Organization: Mercy Corps
Country: Jordan
Closing date: 17 Nov 2013

This role is based in a Middle East location.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The Field Operations Manager is a member of a Middle East based team and is responsible for enabling excellence in all major commodity functions. S/he will focus on managing the relationships and contracts with authorities and Municipal Officials. Commodity movement is vital for operations and that requires full time commitment and knowledge of the procedures. The success of the mission and programs is dependent on ability to move huge amount of commodities every day. S/he ensures effective systems that support strategy for healthy, robust and integrated functions of local team members. The Field Operations Manager will also focus on meeting local government requirements on commodity and staff movements that change frequently.

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

As Mercy Corps seeks to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression around the world, the events currently sweeping across the Middle East and North Africa, are rare moments of opportunity. Mercy Corps is interested in strengthening its presence for programming across various regions. It is imperative that Mercy Corps present itself as a key and reliable partner with various donors, INGOs, government authorities and civil society actors, to be part of the process of positive change. Mercy Corps, with her global experience in working in countries undergoing major transitions, will be a key contributor in the process, bringing knowledge, expertise and strong management skills to position the agency as a partner of choice for progressive change in the Middle East.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Strategy and Vision

• Contribute to the country strategic planning process.
• Set up the support strategy and services and develop a logistics plan for commodity and staff movement at key transition points.
• Improve office facilities and conditions at commodity movement office to provide conductive environment for work.
• Develop strategic plan to maintain good relationship with local authorities and other INGO working in the area of operation

Team Management

• Asses staffing needs for normal operations in the field
• Assist Operations Manager and Director to setup field office norms and strategies
• Provide in the job training to existing field office staff
• Manage cross culture and diverse existing staff to work as one team
• Orient and develop the capacity of the team and assist with continued development of a career path for field office staff.
• Review delivery plans and work together with Procurement Specialist to improve delivery plans in accordance to truck-handling capacities and program needs.
• Work with all Mercy Corps staff to ensure smooth introduction and adoption of procurement and logistic systems.
• Assist teams in understanding their roles and responsibilities in terms of interaction with field office staff, partners and other stakeholders
• Be responsible for full and proper implementation of Mercy Corps systems of management, compliance and control as described in Mercy Corps field manuals contained in the Office in a Box.
• Work with finance compliance to mitigate fraud, conflict of interest and legal ramifications of Mercy Corps activities.

Commodity Movement Management

• Manage relationships and contracts with the key local partners.
• Develop weekly and daily commodities handling plan for the goods delivery and dispatch.
• Facilitate entrance of the transport providers for purposes of commodity transfer and review documentation.
• Verify commodities quantity and quality and report to procurement Specialist and Operations Manager on daily basis.
• Reject all the commodities which are not in line with the Mercy Corps quality requirements and/or contracted specifications.
• Maintain commodity delivery and dispatch spreadsheets and report to program managers on the daily commodity movements.
• Arrange any other requirements that Mercy Corps will have in terms of Field Office operations.
• Work very closely with Procurement Specialist, Operations Manager, Head of Office and respective Program Manager.
• Responsible for the commodity handling management in accordance to Mercy Corps manuals.
• Oversee all other activities related to the management of this location.

Security

• Work closely with the country team security advisor to develop and maintain systems that ensure the safety and security of the team at Field office.
• Work with Security Advisor to setup safety and security procedures in place.

Representation

• Interface with stakeholders responsible for coordinating all supply shipments via the appropriate approval processes.
• Communicate with stakeholders regarding paperwork and documentation of goods.
• Establish and maintain productive relationships with all stakeholders, vendors, suppliers, government authorities, and other actors.

Organizational Learning: As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries: Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: Field Office Supervisor

ACCOUNTABILITY:

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO:Operations Manager

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Logistics staff, Program Managers, Finance Manager, Security Staff, Procurement Specialist

COLLABORATES WITH: All MC logistics and operations team as required

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• 4- 7 years of field experience setting up and managing administration, warehousing and logistics systems with humanitarian NGOs with supervisory responsibilities.
• Demonstrated understanding of complex emergencies and situations, related security concerns and appropriate responses with experience in insecure environments.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, following procedures, meeting deadlines and working and problem-solving independently and cooperatively.
• Knowledge of Mercy Corps systems and procedures (esp. procurement systems and warehousing) preferred
• Excellent negotiation and representation skills.
• Effective verbal and written communication, organizational, prioritization and Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent oral and written English skills required. Arabic skills are desirable.
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

The successful Field Operation Manager will be good at management and problem solving and have the ability to work out methods to deliver successful commodity border crossing S/he will maintain strong cooperative relationships with other departments and interact effectively with international and national personnel both in a managerial as well as training capacity, while demonstrating the ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities. S/he will be able to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.

LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

The position is based in a location in the Middle East and unaccompanied. Housing at this point is group or temporary. Staff will have access to good medical services, restaurants, cafes, supermarkets and shops. This position requires (100% of time) of travel by vehicle to the border border with potential travel into across border gate pending security clearance.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps' policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

How to apply:

Apply online at our website:
http://mercycorps.silkroad.com/epostings/submit.cfm?fuseaction=app.dspjo...