Operations Director in Madagascar At Mercy Ships

Who We Are

Mercy Ships is a global faith-based charity that uses hospital ships to bring life-changing surgeries and transformational medical training to people in some of the most challenging contexts along the African coast. For over 40 years, Mercy Ships has been delivering lasting hope and healing through safe surgical care, while working alongside partners and stakeholders to strengthen local healthcare systems in more than 55 countries. Since the inception of this dream by founders Don and Deyon Stephens in 1978, Mercy Ships has served more than 2.7 million direct beneficiaries without regard for race, gender, or religion.

Mercy Ships is seeking an on-site Operations Director to serve in our Madagascar office. In this position you’ll have the opportunity to support the Africa Service Center (ASC) initiatives of Mercy Ships to ensure continued delivery of hope to those in need through service as a Project Manager for daily operations associated with Country Engagement Team (CET) functions.

How You’ll Contribute

• Develop and maintain a transparent, honest, and supportive communication structure with colleagues, to ensure they are kept informed of support related activities and requirements.
• Liaise and maintain effective communication with ship based, ASC and ISC departments to establish and monitor the different objectives.
• Adhere to budget plans and provide accurate accounts of spending.
• Manage the spending within the approved budget for the CE activities on the ground.
• In collaboration with Country Director (CD), plan, submit and oversee the team budget and ensure that expenses related to travel, housing, meals, etc. are within expectation.
• Set up bank account for CET as well as for the ship, ensure access to online banking, facilitate ongoing communication with bank.
• Liaise with financial institutions and NGOs to verify financial procedures in country (i.e. potential withholding tax for contractors)
• Documentation in Certify with respect to bank and cheque payments.
• Provide reports to the CD regarding all activities.
• Adhere to all security procedures.
• Represents the CD as requested.
• Organize and accompany CD to functions and meetings with high government officials and other dignitaries as required, for logistical support, protocol advice and potentially language translation.
• Where events involve the ship, liaise with the Executive Assistant to MD to arrange ship logistical details(i.e. arrival ceremony, partners ceremony, medical reception, pastors’ reception)
• Learn local protocol expectations and advise ASC Director and CD, Managing Director and ship management team in this regard as needed.
• Seek, establish, and maintain relationships with Government Officials, Diplomats, and Business Partners in country at the request of the CD.
• Act as a project Manager for the Assessment phase and Advance phase, managing the CET and coordinating in conjunction with the CD.
• Act as project manager for special projects related to high level contacts (e.g., events, receptions, executive visits, government meetings, official mailings, gifts, etc.)

The Ideal Candidate

• Supportive of Mercy Ships mission and vision and committed to its core values.
• Understand and apply servant leadership, work collaboratively with integrity and demonstrate accountability.
• Proven business/non-profit management operations knowledge, superior verbal and written communication skills, and negotiating ability.
• Supports the organization’s mission, vision and values by exhibiting excellence and competence, collaboration, innovation, respect, personalization, commitment to community, accountability and ownership.
• Must ascribe to the Mercy Ships Statement of Faith and Code of Conduct.
• Understand and apply servant leadership, work collaboratively with integrity, demonstrate cross-cultural awareness and sensitivity, and demonstrate accountability.
• Able to live in and contribute to community life, requiring stable and healthy interpersonal skills.
• Very good understanding of African culture and able to demonstrate high cultural sensitivity.
• Frequent travel between Mercy Ships locations.
• Requires primary work location in a host nation.
• Excellent People and networking skills
• Be an independent thinker as well as a team player.
• Represent Mercy Ships and be able to speak in public.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent organizational, administrative and time management skills
• Possesses initiative, good judgement, and the ability to analyze and solve problems.
• Possess a strong customer service mindset including attitude and approach.

Education & Experience

• Significant (3-5 years) cross-cultural experience working in developing nations and managing projects in the field, preferably with Mercy Ships
• Bachelor’s Degree in related discipline preferred, along with well-developed business/non-profit management experience.
• Progressive administrative experience in a multi-cultural, international setting, preferably Mercy Ships.
• Good understanding of Mercy Ships is required.
• Successful completion of Mercy Ships On Boarding program and CE training will be required within the first year.
• Fluency in English required, and French strongly preferred (minimum of International B2 Level).
• International driving license required.
• Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel
• Opportunity for future training will form part of each member’s personal development plan and be considered on a person-by-person basis but may include language training, job specific experience onboard one of Mercy Ships vessels or at the International Support Centre, Security, Leadership and other related professional study.
• Successful completion of Mercy Ships Entry Training will be required within the first year.

Pour your God-given talents into a mission with eternal return on investment — join the Mercy Ships Crew, today!

This is a paid position. To explore our many Mercy Ships volunteer opportunities, please visit us at: https://www.mercyships.org/get-involved/volunteer/