Country Director - Columbia

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.
In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions
into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
Now, and for the future.

Program / Department Summary

For 12 years, Mercy Corps has successfully worked in more than half of the country with communities most affected by conflict and natural disasters through a diversity of programs. We have provided lasting solutions to IDPs and landmine victims, reintegrated former soldiers into society, empowered communities to resolve land conflicts and connected rural farmers to markets for increased sales in conflict-affected communities. Our team of 58 staff (including two expatriate staff) is innovating with new models for property titling, testing micro- insurance for coffee and cacao producers and protecting biodiversity. Moreover, we continue to influence the Colombian government and donor circles, ensuring our child protection and education models are adopted by state institutions and civil society to further the scale of our impact.

General Position Summary

The Mercy Corps Colombia Country Director is an innovative and visionary leader responsible for resourcefully managing all programming in Colombia, resulting in lasting improvement in the lives of Colombians. S/He has held senior roles in formulating strategic direction within an international development context. The CD has supervisory responsibility for the country team and a program portfolio of approximately $20 Million divided among 7 donor grants of varying sizes from $50,000 to $15 Million and implementation of all security protocols. The CD develops sustainable, multi-sector programming and is accountable to beneficiaries and donors, placing a high value on innovative solutions to development issues and creative partnerships in tough environments.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

• Formulate, plan and communicate a clear vision of present and future program goals and strategies to team members and stakeholders that translates into concrete programs and work plans.
• Lead the annual country planning process and provide strategic updates.
• Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions and resources to achieve program and agency objectives.
• Use technical support teams collaboratively.
• Explore, evaluate and present new country and project funding opportunities that leverage impact and integrate initiatives and activities; support and direct related fund-raising activities with both institutional and private donors.

Team Management

• Develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their leadership roles and assist with career development.
• Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Hire, orient and lead team members as necessary.

Program Operations Management

• Oversee program quality and impact by ensuring programs are based on sound design principles and utilize Mercy Corps and donor required M&E systems.
• Engage in proposal development
• Ensure effective, transparent use of resources in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies/procedures.
• Oversee budget management of sub-grantees/sub-contractors, if applicable.
• Build and maintain operational systems that ensure proper administrative support for programs, as well as segregation of duties between finance and operations.
• Fulfill Mercy Corps' Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.
• Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps' Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.

Finance & Compliance Management

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations.
• Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.
• Build and maintain operational structures that ensure proper segregation of duties between finance, administration and logistics and fully support field programs.
• Ensure that Mercy Corps complies with Colombian law.

Influence & Representation

• Represent Mercy Corps programs with national and international media and participate in community activities as appropriate.
• Maintain productive relationships with internal and external constituents such as civil society partners, local governments, private sector and foundations.
• Ensure communication pieces are well-developed, timely and relevant.
• Anticipate needs, understand donor pool and contribute to shaping donor's views on development.
• Explore, evaluate and present innovative funding opportunities that support the objectives for the country as a whole.
• Demonstrate flexibility, resilience and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure.
• Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity.
• Exhibit awareness of his/her own strengths and development needs.

Security

• Liaise with the VP of Operations and Regional Program Director on crucial events, high-risk periods, incident reporting and security policy changes.

Organizational Learning

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Supervisory Responsibility: 7 direct reportees including Program Managers, Finance Manager, Operations Manager, M&E Manager, Communications Manager and 51 indirect staff plus three international interns, two national interns and 40-50 volunteers.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Regional Director of The Americas

Works Directly With: Regional Program Team for The Americas and Regional Finance Officers based in Portland and Edinburgh. Also works closely with other HQ Program units and other departments, including Technical Support Unit, Resource Development, International Finance, People Team, Legal, Policy and Advocacy, Communications, Mercy Corps Counterparts at MC HQ offices in Europe; and MC donors and partners.

Knowledge and Experience

• BA/S or equivalent in relevant field required; MA/S preferred.
• 7-10 years of field experience in international relief and development programs, including demonstrable success in managing large development programs.
• 5 years of senior-level leadership, capacity building and field management experience.
• Capacity to respond to emergency and disaster response as appropriate.
• Knowledge of Sphere standards and other training in emergency response preferred.
• Demonstrated success working effectively and respectfully with host country government, private sector, INGO, NGO partners and other stakeholders in complex environments.
• Internationally recognized qualification in project or program management or a commitment to obtain the qualification in the early months of work.
• Proven skills in financial and grants management; prior experience with USAID, GAC, EU, UN, Foundations grant management.
• Successful and proven negotiation, communication and organization skills.
• Excellent oral and written English skills required; Spanish fluency is required.
• Ability to work effectively with a diverse team in a sensitive environment.
• Previous work experience in Colombia or Latin America and in insecure environments preferred.
• Colombian Nationals encouraged to apply

Success Factors

The successful Colombia CD will skillfully represent programmatic priorities of the agency to donors, regional partners and increasingly more with the private sector, while providing effective leadership to the Mercy Corps program team. S/he will have high emotional intelligence, constructive mentoring skills and proven experience with capacity building and will be committed to long-term program sustainability, innovative growth opportunities, and the delivery of high-impact activities at the community level. Successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and challenging environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Bogotá, the capital, which is a large and fairly modern city with good access to public services such as well as excellent medical care. Bogotá is considered an accompanied/family post. Housing is provided as individual accommodation with unlimited freedom of movement beyond the house/office. All MC Colombia employees are expected to work a 5-day work week with occasional need to work extended hours and on weekends/holidays. There are excellent International schools in Bogotá and professional health services available. This position requires up to 40% time for travel by air and land to project sites in sometimes insecure environments. Mercy Corps Colombia is a member of UNDSS and expects staff to follow security protocols to minimize security risk in the field.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. 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.

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