Liaison Officer

Job Purpose

The Liaison Officer will act as the middle person between the Programs Department of Mercy Without Limits, other internal departments, and humanitarian actors and associations to streamline operations, resolve issues, improve communications, and ensure that the relationship is as beneficial as possible. His/her responsibilities are ensuring that Mercy Without Limits improves the working relations and networking with local authorities and that the mission, mandate, and programs of the organization are appropriately communicated to relevant stakeholders in Turkey.

Key Responsibilities

1. Representing and liaising with authorities, Municipalities, NGOs, local partners, and other relevant stakeholders:
   • Developing, maintaining, and/or reinforcing a network with different representatives from local institutions and the respective administrative services being the focal point for resolving problems/programmatic/operational and administrative issues with local stakeholders.
   • Sharing relevant information with national and local authorities regarding planning, program implementation, and monitoring.
   • Ensuring the compliance of HR department-related procedures of MWL with Turkish Labour Law (employment contract, termination, compensation, SGK, etc.).
   • Ensure the compliance of Finance department-related procedures of MWL with Turkish Law (staff SGK, salaries, contacting the legal accountant, etc.).
   • Attending all liaison and legal meetings.
   • Translating, deposing, following, and obtaining legal administrative documents related to the implementation of programs in collaboration with the different technical departments.
   • Reporting all government issues to MWL management.
   • Following up on MoUs with Municipalities and local partners (other NGOs).
   • Recording of decisions in the MWL decision book and other books etc.
   • Managing the governorate system (Derbis).
   • Following notification of receiving foreign aids.
   • Ensuring compliance with the requirements for registration of MWL with the Directorate of associations
   • Supporting MWL in resolving any potential difficulties in MWL’s relations with Governments bodies
   • Ensuring compliance of MWL to legal requirements of the country, including resident permit and work permit requirements.
   • Following-up national regulation, taxes, registration of assets, etc.…
2. Coordinating the administrative and program issues with the local authorities:
   • Anticipating and informing the Executive Director in case of a significant change in administrative procedures (authorizations etc.) and of significant concerns related to program implementation.
   • Monitoring and following up on issues regarding relations with institutional actors and administrative bodies (Municipalities, Governorates, Directorate Associations, etc.)
3. Maintaining professional relations and good collaboration with technical departments and team members:
   • Consulting other departments at Mercy Without Limits as needed, then implementing solutions based on knowledge of programs and procedures, logic, and sound judgment in collaboration with the Executive Director.
   • Initiating contact with staff in other departments to exchange detailed, substantive information and coordinating external relations and actions necessary to achieve the work goals set.

Note: the above-mentioned key responsibilities/accountabilities are illustrative ones. Other future responsibilities/accountabilities may be assigned to the job depending on the department’s organizational chart.

Qualification (Education/Work Experience/Languages)

Essential:

• Bachelor’s degree in law, public administration, international relations, or other relevant fields.
• V. Good Command of the English Language (4 skills: Listening – Speaking – Reading – Writing).
• V. Good Command of the Turkish Language (4 skills: Listening – Speaking – Reading – Writing).
• 3 years at least of work experience in the NGOs.
• Ability to work in Turkey legally.

Preferable:

• Master’s degree in law, public administration, international relations, or other relevant fields.
• V. Good Command of the Arabic Language (4 skills: Listening – Speaking – Reading – Writing).
• Turkish Nationality
• 5 years at least of work experience in the NGOs.

Core Competencies:

• Communication
• Teamwork
• Planning and Organizing
• Accountability
• Creativity
• Client Orientation
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Technological Awareness.

Managerial Competencies:

• Leadership
• Building Trust
• Vision
• Managing Performance
• Empowering Others
• Judgment/Decision-making.

Technical Competencies:

• Proficiency in M.S Office programs, especially Word, Excel, and Access.
• Familiarity with the principles of humanitarian action
• Good contextual knowledge of the local community and social/cultural constraints, realities, and organizational relationships.
• Knowledge of Turkey’s systems, policies, and regulations