Area Manager at Danish Refugee Council

DRC is currently looking for a highly qualified Spanish and English-speaking Area Manager for a 12-month contract (renewable depending on funding) in Colombia. This is an opportunity for an experienced and dynamic professional to support and strengthen DRC / DDG programme in Colombia

About the job

DRC established operational presence in Colombia in 2011 with focus on Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) and providing support to conflict-affected population in the south of the country. With the onset of the large mixed migration flows into Colombia due to the Venezuelan crisis, DRC started up an integrated humanitarian response in 2018 to meet the urgent needs of refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, Colombian returnees, and host communities. Hence, DRC has been able to assist the Colombian population, Venezuelan refugees, migrants and host communities through its integrated humanitarian response. Primarily based on protection activities (protection monitoring, individual protection assistance and legal assistance), the response also includes components of Camp Management (Transit camp of Maicao), Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) and cash for Rent, Non Food Items distributions, livelihood interventions, prevention and response to Gender Based Violence (GBV). Lastly, through DDG it also conducts Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) programming in the department of Caquetá. Through community liaison, Mine Risk Education sessions, technical and non-technical surveys and clearance activities, the programme focus on returning cleared land to the population in different areas of the country.

Currently, DRC Colombia’s programming is taking place in some of Colombia’s most vulnerable areas such as the Caribbean coastal areas (Riohacha and Barranquilla), urban centers (Bogota, Cundinamarca and Medellin), and Caquetá.

The primary objective of the Area Manager – Central Colombia will be, together with the Head of Operations, Head of Programmes and Support Services, ensure the timely and effective delivery of assistance and services to the target population.

Under the Head of Operations direct line management, the Area Manager will be based in Bogota Office, and will be responsible for the overall management and activity implementation in: Bogota and Cundinamarca (Soacha), Medellin and other areas currently under assessments. The position includes extensive travel to the field offices in the mentioned areas, especially Medellín, as well as occasional visits to hosting areas: rural areas, cities for assessment, and meetings with partners and donors as necessary. Currently, DRC is implementing protection and cash projects in Central Colombia and is looking forward to diversifying its portfolio.

The position will include the line management of a team of international and national staff, capacity building of national staff on mixed migration response programming, support tasks and procedures.

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

Management

• Line manage area support staff
• Ensure inter-department co-ordination at area level;
• Closely coordinate with the senior management team ensuring regular information flows;
• People management of direct reports (including development, people planning and performance);
• With supervisors, supervise the programme activities budget lines; ensuring effective and efficient use of resources including financial, human and all assets;
• Ensure overall provision of and adherence to DRC policies (including Code of Conduct), procedures, guidelines, systems and standard practices;
• Provide leadership in overseeing logistical/procurement, Human Resources/administration and office services activities and ensure their timely/efficient delivering.

Representation, coordination and reporting

• Primary DRC representative in the area of operation and attend with support from DRC technical staff all relevant fora/meetings (GIFMM) in order to strengthen DRC/DDG’s position;
• Foster relationships with Government authorities and other relevant stakeholders in the area of operation;
• Support working relationships with donors, national and international organizations and local counterparts;
• Comply with internal reporting requirements, contribute to, and provide quality assurance of external reports from area of operation.

Programme development

• Lead the process of adapting DRC/DDG national strategy to the local context and circumstances;
• Provide regular analysis on the context and humanitarian situation in the area for the development of project proposals and safety assessments in cooperation with the Country Director and programme staff.

Safety

• Ensure a safe and secure environment for DRC/DDG staff, beneficiaries and assets by ensuring the local security procedures are up to date and SOPs are being followed in line with the SMP and DRC policy.

As Manager the post-holder is responsible for the following

• Accountable for achieving DRC/DDG’s strategic goals and objectives within the area of responsibility;
• Accountable for making significant decisions on what the unit does: its purpose, functions and role, and for making commitments and decisions that require the expenditure of significant unit resources;
• Accountable for people management of direct reports, generally at least 3 employees. This includes hiring & firing, objective setting, probation, performance appraisal, development of staff, managing performance, including poor performance, etc.;
• Accountable for making sound decisions based on DRC policies, MOPs, standards, and the advice of technical experts in DRC;

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you to have a minimum of 5 years’ experience in relevant field overseeing humanitarian and development multi-sector, multi-donor programmes, preferably in urban environments. Moreover, we also expect the following:

Required

• Master’s degree in political science, international development, humanitarian assistance, economics or other relevant fields from a top-tier university;
• Or Bachelor’s degree in relevant fields with 3 years’ working experience in similar positions.
• At least 5 years’ experience in people management;
• Full proficiency in Spanish is compulsory;
• Proficiency in English is compulsory;
• Strong leadership skills and a competence in people management;
• Extended experience in managing integrated humanitarian programmes including protection, cash, Shelter, WASH, Assistance through cash modalities, NFIs, and livelihood;
• Practical and extensive financial, Human Resources and administration management;
• Experience working with an integrated ERP system (end to end process of procurement, and other peripheric modules of logistics) – MS Dynamics considered an advantage;
• External stakeholder management (especially with local authorities);
• Proven excellent communication and report writing skills;

Desirable

• Calm and diplomatic in nature;
• Ability to manage competing priorities and to meet deadlines;
• Effective team-player;
• For this role, the best candidate will also demonstrate ability to think beyond evidence, to deliver results and solve problems. He/She will show wit and ambition as well as a longsighted mindset.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.

Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

Contract length: 12 months renewable depending on funding.

Level: Senior Management, E

Designation of Duty Station: Bogota, Family duty station – Unaccompanied position

Start date: latest 1 November

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates.

For questions regarding the vacancy please contact: Giuliano Perseu: giuliano.perseu@drc.ngo