Country: Colombia
Closing date: 05 Feb 2018
Job Description
Position type and closing date.
The closing date for applications is 5 February 2018.
Contract duration: 3 years with possibility for extension.
Please note that applicants are required to obtain an endorsement from the church to which they belong.
Background
The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is a global communion of churches in the Lutheran tradition comprising 143 member churches in 79 countries all over the world, representing 70.5 million Christians. The World Service is the internationally recognized humanitarian and development arm of the Lutheran World Federation, assisting people in need irrespective of their ethnicity, religion or gender. We implement programs worldwide, working with both local and international partners, helping communities achieve their full potential and advocate for their universal rights. Our partners include Lutheran Churches and their related agencies, the European Commission (ECHO), the US Government (BPRM) and UNHCR, with whom we are a key implementing partner. For additional information please see www.lutheranworld.org.
Purpose of the position
The Representative provides leadership, management and supervision of the Lutheran World Federation, World Service Country Program in Colombia and ensures implementation of projects, programs, policies and guidelines for the achievement of goals and objectives as outlined in the LWF World Service Country Strategic Plan and in the Strategy of LWF World Service. He/she shall be based in Bogotá.
The LWF World Service Colombia Program is currently stable and vigorous; the evolving country context and funding scenarios may require flexibility with regard to programming priorities and Country Program structure.
Required Qualifications
University degree or equivalent in development studies, agriculture, economics , social science or other related field.
Knowledge and Experience
Significant Working 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 context, and commitment to addressing underlying issues of justice and human rights.
Significant working experience at management level within an international environment and preferably with church-related or non-governmental 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, 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.
Broad knowledge of LWF, its member churches and related agencies.
Language Skills
English advanced written and oral skills
Spanish advanced written and oral skills
Main duties
On Leadership
Provides overall leadership to the LWF World Service Country Program, guiding it in the face of a changing country context and funding situation.
Promotes, implements and upholds the vision, mission, core values and objectives of the Global World Service strategy, as well as the country strategy and other approved documents for the country.
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.
Promotes and facilitates the establishment and strengthening of national and regional networks relevant to the LWF World Service strategy for the country.
Heads and ensures the effective coordination and operation of the country management team.
On Management
Programmatic work
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.
Ensures management systems in the country strengthen the smooth implementation of LWF World Service programmatic work and facilitate learning and capacity building in the program.
Promotes partnership and collaboration with affected populations and primary focus groups throughout the program cycle, as central to overall accountability.
Undertakes regular monitoring of program/project at sites.
Makes proposals to LWF World Service in Communion Office 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 the timely, accurate and relevant reports are submitted according to agreements.
Human Resources
Acts as the direct supervisor of the Program Coordinator and Finance Manager, and other possible 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.
Monitors and addresses security matters and informs LWF World Service Communion Office. Develops and employs security plans for all levels of field staff and visitors to the program.
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 of the Country Program and, as applicable, implementing partners and ACT Alliance members.
Fundraising and Finance
Supervises the implementation of approved projects within the agreed budgets and subject to the availability of funds, including timely reporting.
Ensures the complementarity and close working relations of finance and program units.
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.
Actively engages in negotiations with UN agencies, EU regional offices, embassies and other potential additional funding sources in order to maximize local fund raising.
On Program
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.
Ensures that the different approaches stated in the WS Global Strategy be incorporated into the projects, programs and policies of the program.
Ensures programming which follows a clear integrated, rights-based empowerment approach, and makes full use of LWF World Service’s local rights-based action linked to global leverage to provide clear added-value and funding.
Addresses, monitors and documents environmentally sound project implementation and in accordance with LWF’s Guiding Principles for Sustainable Development, other relevant LWF World Service polices and guidelines and internationally agreed standards.
Mainstreams gender and implements gender sensitivity in program measures.
Works in close collaboration with local partners based on mutual accountability, trust and respect.
Promotes accountability especially to the disaster affected population in all LWF World Service emergency and to primary focus groups in development responses.
On Relations
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) Alliance forums, ensuring participation in strategic discussions, and providing support where possible.
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 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 EU/ECHO, U.N., governments and their agencies and other international and national NGOs, and promotes the Principles of Partnership (PoP).
Carries out cooperation with the relevant Department for Mission and Development (DMD) Area Secretary in the Geneva Communion Office on issues related to LWF member churches in the region.
Other duties
As may be assigned by the direct supervisor.
Major Challenges
Fundraising to maintain Country Program at current or increased financial turnover.
Ensuring Country Program has continuing added-value by being responsive to changing context of peace building, sustainable development, humanitarian assistance and human rights/advocacy.
Finance management and covering staff & core costs.
How to apply:
To apply, please follow the link:
https://lutheranworld.recruiterbox.com/jobs/fk0f8ri?cjb_hash=O_QzKJ46&apply_now=true