Equipment Officer

SOS MEDITERRANEE is a civil European rescue association founded in 2015 to face the humanitarian tragedy and the lack of adequate state rescue capacity in the Mediterranean on the deadliest maritime migratory route in the world since 2014. Created by a group of European citizens, our maritime and humanitarian organisation has three missions:

1. To rescue people in distress at sea.
2. To protect and assist survivors on board our ship.
3. To bear witness and raise awareness about the tragedy unfolding in the central Mediterranean.

SOS MEDITERRANEE is a network composed of four European entities (Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland) sharing the objective to support our rescue operations at sea. Search and Rescue (SAR) operations have been carried out since February 2016 in the Central Mediterranean off the Libyan coasts with the chartered ships Aquarius and Ocean Viking. To date, over 40.000 people have been rescued by SOS MEDITERRANEE.

Today, SOS MEDITERRANEE is looking for an Equipment Officer to support the SAR operations.

MISSION OBJECTIVE

Under the management of the Search and Rescue Manager, the equipment officer participates to enable safe and effective operations by ensuring SOS MEDITERRANEE has the appropriate and functioning SAR equipment onboard.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Mission 1: Define minimum standards in terms of equipment management to ensure risk are reduced in SAR activity

• In collaboration with the SAR team, define the list of the critical equipment “to be ready” for rescue
• Ensure that equipment is compliant with international standards and internal needs
• Update the critical equipment form with each equipment, defining the characteristics of the item, including standards requirements
• Assist the SAR manager in defining the equipment budget

Mission 2: Contribute to ensuring the functionality and review of the SAR equipment

• Define SOPs/standards in terms of review of equipment and equipment renewal
• Realize spot-check on the mandatory routine checks, and sensitize the SAR team about the importance of realizing routine checks
• Ensure the update and follow up of the maintenance status on Seahub (Planned Maintenance System – PMS)
• Regularly go to port calls to monitor the status and needs related to SAR equipment
• Coordinate the repair and maintenance of the equipment
• Coordinate with the logistics manager the visit of service providers when necessary
• Monitor the needs in terms of equipment through consolidated SAR technician debriefings

Mission 3: Ensure the supply and stock management of the SAR equipment

• Define and communicate minimum critical stock levels needed to operate for standard operation and degraded capacity operation (critical stock)
• Define safe reserve stock to mitigate risk of falling below required stock of critical items (target stock)
• In collaboration with the logistics manager, define minimum standards for equipment inventory and ensure that inventories are done regularly

Mission 4: Support the equipment review during technical stops

• Gather needs for ship upgrades relating specifically to the SAR component
• Compiles needs into technical specifications and support the logistics manager in the communication with suppliers
• Go to technical stops to oversee the work done on equipment and and ensure the delivered work meets specification
• Ensure work reports are produced for the works executed during technical stops

Mission 5: Participate in the capacity building of the crew in the SAR equipment use and management

• Elaborate guidelines and user guide for each critical equipment use
• In collaboration with the L&D coordinator, improve the trainings module on equipment usage
• Ensure the dissemination of any equipment guidelines (user guide, manuals etc.) to the SAR team when requested

Qualification and skills:

• At least highschool and vocational degree
• At least 1 year in an office-based position
• At least 1 year working at sea
• Experience with rescue boats and outboard engine
• Experience managing lifting system
• Experience in technical management
• Basic knowledge in RIBs, FRCs, PPE
• Excellent organization and time management skills
• Logisitcs knowledge
• Sound decision-making and problem solving skills
• Good interpersonal and conflict resolution skills
• Self-motivated, enthustiastic, autonomous
• Able to be constructive and collaborative with colleagues
• Capacity to work under pressure and ability to cope with frequent change of plans
• Fluent in English and italian is a significant advantage
• Computer literate, at ease with MSc office tools

Contract conditions:

• Contract duration : 6 months, renewable
• Evenings and week-end work might be required and compensated according to the policy in place
• Europe-wide travel.
• Salary : From 2.400 € to 2.800€ gross per month
• Insurance taken in charge
• Food voucher
• Contract Type : Fixed Term Contract