Bolivar Base Manager At Danish Refugee Council

The Danish Refugee Council ( DRC ) / Mine Action ( ACM ) is one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, working in more than 40 countries to provide adequate assistance with a rights-based approach for refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced persons, returnees and migrants. Based on the findings of various emergency needs assessments, from 2018 DRC initiated an emergency response in the Caribbean coastal areas of Colombia such as Riohacha and Barranquilla and in the cities of Bogotá, currently incorporates activities in the municipality of Barbacoas and Norte de Santander. DRC’s integrated humanitarian response is primarily based on protection activities, with components of shelter interventions, WASH, unconditional multipurpose cash, NFIs, and livelihoods,likewise, it carries out humanitarian demining activities in Caquetá and Bolívar.

About work

DRC / ACM has been present in Colombia since 2011, focused on capacity development, the creation of humanitarian demining programs and support for populations affected by conflict in the country.

We work to allow communities emerging from conflict to re-access their homes and support the efforts of governments, relief and development organizations to enable community recovery and transition to social and economic development.

Objective of the position

The Base Manager, in close coordination with the Area Manager, has overall responsibility for all support aspects, security and context of the main operational base of DRC in the department of Bolívar (Montecristo), as well as for the Arenal and Tiquisio sub-bases. DRC is currently implementing humanitarian demining activities in southern Bolívar, however, in the future, activities related to other technical sectors in the humanitarian field could be started (eg protection, livelihoods).

Additionally, the base manager is responsible for ensuring the assembly of activities, and the safety of equipment, in case the DRC teams are assigned for specific missions to any other municipality in the Bolívar department, and the assembly of new offices (supported by the Area Manager), in case DRC starts programmatic activities in other municipalities of the same department.

The responsibilities of the Base Manager are related to human resources, finance, security, administration, and logistics, as well as coordination with local authorities, community boards, humanitarian actors, among others. Although, by national regulations, humanitarian demining operations teams are supervised by technical operations managers, the/the Base Manager is responsible for ensuring positive and productive collaboration with the operational humanitarian demining teams, and has an important responsibility to ensure the proper development of all DRC activities in Bolívar.

The base manager, and his support team, works by cycles (6 weeks in the field, 1 week of teleworking, 1 week of rest), with collective vacations in December. The main base is Montecristo, while Arenal and Tiquisio are sub-bases of operations, supported by the main base. The base Grrent is based in Montecristo, with frequent trips to Arenal and Tiquisio (approximately 1 or 2 times per cycle), and occasionally to other municipalities in the department.

The Base Manager, under the supervision of the Area Manager, is in charge of all aspects of security, context, and humanitarian access, including promoting good acceptance of DRC by the communities, and the different actors and stakeholders present in the area.

Responsibilities:

Coordination and Security:

• Develop and maintain a network of contacts, coordinate closely with local authorities, other NGOs, etc. as needed. Coordinate DRC’s external relations in the area, with local authorities, development agencies and other operators in their area of responsibility.
• Maintain good acceptance by local communities. Locally lead DRC access initiatives and strategies in the area.
• Supervise the context officer in the collection and analysis of information related to security and access. Share relevant information with the area manager.
• Ensure respect for local safety standards, and be responsible for the safety of operations and base personnel, under the supervision of the area manager.
• Secure the movement plan, and movement approvals, along with the area manager.
• Responsible for coordinating visits.
• Contribute to updating documents and conducting security and access evaluations.

Planning and strategy:

• Work with technical field managers in planning activities, ensuring that they are developed according to donor requirements, and respecting DRC standards and policies. Support with operational plans according to agreements with the donor, a strategy and plans for humanitarian access (including community activities and works).
• Ensure close coordination between humanitarian demining operations and support functions (logistics, human resources, finance) and context officer, at the Bolívar DRC bases.
• Ensure close coordination between the Bolívar base, the Barranquilla office (on which the Bolívar base depends), and also with the national office.
• Contribute to needs assessments and proposals to donors, as needed.
• Contribute to narrative reports, ensure consistency, between activities, finances and budget.
• Support mobile DRC teams working in other municipalities of Bolívar, in order to generate a good reputation and greater reach for the organization south of Bolívar.
• Responsible for the implementation of all aspects of base support (finance, logistics, human resources, administration, context), as well as coordination with humanitarian demining operations, and the security of the entire base.
• Represent DRC in municipal meetings, and in coordination forums with other humanitarian actors in the southern Bolívar area ( together with the area manager ).
• Lead communication and information exchange with local authorities, and other relevant actors, as needed.
• Support the humanitarian demining operations manager in supervising and supporting field teams.
• Coordination of training of support and operations teams, as necessary, in collaboration with the area manager and technical managers.
• Any other tasks or functions related to base management assigned by the area manager.

Personnel management and well-being at work

• Direct supervision of support personnel, and close coordination between support and operations. Responsibility for all personnel in security matters.
• Contribute to close coordination between the Bolívar team, and support / supervision personnel in Barranquilla, and in the national office.
• Set annual goals, and conduct evaluations of staff under your charge.
• Identify professional development needs and seek opportunities for the continuous training of your work team.
• Make sure that the base teams know, understand, apply and respect the internal regulations, CoC and the DRC Colombia camp regulations.
• Report staff absences / infractions to the area manager, and participate in disciplinary proceedings as needed.
• Promote the well-being of all the collaborators of the base, managing a budget for the well-being, and encourage participation in wellness activities.
• Promote a good work environment at the DRC bases in Bolívar, a close and positive collaboration between colleagues, and that collaborators are happy and proud of their work.
• In collaboration with the medical coordinator and paramedical staff at its base, ensure the physical and mental well-being of the staff under its supervision.

Budget and finance management

• According to the budget template provided by the support services, and together with the area manager, and support manager, support monthly budget planning and monitoring for the base.
• Propose necessary budget modifications, coordinating with the Barranquilla office.
• Monitor the compliance of financial documents.

Logistics management

• Support the supply chain team in the identification and acquisition of the required equipment and tools, respecting the supply chain and administrative procedures.
• Ensure proper, safe, and donor-compliant management of the different DRC operating bases in southern Bolívar.
• Ensure the visibility of DRC and relevant donors in all equipment, equipment, tools, vehicles, workplaces (office and camps), as directed by DRC and the donor.
• Ensure compliance with supply chain and donor procedures, including responsible use of assets and equipment.

Due to the responsibilities described, it is understood that this is a position of responsibility, trust and management.

Safety and Health at Work

• Know the progress, results and effectiveness of the actions undertaken in the implementation and improvement of the occupational health and safety management system.
• Comply with the applicable legal requirements in occupational safety and health for each of the processes that correspond to them.
• Actively participate in the implementation and improvement of the occupational health and safety management system.
• Comply with and enforce the established programs and plans of the occupational health and safety management system.
• Maintain permanent feedback on the processes, plans and programs of its responsibility through the implementation of corrective, preventive and improvement actions.
• Suspend any activity when its development determines the breach of current legal norms and/or inmates related to occupational safety and health or jeopardize their integrity.
• Actively participate in the development of the action plans of its competence in Safety and Health at Work.
• Properly use the resources provided by the company in conjunction with the ARL for education and training in occupational safety and health.
• Properly use the equipment, tools and personal protection elements provided by the company.
• Verify the state of health before, during and after the execution of the tasks for which he was hired.
• Actively participate in the identification of unsafe actions or conditions in the workplace.
• Inform the representative of the management system or COPASST of any type of incident or accident presented in the development of its activities.
• Participate in investigations of reported occupational incidents or accidents in your area.

All DRC staff are expected to take on the following general tasks:

• Work within the framework of the fundamental values and standards of DRC.
• Be familiar and adhere to all DRC policies and procedures.

Education:

Master in humanitarian action, international development or the like. Other qualifications could be considered. Substantial previous experience can be considered instead of stipulated education.

Languages:

Language proficiency – perfect Spanish, and ideally good English handling.

Experiences and technical skills:

• At least five ( 5 ) years of experience in a relevant field in a humanitarian organization.
• Minimum experience of five ( 5 ) years in people management.
• Substantial work experience in people management, team safety in the field, and the management of humanitarian access issues in hard-to-reach areas.
• Previous experience implementing projects in rural areas of internal conflict, and in areas characterized by the presence of non-state armed groups.
• Previous experience in managing humanitarian demining activities will be a great advantage.
• Experience in the assembly and management of field offices.
• Project management experience and proven organizational skills.
• Experience in dealing with national partners and local / government authorities.
• Good experience in training and liaison with national NGOs, civil society, and local communities.
• Strong skills in direct supervision of people, as well as professional relationships with colleagues, and teamwork. Previous experience and skills in promoting a good coexistence in isolated areas, and under working pressure.

For this role, the best candidate will also demonstrate the ability to work and think autonomously, to deliver results and solve problems, while coordinating with administrative and technical management, strictly following safety regulations. It will show ingenuity and ambition, as well as the ability to think strategically.

All DRC functions require the holder to master the basic DRC competencies:

• Achieve excellence: focusing on achieving results and at the same time guaranteeing efficient processes.
• Collaboration: Involve relevant people and encourage feedback.
• Take the initiative: Take the initiative while looking for the solution.
• Communicate: listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrate integrity: act in accordance with DRC’s vision and values.

We offer:

• The opportunity to belong to one of the best NGOs worldwide, focused on refugees and displaced persons, in a rapidly growing environment in Colombia.
• Initial salary $ 7,581,000 according to the candidate’s experience and skills
• Contract duration: Six (06) months, renewable according to performance and availability of funds
• Start date: Between December 2023 and the beginning of January 2024
• Access to more than 1,000 free online trainings and certificates
• Workplace: Montecristo and other municipalities assigned to DRC Bolívar ( Colombia )
• Labor Day: Cycle work ( 6 weeks in the field, 1 week of teleworking, 1 week of rest )
• The income of the selected candidate is subject to confirmation of financing by the donor