Motorized Fleet Regional Technical Referent for West Africa and Haiti (m/f/x) – Abidjan – MSF Belgium At Médecins Sans Frontières

CONTEXT

MSF Belgium’s Logistics Department (Brussels Operational Centre – OCB) supports logisticians (Logs) on projects and missions by providing support related to Log intervention families and technical families, ensuring access to information and knowledge, and promoting professional development. The Log Department is composed of the Logistics Support Unit (LSU), the Knowledge and Information Management Unit (KMU) and the Workforce Log Unit (WFU).

MSF’s medical activities require continuous support to ensure the mobility of patients, staff and goods as well as the production of energy (generators) with safe and appropriate equipment. The context of use and the complexity of our various machines require constant support to the logistics teams in the field and regular evaluation of these assets by highly qualified personnel in order to avoid unforeseen damage, significant expenses and impact on operations.

As a Motorized Fleet Regional Technical Referent for West Africa and Haiti, you provide local technical support to operations for the West Africa and Haiti region. You are under the supervision of the Motorized Fleet Team Leader based in Abidjan. With the support of the Polyvalent Logs of Cell 2 (for operations in Mali, Guinea, Benin, Nigeria and Sierra Leone) and Cell 3 (for operations in Haiti), you provide support to these projects at 3 levels: 2nd line (complex and contextualized support), 3rd line (medium or long-term response based on a continuous process of improvement and innovation) and exceptionally 1st line (support on basic knowledge, existing standard documentation and training). You collaborate with the Motorized Fleet Team Leader and local teams to develop and/or implement regional policies, processes, tools, training and techniques.

Your goal is to implement or improve field practices for effective and efficient design, management, use, and maintenance of motorized equipment for the mobility of patients, staff, and goods as well as the production of electrical power from combustion engines.

The motorized fleet sector includes machinery (light vehicles, trucks, motorcycles, generators, motor pumps, etc.), human resources (fleet managers, drivers, workshop managers, mechanics, etc.), infrastructure and equipment, spare parts/consumables and protocols. Motorized fleets of vehicles and generators require two main areas of activity, the first being fleet management, the second being the maintenance of these fleets of machines.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide specialized 2nd line support in the region and contribute to the reflection on the impact of this support on the development of 3rd line projects:

• Advise the project log team to solve interdisciplinary technical problems affecting the optimal functionality of the machines
• Propose, improve and implement MSF protocols, tools and techniques related to the motorized fleet (design, management and maintenance)
• Analyze maintenance needs in different projects and make recommendations for the ideal HR configuration
• Assist projects in the definition and updating of country-specific Transport Policies
• Train and support field logistics teams on the use and responsibilities of motorized vehicles and increase their capabilities in this area
• Be a major player in safety on the road and in maintenance activities by providing protocols, awareness/training, mentoring
• Be a major player in the reduction of the carbon footprint by providing training in Eco-Driving
• Compile monthly reports of motorized fleet activities in the region and propose recommendations
• Provide technical input to the field log team in the evaluation of local, regional suppliers, maintenance contracts, regional purchasing and, possibly, outsourcing of services
• Evaluate opportunities for collaboration with other technical families and operational centers of MSF
• Resolve issues that are not resolved through the Helpdesk
• Monitor motorized fleet indicators and update of Track My Stuff and Fleet module (Fleet Management System)
• Contribute to the adequacy of the capitalization of each major element of the 2nd line support as well as its impact on the developments of the 3rd line

Provide 3rd Line Support:

• Monitor and oversee outsourced developments in the region
• Participate in the definition of job descriptions and the recruitment of motorized fleet technicians in the projects covered
• Assess the regional market situation for assets, tools and equipment related to its technical field and validate the product-supplier match
• Define strategies for the supply and storage of spare parts and other elements for the maintenance of the machines and equipment of the technical family
• Create a network to support the log community on the motorized fleet domain in your coverage region
• Reinforce capacity by organizing technical training adapted to the reality in the field
• In cooperation with the Team Leader, increase and standardize “individual training” for operational logs (Log Coordinator, Log Team Leader, Log Managers, etc.) and specialists (fleet managers, Workshop managers and supervisors, mechanics)
• Provide training on new topics, both technical and organizational, such as “Diagnostic Training”, “Generator Training”, “Special Vehicle Training” and “Fleet Management for Drivers”
• Study and advise on local regulations that affect the use and safety of equipment and capitalize on relevant documentation
• Support one or more pilot projects in the implementation of the action plan for the implementation of the Fleet Management System (Track My Stuff – Fleet Module)

Exceptionally provide support for the empowerment of 1st line support:

• Support the field logistics team on the design and/or evaluation of motorized fleet parameters
• In collaboration with Logistics Coordinators (LogCos), assist logistics teams in the field in organizing, coordinating and monitoring the implementation of motorized fleets
• Support the projects in the management of the spare parts as well as on the concrete planning and definition of periodic spare parts orders (frequency, composition and validation of parts and service providers, inventories)
• In collaboration with LogCos, facilitate the clarification of roles and responsibilities between fleet managers and maintenance teams as well as communications with other departments

REQUIREMENTS

Education & Experience

• A degree and specialization in the field of fleet management and/or technical education in automotive mechanics
• Recent experience in a humanitarian context of at least 5 years in various areas of fleet management, garage management and logistics with a fleet under your direction
• Experience coaching teams or individuals is an asset

Technical competencies

• Vehicle fleet and mechanical workshop management
• Repair and maintenance skills for the automotive and/or generator industry
• Mechanical, electrical and electronic diagnostics
• Good understanding of quality control, procurement, and related procurement constraints

Transversal competencies

• Good teamwork and collaboration skills: Ability to work effectively within a multicultural team and contribute positively to a collaborative work environment
• Good analytical skills: Ability to analyze complex situations and propose appropriate solutions
• Ability to track multiple projects/assignments remotely: Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously, even remotely
• Results-oriented, quality & service-oriented: Commitment to operational excellence and superior service delivery
• Innovative and inventive: Ability to come up with new and creative ideas to improve our operations on our projects
• Listening and Patience: Ability to listen carefully to the needs and concerns of others and to be patient in complex situations
• Flexibility and Stress Resilience: Ability to adapt quickly to changing circumstances and effectively manage stress in often challenging environments
• Proactive in evaluating and proposing solutions: Ability to anticipate potential challenges and propose proactive solutions
• Willing to take measured risks and take responsibility for choices: Ability to take responsibility for difficult decisions in emergency situations
• Networking: Ability to collaborate with different internal and external actors to achieve common goals
• Ensure coherence between MSF quality standards and contextual reality: Ability to apply MSF standards and procedures while taking into account local realities
• Able to handle a variable workload: Ability to adapt to periods of intense activity and effectively manage changing priorities
• Ability to modify and adapt plans and objectives according to MSF’s needs and requirements: Flexibility to adjust strategies and plans based on changing needs on the ground
• Motivation to work in humanitarian work and more specifically with MSF: Commitment to MSF’s humanitarian mission and motivation to contribute to our cause

Languages

• Fluency in French and English, both written and spoken

Other

• Availability and willingness to travel very frequently and work in a variety of volatile and/or conflict-affected contexts

CONDITIONS

• Starting date: 1st of July 2024
• Location: Abidjan (Ivory Coast)
• Mobility up to 75% of the time in the field (Mali, Guinea, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Benin and Haiti)
• Type of contract: Fixed-term contract – Full-time
• Contract duration: 1 year (renewable)
• The contractual conditions will be established on the basis of the candidate’s residence and administrative constraints, in accordance with MSF’s function grids and salary policies. The remuneration package will also vary accordingly, as it is defined by the local status.
• Adhere to the MSF principles and to our managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust and Empowerment
• Adhere to the MSF Behavioral Commitments