Head of Program (Colombia), E8

Organization profile

Every year, millions of people around the world go missing as a result of conflict, human rights abuses, disasters, organized crime, irregular migration, and other causes. Be part of a growing international organization that is dedicated to tackling this global challenge.

The International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) is a treaty-based international organization with headquarters in The Hague, the Netherlands. Its mandate is to secure the cooperation of governments and others in locating and identifying missing persons. As the only international organization tasked exclusively to work on the issue of missing persons, ICMP maintains field programs throughout the world. To learn more about ICMP click here.

ICMP’s Colombia Program

In the aftermath of half a century of conflict, Colombia faces a legacy of more than 85,000 cases of missing and disappeared persons. The inclusion of this issue in the Final Peace Agreement signed in November 2016 provides an exceptional opportunity to establish peacetime institutions that will advance the full implementation of the rule of law and enhance confidence in public institutions. ICMP is mandated under the Peace Agreement to assist this process. It has identified the most important challenges facing the Search Unit established under the Agreement and has made recommendations that can help the Unit operate effectively. Accounting for missing persons and securing the rights of surviving families to truth, justice and reparations is critical to long-term peace and reconciliation. ICMP will work closely with its international and Colombian partners to make a positive and practical contribution to this process.

Position Background

The successful candidate will be the senior ICMP representative in Colombia and as such will manage and develop the ICMP Colombia program, supervise program staff, and ensure comprehensive and accurate reporting.

Reporting to the Director-General the main duties and responsibilities are:

1. Leadership and Management

• Manage the implementation of the program and further develop ICMP’s operations in the region in line with agreed strategies and organizational priorities;

• Lead day-to-day program activities;
• Directly manage the performance and outcomes of the Colombia Program staff based in Colombia;
• Ensure quality, relevance and regularity of program reports;
• Supervise budget development and management.

2. Strategic and Program Advice

• Contribute to the identification of key issues underpinning the resolution of the missing persons issue in the region;
• Ensure that ICMP operates within the terms and conditions of all legal agreements;
• Ensure that all program activities are sensitive and responsive to the political, social and economic environment;
• Ensure effective support for working groups, committees and other cooperative mechanisms that contribute to the program
• In coordination with headquarters, manage an outreach and related media strategy, and develop a sound relationship with all sectors of the media.

3. Liaison and Coordination

• Engage in continuous policy dialogue with NGOs, family representatives, regional government representatives, and the international community, including international and other organizations, emphasizing the human-rights and rule-of-law dimensions of the missing persons issue;
• Good knowledge of the ongoing peace process, the new institutions and above all practical insights into the work of the Search Unit and the JEP;

• Facilitate, as appropriate, the participation of government representatives, and other international organizations, as well as civil society, technical experts or other partners and stakeholders;
• Implement and maintain arrangements to ensure efficient communications between the Colombia Program and Headquarters, and with external partners.

4. Fundraising and Coordination with the Donor Community

• Work on continuous domestic and international fundraising initiatives, including the drafting of project proposals, concept papers and budget outlines;
• Establish and develop working relationships with key donors and actively develop domestic funding sources;

• Provide financial progress reports as required by ICMP and its donors.