Representative, Colombia and Venezuela At Lutheran World Federation

Representative, Colombia and Venezuela

Position type and closing date

Status: Family Posting

Location: Bogota

Closing date for applications: 1 September 2022

Duration of Contract: 3 years contract (with possibility for extension)

Lutheran World Federation (LWF) World Service

LWF World Service is the humanitarian and development arm of the Lutheran World Federation. We are a widely recognized, international, faith-based organization working in over 20 countries. We seek to bring people of all backgrounds together in the common quest for justice, peace, and reconciliation in an increasingly complex and fragmented world.

A commitment to the human rights of every individual, regardless of their status, guides our work, actions, and operations. We are particularly known for our timely, compassionate, and professional humanitarian work, and for our field presence in hard-to-reach areas. Our work is people-centered and community- based. Above all, we work with the most vulnerable, and in order to claim and uphold their rights, we engage proactively with local government and community structures.

Our partners include Lutheran Churches and their related agencies, the European Commission (ECHO), the US Government (PRM) and UNHCR, with whom we are a key implementing partner. For additional information please see www.lutheranworld.org.

For additional information, please see www.lutheranworld.org/WorldService.

Purpose of the position

The Representative provides leadership, management and supervision of the Lutheran World Federation, World Service Program in Colombia and Venezuela and ensures implementation of projects, programs, policies and guidelines for the achievement of goals and objectives as outlined in the LWF World Service Strategy at global and local levels. He/she shall be based in Bogota.

The LWF World Service Program in Colombia is currently stable and vigorous; the evolving country context and funding scenarios may require flexibility with regard to programming priorities and organizational structure. Likewise, the program in Venezuela is rigorous and nascent, requiring more attention to detail in the complicated context in order to ensure our work on the ground expands in a safe and sustainable way.

Required Qualifications

University degree or equivalent in development studies, agriculture, economics, social science or related field, Master’s degree preferred.

Knowledge, skills and experience

Significant work experience at management level in humanitarian assistance or development-oriented programs within an international environment and preferably with church-related or non-governmental organizations.

Strong understanding of the Colombian and Venezuelan contexts, and commitment to addressing underlying issues of justice and human rights.

Significant working experience at management level within an international environment and preferably with non-governmental or faith-based organizations.

Significant knowledge and experience of humanitarian assistance, sustainable development, advocacy and human rights-based programs.

Knowledge and experience of cooperation with United Nations, EU/ECHO, PRM, GAC, governmental agencies and international institutions, and ability to network and build external relations.

Strong leadership, breadth of vision, and analytical skills.

Demonstrated organizational, management and supervisory skills.

Team-oriented, flexible, with warmth and a strong relational approach.

Excellent listening and communication skills.

Ability to adjust strategically to a changing context.

General knowledge of LWF, its member churches and related agencies.

Language Skills

English: advanced verbal and written skills.

Spanish: advanced verbal and written skills.

LWF Core Skills

Leadership – resource level*

Working effectively with others – resource level

Accountability – advanced level

Analytical thinking – advanced level

Initiative – advanced level

Achieving results – resource level

LWF Functional Skills

People Management – resource level

Facilitation / Negotiation – advanced level

Project Management – advanced level

Networking – resource level

Communication – resource level

*LWF 3 skills levels are: basis – advanced – resource

Main duties

On Leadership

Provides overall leadership to the LWF World Service Colombia-Venezuela Program, guiding it in the face of a changing world and funding structures.

Promotes, implements and upholds the vision, mission, core values and objectives of the Global World Service strategy, as well as the Colombia-Venezuela bi-national strategy and other approved program documents.

Facilitates and actively seeks to sharpen the profile of LWF World Service as an international humanitarian development and human rights organization through continuously striving to improve the quality of the program according to LWF World Service’s empowerment, rights-based and integrated approach.

Ensures effective leadership in all aspects of the LWF World Service Accountability Framework, including other accountability elements related to leadership and management, and adherence to the LWF Staff Code of Conduct regarding Abuse of Power and Sexual Exploitation, Fraud and Corruption.

Ensures that all health, safety and security matters are handled according to the LWF Safety and Security Policy, the Security Packs in Colombia and Venezuela, and national health and safety regulations as applicable. Oversees the development of security plans for all levels of field staff and visitors to Colombia and Venezuela.

Acts as the PSEA focal point for the bi-national program, participating in trainings and coordination meetings as required and ensuring the application of LWF’s Zero Tolerance policy.

Promotes and facilitates the establishment and strengthening of national and regional networks relevant to the LWF World Service bi-national strategy.

Heads and ensures the effective coordination and operation of the bi-national senior and extended management teams.

On Program

Ensures that the different approaches stated in the WS Global Strategy be incorporated into the projects, programs and policies of the program.

Is responsible for the planning, supervision, implementation, monitoring, documentation, administration and evaluation of the LWF World Service program in accordance with LWF World Service policies, priorities, procedures and guidelines. Makes proposals to LWF World Service for any changes in the program, including new opportunities for service, program changes to better meet needs and facilitate transition/localization to the respective local partners.

Ensures management systems in Colombia and Venezuela strengthen the smooth implementation of LWF World Service programmatic work, facilitating learning and capacity building as well as ensuring the complementarity and close working relations of finance and program units.

Ensures the timely, accurate and relevant reports are submitted according to agreements.

Promotes partnership and collaboration with affected populations, primary focus groups and local partners throughout the program cycle, as central to overall mutual accountability. Ensures programming which follows a clear integrated, rights-based empowerment approach, and makes full use of LWF World Service’s methodology linking local rights-based action to global leverage to provide clear added-value and funding opportunities. Mainstreams gender and implements gender sensitivity in program measures. Addresses, monitors and documents environmentally sound project implementation in accordance with relevant LWF World Service polices and guidelines and internationally agreed standards.

Undertakes regular on-site monitoring of program/projects.

Ensures all emergency response and humanitarian interventions are undertaken in accordance with the LWF World Service policies and guidelines, and with guidelines, policies and procedures of the ACT (Action by Churches Together) Alliance, specifically concerning the Code of Conduct and the Sphere Project and the CHS commitments, and those of the specific donors.

On Fundraising and Finance

Actively engages in negotiations with UN agencies, EU offices, embassies, PRM, GAC and other potential funding sources in order to maximize local fundraising, while sharing information and coordinating with Geneva.

Ensures covering of staff and core costs through reviews and updating of financial management processes.

Oversees the timely and quality implementation of approved projects within the agreed budgets and subject to the availability of funds, including timely reporting.

Ensures procurement activities are in line with LWF World Service procurement manual.

Ensures efficient financial management of the program activities and administration, including effective internal control systems to promote financial accountability, and ensures that the financial transactions are conducted in accordance with the relevant LWF priorities and LWF World Service procedures.

On Human Resources

Acts as the direct supervisor of the Program Coordinator and Finance Manager, and other possible (extended) management team members.

Develops staffing plans and supervises all matters pertaining to LWF World Service program personnel, both national and international.

Ensures that new staff are provided with thorough orientation to the LWF’s priorities and guiding principles as a humanitarian organization, the LWF World Service field program and the project to which they are assigned.

Develops staffing plans and in accordance with LWF policies and procedures supervises all matters pertaining to LWF World Service program personnel, both national and international.

Ensures that recruitment is gender-sensitive with the goal of gender balance within the staff, both in terms of numbers and levels of responsibility and ensuring that the skills of national staff are developed and utilized to the fullest extent possible for the furtherance of the program.

Prioritizes staff development and continual learning for staff and local partners.

On Relations

Maintains close communication and cooperation with LWF´s related agencies and their local and regional offices.

Fosters and maintains good coordination and collaboration with international and bilateral cooperating and co-financing partners, particularly with UN, EU/ECHO, PRM, embassies, government and ethnic authorities and other international and national NGOs, and promotes the Principles of Partnership (PoP).

Maintains the requisite consultative relationships with the relevant governmental authorities, national organizations and coordinates contacts with voluntary agencies engaged in rendering assistance related to the program objectives of LWF World Service.

Maintains a close working and consultative relationship with LWF member churches and other appropriate ecumenical and/or faith-based partners through frequent informal coordination and collaboration.

Plays an active role in the Action by Churches Together (ACT) forums, ensuring participation in strategic discussions, and providing support where possible.

Carries out cooperation with the relevant LWF Regional Secretary in the General Secretary’s Office of the LWF Communion Office on issues related to LWF member churches in the region.

Other duties – As may be assigned by the direct supervisor.

Major Challenges

Maintaining the effectiveness and good reputation of the Colombia Venezuela Program in a highly complex programming context, particularly in relation to security constraints.

Ensuring the program remains stable and well-funded in an increasingly competitive environment.

Continual review of operations and finance structures and processes in order to meet compliance requirements and improve performance on the ground.

Maintaining LWF’s profile in humanitarian response and the nexus approach while achieving t