Gulf of Guinea Office Manager – 1-year renewable fixed-term contract At Mérieux Foundation

Within the Gulf of Guinea Multi-Country Office in Lomé (supervising Togo, Benin, Nigeria and Guinea Conacry) and under the hierarchical supervision of the Africa Manager, the Gulf of Guinea Office Manager is the official representative of the Mérieux Foundation in the countries for which he is responsible and is responsible for the general smooth running of his Office.

With this in mind, you will mainly be entrusted with the following activities/responsibilities:

• Contribute, depending on the geopolitical context of the countries concerned, to the development of an intervention strategy and ensure its implementation once validated.
• Monitor and ensure that projects are implemented in accordance with the Foundation’s mandate and standards, in compliance with internal and contractual procedures.
• Contribute to mobilizing the material, financial and HR resources necessary for the proper conduct of projects and supervise their coordination.
• Coordinate the teams in Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Guinea Conacry and be the guarantor of the application of security procedures in these countries. He is the direct contact of the Africa Manager and the privileged contact of the Foundation’s headquarters in these countries.

The Gulf of Guinea Office Manager carries out the following missions for the countries of Togo, Benin, Nigeria and Guinea Conacry:

Strategic orientations:

• Monitor and analyze the development, political, cultural, social and economic context of countries in its area;
• Contribute to the development of an operational strategy consistent with the Foundation’s priority areas and the needs of countries (populations), in conjunction with our partners;
• Propose new operational orientations according to changing contexts.

Project coordination:

• Ensure the deployment and coordination of complex projects implemented in its area;
• Ensure the relevance, quality and consistency of projects; if necessary, propose corrective measures or developments;
• Ensure that projects are implemented in compliance with the Foundation’s strategic axes, the Foundation’s technical requirements and donor procedures;
• Alert the Africa Manager in good time of any problems or blockages in the implementation of projects in his area of ​​intervention.

Resource management:

• Contribute to the human, financial, legal and logistical sizing in its area as well as its organization;
• Contribute to the mobilization of financial resources and means necessary for the accomplishment of projects;
• Ensure the proper use of resources;
• In collaboration with RAF Africa, support the coordination of financial and logistical operations of the offices to ensure their proper functioning.
• Alert the Africa Manager in good time of any potential problems.

Human Resources Management:

• Build and maintain team dynamics, enabling the successful achievement of the Foundation’s objectives in the countries;
• Promote the ethics and values ​​of the Foundation;
• Ensure the application of the Foundation’s Human Resources policies and procedures;
• Ensure the maintenance of an adequate working and living environment in the countries; Ensure the management of employees and consultants placed under his direct supervision.

Representation

• To be the official representative of the Foundation in the countries of its zone with development actors, technical and financial partners, administrative, political and local authorities, civil society and the media;
• Ensure that financial and activity reports are submitted on time to the national authorities in their area;
• At the request of the Africa Manager, participate in development forums and relevant coordination meetings.

Donor relations / search for funding

• Monitor and analyze donor strategies in your area;
• In close collaboration with the Africa Manager and the Africa Technical Assistant, actively participate in the search for funding and ensure the financial stability of the area;
• Contribute to the development and writing of new projects in its area;
• Strengthen relations between the Foundation and donor representatives in its area.

  Internal communication

• Ensure compliance with deadlines and the quality of technical documents produced by the countries in its zone;
• Organize regular coordination meetings;
• Ensure that key operational information within its scope circulates correctly with the Africa Office and headquarters.

  Security

• Contribute to the analysis of the security situation and ensure that the teams understand it;
• Validate the travel of its country teams and give a favorable/unfavorable opinion on external visits to its area (visit to headquarters, consultants, etc.);
• Contribute to compliance with security procedures in Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Guinea Conacry;
• Ensure geo-political-security briefing for all new arrivals or visitors to these countries;
• Contribute to the regular updating of security-related documents and procedures;
• Contribute to the immediate management of security incidents that may occur in these countries.

Training and skills:

• Initial training: Bac + 5 minimum in management or public health;
• Additional training/specialization (optional): scientific or medical diploma related to the mission of the Mérieux Foundation.
• Senior experience in team management;
• Senior experience in institutional representation of organization;
• At least 5 years of experience in managing development programs in the medical and scientific sector;
• Work experience in the West Africa region;
• Experience in setting up, monitoring and evaluating donor-funded projects;
• Experience in writing responses to calls for projects.
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work within a multidisciplinary and multicultural team;
• Excellent computer skills, especially Microsoft Office;
• Languages: Excellent command of spoken and written French, good command of English.