Field Service Access & Transport Liaison, Togo

**The compensation range for this position is $40,000–$45,700. This is a full-time, 5 months fixed-term assignment based on-site in Togo, with the selected candidate required to be in-country by October 26. The listed compensation range applies to U.S.-based hires; actual compensation may vary based on the selected candidate’s location**.

Application Deadline: October 11.

Mercy Ships is seeking an experienced Field Service Access & Transport Liaison for its work in Togo. The Field Service Access & Transport Liaison owns the coordination and implementation of Field Service-specific immigration, airport and transportation readiness activities assigned to the Advance Team.  Working under the Advance Team Lead and in alignment with the Country Director and Country Operations Manager, the role builds on existing country relationships, knowledge and operational arrangements and provides temporary specialist capacity to scale these for the significantly increased requirements of vessel arrival and Field Service implementation.

How You Will Contribute:

Immigration & Entry Readiness
•    Understand existing or planned country immigration arrangements and translate these into practical processes capable of supporting Field Service volumes. 

•    Map relevant visa, visa-waiver and immigration processes, including documentation, submission requirements, timelines, costs, responsible authorities and escalation points.

•    Develop clear guidance, checklists and process documentation for incoming personnel and relevant Mercy Ships teams.

•    Coordinate implementation of agreed immigration processes during Advance and track assigned applications, permissions and actions.

•    Identify delays or bottlenecks and resolve routine issues with the Country Operations Manager and relevant teams.

•    Escalate matters requiring senior government engagement, changes to agreed arrangements or institutional intervention to the Country Director.

•    Ensure immigration processes are documented and transferable to the appropriate ongoing owner. 

Airport & Arrival/Departure Readiness
•    Assess the additional airport and arrival/departure requirements created by the Field Service with the Country Operations Manager and Logistics Coordinator.

•    Establish and document processes capable of supporting anticipated Field Service volumes.

•    Coordinate airport access, parking, badges, permissions and designated arrival/departure arrangements.

•    Coordinate specialist arrangements for VIP movements, official delegations and private aircraft where required, working through established country and protocol relationships.

•    Coordinate with Security, Travel, People & Culture, ship-based teams and other relevant functions to ensure arrangements meet organizational requirements.

•    Develop practical procedures and guidance for teams responsible for implementation during the Field Service.

•    Identify and escalate airport-related risks, constraints and dependencies. 

Vehicle & Transportation Readiness
•    Determine additional Field Service vehicle and transport requirements with the Country Operations Manager and Logistics Coordinator.

•    Coordinate vehicle registration, licensing, insurance and other required regulatory processes.

•    Document applicable requirements, processes, timelines and costs.

•    Support identification and setup of additional transport providers, rental arrangements or other services required to meet Field Service demand.

•    Coordinate with relevant Mercy Ships functions regarding vehicle, driver, insurance and security requirements.

•    Ensure transport arrangements, providers and regulatory requirements are documented for operational handover.

•    Identify and escalate transportation risks or constraints affecting Field Service readiness.

•    The role does not own routine fleet operations, driver supervision, vehicle maintenance, fuel management, daily vehicle allocation or routine Field Service transportation unless temporarily delegated for a specific Advance activity.

Stakeholder Coordination
•    Work within the stakeholder framework led by the Country Director and Country Team, using existing government, airport, immigration, embassy and institutional relationships wherever possible.

•    Work directly with designated working-level counterparts as required to implement agreed immigration, airport and transportation processes.

•    Maintain accurate operational contacts and provide relevant updates to the Country Team's stakeholder and knowledge systems.

•    Where embassy, consular or senior government engagement is required, work through the Country Director, Country Operations Manager and/or International Relations/Diplomacy as appropriate.

•    Brief the Country Director where senior intervention is required to resolve an operational issue.

•    Ensure external commitments are appropriately authorized, documented and communicated to the relevant Country Team owner.

Advance Coordination, Documentation & Handover
•    Work as an integrated member of the Field Service Advance Team under the direction of the Advance Team Lead.

•    Maintain assigned actions, milestones, dependencies and deadlines within Advance schedules and readiness trackers.

•    Provide regular readiness updates to the Advance Team Lead and Country Operations Manager, identifying risks and decisions requiring escalation.

•    Maintain accurate documentation of processes, permissions, contacts, providers, agreements and operational arrangements.

•    Produce practical SOPs, checklists and guidance required for ongoing Field Service implementation.

•    Coordinate with the Port & Maritime Liaison, Health & Regulatory Liaison and other Advance specialists where workstreams intersect.

•    Identify the appropriate long-term owner for each process before Advance demobilization and provide structured handover.

•    Ensure relevant external working contacts are transitioned to the appropriate ongoing Mercy Ships owner.

•    Document outstanding actions, risks, commitments and decisions at handover.

•    Maintains alignment and upholds Mercy Ships Core Values, Code of Conduct, and follows the policies and procedures published on Compass.

•    Follows the model of Jesus and aligns with our core values by Loving God; Loving and Serving Others; Being a Person of Integrity; and a Person of Excellence in all you say and do.

•    Other duties may be assigned that are not included in the information provided in this job description. 

Ideal Candidate:

•    Strong operational planning, logistics, coordination and process-mapping skills. 

•    Ability to understand complex administrative and regulatory requirements and translate them into clear, repeatable operational processes.

•    Strong stakeholder engagement skills and ability to work effectively with government authorities and service providers within delegated responsibilities.

•    Strong problem-solving, risk-identification and cross-functional coordination skills.

•    Strong organizational, written and verbal communication skills.

•    Strong cultural awareness and ability to operate effectively in international and cross-cultural environments.

•    Experience coordinating complex travel, arrival/departure or transportation operations.

•    Experience working with immigration authorities, airports, government administrative processes and/or transport providers strongly preferred.

•    Experience with vehicle registration, licensing, insurance or fleet setup desirable.

•    Experience designing and implementing repeatable operational processes.

•    International, humanitarian or development experience strongly preferred; Mercy Ships Advance, Field Service, vessel or in-country Operations experience desirable.

•    Fluent in English and French; Portuguese desirable.

•    Ability and willingness to travel extensively and deploy for extended periods.

Education and/or Experience;
•    Bachelor's degree or relevant professional qualification preferred; equivalent relevant professional experience may be considered.

•    Significant experience in logistics, operations, travel, transportation, immigration administration or a related field.

•    Or equivalent combination of experience and education.

•    Full international driving license required.