Field Service Advance Team Lead, Togo

About the role

Mercy Ships is seeking an experienced Field Service Advance Team Lead for its work in Togo. The role leads the mobile Advance Team and is accountable for delivering country-specific Advance activities that prepare for vessel arrival and Field Service implementation. Working in partnership with the Country Director, it leads a multidisciplinary team of specialist liaisons and coordinates planning, operational readiness, risk management, stakeholder coordination, reporting and issue resolution. It is a full-time, 5-month fixed-term position based on-site in Togo, with the selected candidate required to be in-country by November 2, 2026. The annual compensation range is $40,000-$45,700, prorated for the duration of the assignment.

Key responsibilities

• Lead, coach, develop and manage the Advance Team and specialist liaisons, allocate work and recruit, onboard and develop team members, including succession planning.
• Develop and maintain the integrated Advance activity schedule, coordinate workstreams and ensure ship logistics, customs, immigration, facilities, licensing, security, staffing and Field Service support are planned and progressed.
• Monitor readiness, identify risks early and coordinate corrective action or escalation, and ensure a smooth handover into Field Service operations.
• Coordinate operational engagement with authorities, agencies, partners and service providers within delegated authority, document commitments and report to the Country Director and senior leadership.
• Maintain Advance documentation, SOPs, trackers and handover materials, and lead after-action reviews and continuous improvement.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• Significant leadership experience in international and cross-cultural environments, including leading operational, readiness, logistics, program or country-engagement initiatives.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and complex stakeholder networks; experience with government authorities and external partners preferred.
• Fluent in English and French; Portuguese desirable.
• Willingness to travel extensively and deploy for extended periods.

Required skills

• Senior leadership and team management
• Operational planning and program/project coordination
• Stakeholder engagement, diplomacy and governance
• Risk management, problem-solving and decision-making
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including senior-level reporting