Country Representative
Position Summary Expectations - Duties, Responsibilities
Location: Phenom Penh, Cambodia with frequent travel
Project: Department of International operations
Type of contract: Fixed term – one year with potential extension
Summary
Reporting to Regional Representative, you will be responsible to be a part of carrying out the mission of Fondation Merieux encompassing strengthening the laboratory infrastructure, advancing diagnostic capabilities, and partnership in Cambodia. Work directly with organizational leadership and program staff to undertake the responsibilities listed below.
- Functional Responsibilities:
- Under the overall supervision of the Fondation Merieux Southeast Asia Regional Representative, working closely with the different directions of the organization, and in close coordination with key stakeholders, the country representative will be responsible for
- Establish diplomatic and professional representation with in-country stakeholders, public sector, and international partners in compliance with the Fondation Merieux organizational policy and regulations.
- Establish solid working relationships and stakeholder management with the uttermost understanding on local context, culture, norms, customs, and tradition.
- Manage the local staff and in-country office to ensure the performance of the resources in the areas of programmatic/technical results delivery, financial management (budget/cash flow/expenditure), work planning and resource mobilization, monitoring, and evaluation (M&E), administrative (including regular reporting, reviewing contracts, amendments, and HR issues), and procurement operations.
- Manage the information flows between the headquarter, regional office and the local office to utilize the resources effectively.
- Represent Fondation Merieux in the high-level government meeting, international conferences, local workshop, and seminars to ensure coordination, effective delivery and information sharing.
- Seek new funding opportunities, donor, and partners to expand the local office’s scope, activities, and vision.
- Delivery and performance: rolling out the project optimal performance with the application of critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Oversee the new funding application process and the implementation of approved programme plans, manage the outcome of the project’s objectives, and initiate corrective action where necessary.
- Authorize, monitor, and control the cash flow at the local office within the given habilitation of the assigned position.
- Advise the regional and international office on local office governance and public sector coordination to strengthen the Fondation Merieux’s engagement at all levels.
- Identify and manage risks, regular monitoring of the country political, economic, and technical landscape to safeguard the local office staff, projects, and activities.
- Ensure appropriate measures have been written and documented such as national travel protocol, project management SOP, and national security plan, etc.
- Specific tasks:
- Supporting the Rodolphe Mérieux Laboratory in Cambodia, University of Health Sciences, Rodolphe Mérieux Laboratory
- Technical assistant to UHS to develop the research strategy of the Rodolphe Mérieux Laboratory, considering the national environment and the GABRIEL network.
- Search for new national and international financial and operational partnerships.
- Follow-up of scientific publication, thesis and manuscripts review with thesis directors.
- Design and writing assistance for research projects.
- Implement research projects in the Rodolphe Mérieux laboratory, help supervise students and technicians.
- Support for the promotion and publication of research projects
- Support for the development of specialized biology at UHS
- Quality development within the laboratory
- Maintaining links with the GABRIEL network and Fondation Mérieux's scientific department
- Monitoring the laboratory's financial and administrative management in conjunction with the laboratory director and Fondation Mérieux's administrative and financial manager
- Supervision of Fondation Mérieux's medical and scientific projects in Cambodia
- Supervision of Cambodia's medical biology laboratory (CamLab) network in conjunction with the Office of the Ministry of Health, the WHO and the various partners involved.
- Oversight and coordination with the MoH/BMLS to follow-up and monitor regularly upon the Cambodian laboratory network website.
- Provide assistant and coordination to relevant stakeholders for workforce enhancement and reforms porgrammes within the laboratory and health system of Cambodia government.
- Education
- Master’s or doctorate degree preferably in public health, medicine, epidemiology, health economics, or related disciplines, public administration, international relations, or related subjects.
- A bachelor’s degree in these areas with a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience is considered as an equivalent.
- Understanding and experience in thesis supervision, scientific paper writing, and literature review will be considered as favorable skills.
- Experience
- At least 5-7 years of progressively responsible experience in programme/project management is required in public health.
- Solid experience in understanding diagnostic system strengthening, laboratory management, and managing large health-related progammes at a strategic level with financial oversight is a great asset.
- Solid practical experience in working with the international NGOS, UN, local NGOs, civil society, and public sector is required.
- Knowledge and experience of working in Cambodia is a strong asset. Previous experience in South, and/or South-East Asia is an asset.
- Knowledge of public sector financial rules, procurement, and/or grant-making practices is an asset.
- Prior experience in public health or national health policy dialogue/development at a high level is an asset.
- Language
- Fluency in English is required.
- Knowledge of an additional language such as Khmer, French or Cambodia language is an asset.
