Colombia Country Director

The Country Director – Colombia, supports the mission of the organization by leading and managing MTI’s work in-country; representing Medical Teams to key stakeholders; and overseeing the development and implementation of the country’s strategy and quality programs.

Medical Teams’ Calling:

Daring to love like Jesus, we boldly break barriers to health and

restore wholeness in a hurting world.

Country Leadership:

• Creates and implements the response strategy and program vision in accordance with the organization’s five-year plan.
• Champions capacity building and team empowerment toward the ultimate goal of a responsible exit strategy.

Program Leadership:

• Ensures strong community acceptance among the diverse populations being served and that assistance is delivered according to humanitarian principles.
• Ensures all programs objectives are completed on time and on budget.
• Develops annual operating budgets and work plans and ensures effective budget monitoring, reporting, and financial management.
• Ensures monitoring, evaluation, and learning occurs with regard to planned and implemented programs.
• Ensures project proposals and reports are submitted on time and meet standards required by Headquarters and external donors.
• Ensures all program goals, activities, and personnel demonstrate commitment to national and international humanitarian frameworks and standards, like the Core Humanitarian Standard.
• Fosters collaborative, transparent, and accountable relationships with partners in the implementation of activities that address the needs of the most vulnerable people.
• Incorporates organizational values into their team leadership.

Representation:

• With support from the Grants & Information Manager, proactively, regularly, and consistently represents Medical Teams International to host and foreign governments, humanitarian actors including UN agencies and NGOs, faith-based and partner organizations, media, and other relevant parties.
• With support from the Grants & Information Manager, identifies and participates in forums and meetings for the humanitarian community where there may be a strategic benefit to MTI.
• Develops strong collaboration with Integral Alliance partners working in the region.

Local Resource Acquisition:

• Maintains an ongoing awareness of the operating environment in-country, as well as in the wider Venezuela crisis, and identifies particular needs in the health sector that fit with Medical Teams’ core competencies.
• Proactively facilitates the growth of Medical Teams International programs in-country; maintaining strong links with donors; identifying funding opportunities; and leading the development of program-funding proposals.
• Leads, designs, and analyzes needs assessments and identifies relevant programmatic interventions on behalf of Medical Teams International.

Human Resources:

• Creates an environment for MTI team members to be Courageous, Tenacious, Accountable, and Selfless.
• Develops a strong team that values accountability, 360-degree feedback, and transparency.
• Ensures that team members are effective, efficient, and diligent in meeting program goals.
• Creates a team culture that is committed to cultural and racial diversity.
• Provides feedback to staff to ensure optimal performance.
• Creates a culture of shared learning and professional development within the country team.
• Oversees effective human resource management including the recruitment, onboarding, supervision, and performance review, and professional development of local and expatriate personnel; complies with local laws and the personnel policies of Medical Teams International; and ensures personnel plan reflects operational needs.
• Utilizes the Medical Teams Field Operations Manual to ensure policies and procedures are developed appropriately for the country office.

Safety and Security:

• Reviews and oversees implementation of effective safety and security management policies and practices in accordance with Global Safety and Security Policy; including robust information collection practices and systematic testing of safety and security plans
• Champions the importance of safety and security and incorporates safety and security considerations throughout all activities

Compliance:

• Ensures Medical Teams International is compliant with host-government laws and policies, donor regulations, and with Medical Teams International’s internal policies and procedures
• Ensures Medical Teams International maintains a constructive, transparent, and independent relationship with host-government, and ensures Medical Teams International has up-to-date registration/accreditation in country
• Ensures all procurement, warehousing and program expenditures occur in accordance with best practices, and all contractors comply with contractual agreements.

OTHER DUTIES:

• Ensures accountability is integrated into country strategies, program design, monitoring and evaluations, recruitment, staff on boarding, training and performance management, partnership agreements, and highlighted in reporting;
• Ensures the Safeguarding of program participants and employees through promoting an environment of awareness and upholding the code of conduct provisions of Medical Teams Protection from Sexual Exploitation & Abuse, and Child & Vulnerable Adult protection policies;
• Utilize volunteers whenever possible.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

EDUCATION, LICENSES, & CERTIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree or higher in a field relevant to international humanitarian work, or equivalent proven work experience
• Medical qualification (MD or MPH) preferred

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum seven years progressively responsible experience in humanitarian health programming and personnel management
• Minimum five years office management experience in a developing country
• Work experience in Spanish-speaking South America preferred
• Demonstrated growth of a humanitarian response in a complex environment

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Dedication to the mission of Medical Teams International

  • Commitment to organizational strengthening and programmatic growth in accordance with humanitarian needs

• Proven ability to produce successful program proposals and develop strategic donor relationships

• Strong organizational and program skills and experience, including strategic planning

• Excellent financial management skills, including ability to prepare, monitor, and control budgets, reports, project proposals and partnership agreement documents

• Strong working knowledge of health-sector issues in humanitarian programming

• Commitment to working in a manner that respects local religious and cultural sensitivities

• Demonstrated experience managing a high-performing work team

• High level of initiative with a strong results-orientation

• Very resourceful

• Verbal and written fluency in English essential

• Verbal and written fluency in Spanish essential

Tools and Equipment Used:

• Requires frequent use of personal computer, including word processing, database programs; calculator, telephone, copy machine, and fax machine.

Physical Demands:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is required to walk; climb stairs; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands, and arms.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet.
• The employee may be required to regularly travel to remote areas of the world where there are potential health hazards and risks, limited hygiene facilities, extreme weather, and very basic living conditions.

To learn more about Medical Teams International and to apply online please visit our website at www.medicalteams.org