Position: Office Care Taker (Recent Job)

Location: Jumla & Surkhet (Please mention the preferred location)  

Position Status:  Full-time, Regular  

Salary Level:  O1 

Program / Department Summary 

Mercy Corps is expected to begin a new program to enhance food and nutrition security, reduce future humanitarian caseload and improve the resilience of communities to recurrent shocks in the Karnali Province in Nepal, on or around October 1, 2020. The program will be a Multi-Year Emergency Food Security Activity funded by USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Affairs, and implemented in 6 districts (Mugu, Jumla, Kalikot, Surkhet, Achham, and Dailekh, with cluster hubs in Surkhet and Jumla) in the Karnali River Basin area.  The new program, called “Building Hope Along the Karnali River Basin (Bhakari)”, is somewhat built upon many of the successes of the Nepal team’s previous Food for Peace program which ended in January 2020, the PAHAL program, but with some new districts and a much heavier emphasis on emergency response. It includes program components of agriculture and market systems, disaster risk reduction, water for productive use, natural resources management, and a large emphasis on a gender and social inclusion approach, all with a highly integrated multi-sectoral approach. 

General Position Summary  

The Office CareTaker is responsible for day to day cleaning and repairing of the Mercy Corps Cluster Office. S/he will support the front desk for receiving incoming phone calls and receiving the visitors. S/he under the leadership of Admin & Log Officer and Deputy Chief of Party would also provide other office management support services in the Cluster Office.  

Essential Job Responsibilities  

The specific duties and responsibilities of the Office CareTaker are as following: 

• Ensure necessary back-up in the front desk and receive incoming telephone such that any caller/ visitor in the Cluster Office receives excellent customer service, is made to feel welcome and treated with respect.  
• Ensure availability of tea/ coffee for staff and guests as required. 
• Answer all incoming telephone calls and direct to the proper person or department as required and advised by the Admin and Log Officer. Take note of any messages and ensure they are transmitted to the relevant staff. . 
• Use an intercom system to transfer calls and announce visitors.  
• Maintain cleanliness of the Cluster Office, kitchen and toilets; this includes dusting, vacuuming, floors mopping, windows washing, refrigerator cleaning, cobwebs removing, kitchen/ washroom waste management etc. 
• Ensure office towels, curtains, sheets are cleaned on a regular basis.  
• Identify repair and maintenance requirements in the office premises and inform the Admin and Log Officer and ensure timely repair and good maintenance. 
• Maintain the store room properly, maintain assets register and log sheet of materials and items at store room. 
• Coordinate with Admin and Log Officer for the monthly basis review and verification of assets register.     
• Responsible for maintaining an inventory of office supplies, assuring adequate stock availability, recording of use and providing a monthly purchasing list to the Cluster Admin & Log Officer. 
• Provide necessary logistical support to organize meetings, events and training.  
• Run errands (photocopying, miscellaneous purchases, deliveries, make and post announcements at Mercy Corps office and NGO Center, assist with information exhibits and posting new photographs in the reception area. Receive, login mail and distribute. 
• Assist Admin and Log Officer and Finance and Compliance Officer for going to the bank, tax office, market and other government offices for submission and receiving of required official documents and procurement of office supplies, payment of monthly telephone bills, electricity bills, water supply bills etc.  
• Ensure the fire extinguisher, fire alarm and earthquake alarm are working properly.  Check and replace the battery on a regular basis.   

Influence and Representation  

• Establish and maintain professional and productive relationships with government offices and service providers/vendors.  
• Serve as an important staff for office management and to keep the office premises safe and secure. S/he should share and bring related issues and problems with the Admin and Log Officer and Deputy Chief of Party as required.  

 Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.  
• Proactively ensure that team members and community operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies. 

Accountability to Program Participants 

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging participating communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. 
• Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues. 

 Others  

• Mercy Corps as a humanitarian agency is expected to respond as and when crisis and humanitarian situation engulfs. As an MC employee all staff are expected to be part of humanitarian and emergency response in addition to their regular roles and responsibilities.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence. 
• Conduct themselves both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not to jeopardize its humanitarian mission. 
• Other duties as assigned by their supervisor and or Country Director. 

Supervisory Responsibility: N/A 

Accountability  

Reports Directly to: Administration and Logistics Officer– Jumla & Surkhet 

Works Directly with: Administration and Logistics Officer and the entire sub-office staff 

Knowledge and Experience  

• At least School Leaving Certificate (SLC) or Secondary Education Examination (SEE) pass 
• At least 2 years of experience in INGO in similar field preferable. 
• Valid and renewed 2-wheel driver license and experience in driving scooter or motorbike and well knowledge of traffic rules and regulations.  
• Basic understanding of English and fluency in all local languages is required.  
• Responsible, trustworthy, and punctual.  
• Ability to read, write, and speak in Nepali is desired.  
• Ability to properly fill out log sheets is a must. 
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment. 
• Expected to work beyond work hours and or in the weekends. 

Success Factors  

The successful Office Care Taker will ensure the office premises are neat, clean and tidy. S/he should regularly check the office premises and office building have a safe environment and that any other safety and security equipment are well functioning.  The Office Care Taker as per the nature of the job might be expected to work beyond work hours and or in the weekends. The Office Care Taker should have good knowledge in maintenance and repair of minor problems related with electricity, door handle, door locks etc. The successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations. The Office Care Taker should demonstrate gentle manner with guests and staff. 

Ongoing Learning 

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion 

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.  

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today. 

Equal Employment Opportunity 

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact. We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work. 

Safeguarding & Ethics 

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

Shortlisting will be done on the basis of your answers while applying, please answer the questions carefully. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Telephone enquiries will not be entertained.