Miyamoto International is implementing the Colombia Earthquake Response Program to support technical response and early recovery activities following the August 10, 2026 earthquake, including building assessments and other technical actions in coordination with local authorities and other stakeholders.
During field assessments, engineers frequently interact with property owners, occupants, and other affected parties. A significant portion of these conversations relates to social, community, or institutional concerns that do not require a technical engineering response. The purpose of this position is to support these interactions so that engineers can focus on the technical assessments.
Objective of the position
To permanently accompany the teams of evaluating engineers in the field and serve as a liaison with owners, occupants and communities, addressing non-technical concerns, listening to their problems, guiding them appropriately according to the applicable municipal institutional procedures and routes and facilitating communication with the authorities when appropriate.
Main responsibilities
• Accompany the teams of evaluating engineers daily during visits and field evaluations in the assigned city.
• Act as a liaison with owners, occupants, administrators, residents, and other people present during the assessments.
• Listen to and address concerns of a social, community or institutional nature that do not correspond to the technical evaluation of the building.
• Explain clearly and simply the scope of the evaluation process, its limitations and the corresponding general steps, without interpreting or replacing the technical conclusions of the engineers.
• Guide people to the relevant municipal routes, departments or procedures, in accordance with applicable institutional protocols and mechanisms.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the relevant care pathways, procedures, and coordination channels of the mayoral offices and other local entities involved in the response.
• Facilitate, where appropriate, communication between affected individuals, the assessment team, and institutional focal points.
• Support the management of expectations, avoiding making commitments or promises related to aid, subsidies, repairs, demolitions, compensation or other decisions that correspond to the competent authorities.
• Identify and communicate to the program team recurring concerns, access barriers, community issues, or guidance needs that may affect fieldwork.
• Maintain a respectful, empathetic and professional approach with the people affected, even in situations of stress, dissatisfaction or uncertainty.
• Comply with the program guidelines related to professional conduct, confidentiality, protection, safeguarding and responsible handling of information.
• Perform other community outreach and field support activities related to the position, as required.
Limits of the function
This position will not perform technical building assessments, issue structural or habitability opinions, interpret technical results, or communicate technical decisions on behalf of the assessing engineers. Its function is exclusively liaison, guidance, and social, community, and institutional support in the field.
Required profile
• Professional or technological training in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Community Development, Social Management, Public Administration, Disaster Risk Management or related areas.
• Minimum 2 years of relevant experience in direct work with communities, population care, social intervention, territorial management, emergency response, disaster risk management, humanitarian programs or work with public entities.
• Experience or practical knowledge of procedures, care pathways and coordination mechanisms of mayoral offices or municipal entities.
• Field work experience and ability to interact effectively with affected population, property owners, residents and public officials.
• Ability to listen, guide and communicate information in a clear, respectful and prudent manner.
• Ability to handle difficult conversations, tense situations or disagreements without escalating conflicts or assuming functions that correspond to other entities.
• Good judgment in distinguishing between social or institutional concerns and technical matters that should be referred to engineers.
• Excellent oral communication skills in Spanish.
• Ability to work independently in the field and coordinate closely with technical teams and local authorities.
Desirable
• Previous experience in disaster or emergency response.
• Knowledge of the structure and operation of the municipal administration in Manizales or Pereira.
• Experience in citizen services, social project management, community participation, or institutional relations.
• Basic knowledge of care pathways associated with risk management, housing, social services or post-disaster recovery.
Working conditions
• The position is primarily field-based and requires frequent and continuous support of the assessment teams.
• The selected person must be available to travel within the assigned city and, when necessary, to affected sectors within their work area.
• The position requires daily interaction with people affected by the earthquake and coordination with technical teams and local institutions.
• The assignment will be for Manizales or Pereira depending on the position for which the person is selected.
How to apply
Interested parties should send an updated resume and city of availability (Manizales or Pereira).
Send your application to: procurement@miyamotointernational.com
In the email subject line, please indicate: Community Liaison Professional – Manizales or Pereira .
Only shortlisted individuals will be contacted.