CLOSED --- MERCY CORPS looking for COUNTRY OPERATIONS MANAGER

Country Operations Manager - Turkey

Tracking Code

219282-927

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Job Description

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

The programs provide emergency, life-saving assistance to families affected by the Syrian crisis.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The Country Operations Manager is a member of the country’s senior management team (SMT). S/he has overall responsibility for all operations functions including Procurement, Tendering, Logistics, Assets, Fleet, Warehousing, and relevant Administration elements. S/he ensures compliance with donor regulations as well as Mercy Corps’ internal policies and procedures and updates local manuals and policies and builds the capacity of local operations team members. S/he provides support and advises the Country Director / Deputy Country Director, Program Director, Program Managers and other team members as required on operational issues.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Management

• The Country Operations Manager has an overriding responsibility to ensure the effective delivery of all operational aspects of Mercy Corps’ humanitarian assistance programs.
• Maintain close coordination with Program Managers to ensure all programs have full and relevant operational support.
• Work closely with program management to facilitate operational aspects of program planning, and upcoming operational resource needs, especially timely procurement.
• Work closely with program and finance teams to deliver successful programs while demonstrating excellent stewardship of donor funds and compliance with Mercy Corps, donor and relevant Turkish laws and regulations.
• Ensure that all Operations Managers coordinate activities in close coordination with the Security Department and comply with all security instructions.
• One of the most critical aspects of the Manager’s role is to develop the capacity of operations staff at every level and to ensure adequate training opportunities are available.
• Ensure the operations department structure and staffing levels and abilities are able to provide a high level of support to meet existing and future needs of the program.
• Oversee and delegate responsibilities among the operations department managers.
• Ensure that there is a strong recognition and understanding of operations systems and the need for integrations of approach among staff in all departments.
• The Country Operations Manager supports development of operations staff capacity with PALM assistance where relevant to meet program needs; by designing/using training regimens for operations staff. Identifying and building capacity of exceptional staff who demonstrate potential to take on greater responsibilities and Temporary Duty Assignments, Expatriate-level roles, and/or emergency deployments.
• Assist the program team and departments to understand their roles and responsibilities in terms of interaction with operations departments. These include trainings, regular coordination meetings, problem solving and procurement planning and other such planning activities to ensure effective and timely program implementation.
• Responsible for the management of all operations functions and staff; responsible for the full and proper implementation of Mercy Corps systems of management, compliance and control as described in Mercy Corps field manuals and specific to the requirements of the programs.
• Work closely with the finance department and the Compliance Manager to mitigate fraud, conflict of interest, and to ensure full understanding of legal ramifications of Mercy Corps activities.
• Ensure our interaction and participation in the relevant inter-agency working groups.

Operations Management - Logistics:

• Ensure timely and accurate processing and documentation of procurements: the process, ensure accurate paperwork and a supply chain as described in the Field Procurement Manual.
• Ensure procurement records and systems are well managed and maintained.
• Is responsible to ensure that tendering and procurement procedures are compliant and follow relevant.
• Ensure the warehouse procedures are followed as described in the Warehouse Policy and Procedures Guidelines.
• Ensure the establishment and maintenance of supplies pipelines and overseeing the logistical aspects of the operation.
• Ensure adequate supervision of fleet management team and ensure that systems are in place to track maintenance schedules, fuel usage and vehicle scheduling as described in the Field Fleet Management Guidelines. 
• Oversight of Food/NFI, commodity storage and movements as needed.
• Maintain service contracts.  
• Liaise with finance to ensure compliance and payment schedules.
• Oversee tracking of all assets to ensure accurate record keeping of Mercy Corps and donor assets, including exceptional items that require registration and movement tracking, in accordance with the Mercy Corps Asset Management Manual.
• Coordinate logistics (non-program) aspects of material aid projects and associated shipments, and managing the importation and customs clearance elements.
• Maintain inventory records of materials and materials flow in all warehouses.
• Oversee equipment registration, licensing and insurance, etc.
• Chair tender openings as required.

Strategy and Vision

• Provide program support, coordination, supervision and monitoring activities designed to meet program objectives.
• Develop and maintain strategic overview of operations in coordination with the DCD.

Representation:

• Coordinate with other organizations on operational issues.
• Maintain professional relations with key strategic vendors and service providers.
• Ensure participation in relevant inter-agency working groups, share information from such interaction with other departments.

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: All country Operations (Logistics and Administration) staff.

ACCOUNTABILITY:

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO:Deputy Country Director

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH:Deputy Country Director, Programs Director, HR Manager/HO, Program Managers, Chiefs of Party, Finance Director, Finance/Compliance Manager, Security Staff.

COLLABORATES WITH: All MC logistics, administration and operations team as required.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor degree or equivalent in a related field.
• 5-7 years field experience in administrative or operational support functions with a humanitarian non-governmental organization with supervisor responsibilities.
• Experience in setting up and managing administration, procurement, logistics, and human resource management.
• Demonstrated understanding of complex emergencies, related security concerns, and appropriate responses to such emergencies.
• Excellent writing and communications skills.
• Excellent negotiation, representation, skills and the ability to work comfortably with an ethnically diverse staff in a very sensitive environment.
• Effective verbal and written communication, organizational, prioritization and Microsoft Office applications.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Proven ability to solve problems independently without direct supervision.
• Experience living and working in the Middle East preferred.
• Knowledge of Mercy Corps systems and procedures (particularly Mercy Corps procurement systems) highly desirable.
• Knowledge of USAID, EC, ECHO and UN regulations helpful.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

Critical is strategic-thinking and planning, problem solving, and the ability to work out methods to deliver successful programs while demonstrating excellent stewardship of donor funds and compliance with MC and donor regulations. Maintaining strong cooperating relationships with other departments is crucial. The successful candidate will have the ability to interact effectively with international and national personnel both in a managerial as well as training capacity and demonstrate 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 and be willing to travel regularly to Mercy Corps business related sites.

LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

This position will be based in Gaziantep, Turkey. The location is unaccompanied. Housing is group accommodation with excellent freedom of movement beyond the house/office. Staff will have access to good medical services in Gaziantep. Electricity and water are not common problem in this city

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.

Job Location

Gaziantep, Gaziantep, Turkey

Position Type

Full-Time/Regular

Source: https://mercycorps.silkroad.com/epostings/index.cfm?fuseaction=app.jobsearch