptions of agricultural cycles. Developments at the peace process level may initiate population returns in certain areas, while other areas continue to experience displacement.
Merlin has been working in Darfur since late 2004, and currently runs 3 projects across South Darfur. Merlin’s primary health care interventions provide quality services through both static and outreach mobile clinic services. Activities increase community-level access to health care by establishing static primary health clinics in former mobile clinic locations, and starting new mobile sites where population movements indicate severe need. The programme will also extend health education: Merlin believes that preventive health care has significant impacts on health status. This is embedded in a context where Merlin collaborates closely with Sudan’s Ministry of Health and other government agencies for material and human resource support for projects. The focus for 2008 will be the continuation of the primary health care provision within the areas we’re already supporting with the addition of nutritional support on a CTC basis.
Main purpose of the role The Liaison and Safety Advisor shall be responsible to ensure effective coordination and advise on safety management on all activities in the Darfur field programme, reporting to the CD who has overall decision-making responsibility.
He/she shall remain well briefed on all safety developments within the programme area and relevant developments within Darfur, Sudan and the global safety environment. He/she will ensure that all activities are carried out with due regard to the safety environment. He/she will ensure the senior management of the programme are well briefed and appropriately trained for the safety environment. He/she shall revise and maintain the security policy for all field operations and locations, ensuring that it is rigorously observed.
Overall Objectives (scope) Whilst the Country Director holds the ultimate responsibility for staff safety and this role is a co-ordinating and advising on safety management of all activities, the following form the main responsibilities for the post holder:
• Develop, implement, and maintain the in country safety guidelines, policies and procedures for all staff, field operations, offices, accommodation, warehouses and the personal safety of staff. • Maintain an overview of the general safety situation within Sudan and specifically Darfur • Develop and maintain effective networks with others enaged in safety in general and other NGO safety officers specifically • In close consultation with the CD, Operations Coordinator and Project Coordinators, review and revise relocation procedures and plans, and coordinate incident responses when necessary. • Provide support and guidance to Programme Coordinators in all sites in incident reporting and analysis. • Monitor the changing environment, provide analysis on emerging trends and make recommendations on appropriate responses. • Ensure all appropriate operational staff and head office in London are aware of the analysis and updated on a weekly basis • Responsible to the CD for the management of all safety matters • Where necessary work with and advise the Head Office in London on safety related issues both generally and as related to Darfur Responsibilities Coordination • Support coordination with relevant agencies in each programme site on all safety issues. • Communicate appropriate safety information to Project Coordinators and field staff.
• Responsible for investigating all safety incidents affecting the programme and reporting to the CD. • Ensure logging and reporting all safety incidents affecting activities or personnel and reporting to / advising the CD. • Attend all safety briefings. • Co-ordinate with UN, other relevant agencies and NGOs on all safety issues, and to be well-informed of the overall situation within Darfur.
Safety Support and Training • Provide a thorough regular safety analysis and in-house briefings for staff and visitors.
• Provide a detailed and appropriate initial safety briefing to all newly arriving staff and visitors; including general safety policies and procedures, site-specific issues and an analysis of the present local safety situation.
• Ensure that all staff are briefed and trained regularly on personal safety issues.
• Ensure that safety procedures are understood and respected at all times. • Ensure policies and procedures are implemented in relation to project activities.
Management of Safety Equipment/Movements/Staff
• Ensure communications procedures are implemented correctly and consistently within the programme, providing training where necessary. • Monitor day to day communications • Ensure communications systems are maintained in good working order:
• Control and responsible for the control and monitoring of Merlin movements and of Merlin Vehicles • Ensure vehicles are used with due regard to the prevailing safety situation and drivers are fully trained and fully briefed concerning safety policies and procedures relating to vehicles and their use.
• Oversee the recruitment, management and training of security guards
Person Specification Essential Qualifications, experience and competences
• Extensive experience in safety in international humanitarian situations including the routine handling of safety issues as well as relocation coordination, safety assessments, safety training. • Ability to work within the confines of a co-ordinating and advisory role and to build a consensus around safety issues • Ability to deal effectively within a humanitarian organisation and humanitarian crisis • Strong analytical skills • Strong interpersonal and supportive team skills plus proven ability to be flexible and remain calm in demanding situations. • Experience of management/supervisory responsibilities • Training/presentation skills • General practical competencies in communications systems • Ability to adapt to a changing environment • Ability to work in insecure and demanding environments • Diplomatic and an effective communicator at all levels • Strong leadership skills • Flexibility and ability to work within varying cultural and political environments. • Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English including the ability to summaries situation accurately and write reports • 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
Desirable Qualifications, experience and competences
• Previous experience within the region • Knowledge of Arabic
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.
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.
If you are unable to apply online 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.
Organization: Merlin
Job Description Position: Liaison and Safety Coordinator Programme: North Sudan Responsible To: Country Director Working With: Operations/Project Coordinators, Health, Logistics and Finance/Admin Teams Location: South Darfur/Nyala Start Date: ASAP Duration: 24 Months Salary and Benefits: £38,850 – £39,600 per annum dependant on relevant experience
including 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.
Please note: this is an unaccompanied position.
Merlin Undaunted and determined, Merlin saves lives. We deliver medical expertise to the toughest places. And we stay to help build lasting health care.
Our mission is to end the needless loss of life in the poorest countries caused by a lack of effective health care. We help communities set up medical services for the long term including hospitals, clinics, surgeries and training for nurses and other health workers.
We do whatever it takes and we stay for as long as it takes.
Context and Background The goal of the Sudan mission is to address humanitarian and health crises within Sudan, with particular focus on Darfur (Western Sudan) while increasing capacity of local structures to deliver effective and quality primary health care services.
Over two million people are now thought to have been displaced since the commencement of hostilities in the Darfur region, many of whom continue to be in acute need of emergency assistance. These needs are further exacerbated by seasonal rains & food shortages due to interruptions of agricultural cycles. Developments at the peace process level may initiate population returns in certain areas, while other areas continue to experience displacement.
Merlin has been working in Darfur since late 2004, and currently runs 3 projects across South Darfur. Merlin’s primary health care interventions provide quality services through both static and outreach mobile clinic services. Activities increase community-level access to health care by establishing static primary health clinics in former mobile clinic locations, and starting new mobile sites where population movements indicate severe need. The programme will also extend health education: Merlin believes that preventive health care has significant impacts on health status. This is embedded in a context where Merlin collaborates closely with Sudan’s Ministry of Health and other government agencies for material and human resource support for projects. The focus for 2008 will be the continuation of the primary health care provision within the areas we’re already supporting with the addition of nutritional support on a CTC basis.
Main purpose of the role The Liaison and Safety Advisor shall be responsible to ensure effective coordination and advise on safety management on all activities in the Darfur field programme, reporting to the CD who has overall decision-making responsibility.
He/she shall remain well briefed on all safety developments within the programme area and relevant developments within Darfur, Sudan and the global safety environment. He/she will ensure that all activities are carried out with due regard to the safety environment. He/she will ensure the senior management of the programme are well briefed and appropriately trained for the safety environment. He/she shall revise and maintain the security policy for all field operations and locations, ensuring that it is rigorously observed.
Overall Objectives (scope) Whilst the Country Director holds the ultimate responsibility for staff safety and this role is a co-ordinating and advising on safety management of all activities, the following form the main responsibilities for the post holder:
• Develop, implement, and maintain the in country safety guidelines, policies and procedures for all staff, field operations, offices, accommodation, warehouses and the personal safety of staff. • Maintain an overview of the general safety situation within Sudan and specifically Darfur • Develop and maintain effective networks with others enaged in safety in general and other NGO safety officers specifically • In close consultation with the CD, Operations Coordinator and Project Coordinators, review and revise relocation procedures and plans, and coordinate incident responses when necessary. • Provide support and guidance to Programme Coordinators in all sites in incident reporting and analysis. • Monitor the changing environment, provide analysis on emerging trends and make recommendations on appropriate responses. • Ensure all appropriate operational staff and head office in London are aware of the analysis and updated on a weekly basis • Responsible to the CD for the management of all safety matters • Where necessary work with and advise the Head Office in London on safety related issues both generally and as related to Darfur Responsibilities Coordination • Support coordination with relevant agencies in each programme site on all safety issues. • Communicate appropriate safety information to Project Coordinators and field staff.
• Responsible for investigating all safety incidents affecting the programme and reporting to the CD. • Ensure logging and reporting all safety incidents affecting activities or personnel and reporting to / advising the CD. • Attend all safety briefings. • Co-ordinate with UN, other relevant agencies and NGOs on all safety issues, and to be well-informed of the overall situation within Darfur.
Safety Support and Training • Provide a thorough regular safety analysis and in-house briefings for staff and visitors.
• Provide a detailed and appropriate initial safety briefing to all newly arriving staff and visitors; including general safety policies and procedures, site-specific issues and an analysis of the present local safety situation.
• Ensure that all staff are briefed and trained regularly on personal safety issues.
• Ensure that safety procedures are understood and respected at all times. • Ensure policies and procedures are implemented in relation to project activities.
Management of Safety Equipment/Movements/Staff
• Ensure communications procedures are implemented correctly and consistently within the programme, providing training where necessary. • Monitor day to day communications • Ensure communications systems are maintained in good working order:
• Control and responsible for the control and monitoring of Merlin movements and of Merlin Vehicles • Ensure vehicles are used with due regard to the prevailing safety situation and drivers are fully trained and fully briefed concerning safety policies and procedures relating to vehicles and their use.
• Oversee the recruitment, management and training of security guards
Person Specification Essential Qualifications, experience and competences
• Extensive experience in safety in international humanitarian situations including the routine handling of safety issues as well as relocation coordination, safety assessments, safety training. • Ability to work within the confines of a co-ordinating and advisory role and to build a consensus around safety issues • Ability to deal effectively within a humanitarian organisation and humanitarian crisis • Strong analytical skills • Strong interpersonal and supportive team skills plus proven ability to be flexible and remain calm in demanding situations. • Experience of management/supervisory responsibilities • Training/presentation skills • General practical competencies in communications systems • Ability to adapt to a changing environment • Ability to work in insecure and demanding environments • Diplomatic and an effective communicator at all levels • Strong leadership skills • Flexibility and ability to work within varying cultural and political environments. • Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English including the ability to summaries situation accurately and write reports • 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
Desirable Qualifications, experience and competences
• Previous experience within the region • Knowledge of Arabic
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.
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.
If you are unable to apply online 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.