Area Manager – Colombia

Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for a highly qualified Area Manager for our operations in Barbacoas, Colombia.

The primary objectives of the Area Manager will be together with the Country Director, Head of Programme and Support Services to ensure operational and programmatic implementation of projects, supervise programme and support staff, oversee staff safety and compliance with safety protocols, ensure local external representation of DRC in coordination space and with local authorities and stakeholder, and steer the area-based programme strategy.

Under the Country Director direct line management, the Area Manager will be based in Barbacoas Office, and will be responsible for the overall management and activity implementation in the surrounding municipalities. The position includes travel to the implementation sites in the mentioned area as well as occasional visits to hosting areas: rural communities for assessment, and meetings with partners and donors as necessary.

About the job

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

Management
• Line manages area support and program 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 program 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 in order to strengthen DRC’s position.
• Foster relationships and ensure close coordination with local 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 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 program staff.
• Ensure coordination – directly or through sector managers – with National Office programme team to ensure programme implementation is aligned with technical guidance and programme/sector strategies

Safety
• Ensure a safe and secure environment for DRC staff, beneficiaries, and assets by ensuring the local security procedures are up to date and SOPs are being followed in line with DRC policy. Given the highly conflictive context within the areas of operation, the Area manager will have to monitor closely the activities that take place on the ground and the staff that conduct them, making sure that they abide to the safety protocols.
• Conduct regular safety and security monitoring and assessments.

As Manager the post-holder is responsible for the following
• Accountable for achieving DRC’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 possess the following:

• 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
• Minimum 5 years´ experience in managing integrated humanitarian programs including protection, Shelter, WASH, Assistance through cash modalities, NFIs, and livelihood.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in relevant field overseeing humanitarian multi-sector programs in environments in conflictive areas and context.
• At least 5 years’ experience in people management
• Strong leadership skills and a competence in people management.
• 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.
• Experience working in remote areas, with limited opportunities to create social networks.
• Full professional proficiency in both, Spanish and English.

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: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

Contract length: 16 months

Band: E

Designation of Duty Station: Barbacoas l Non-family Duty Station

Start date: January 2023

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to drc.ngo under Vacancies. For questions regarding the vacancy please contact [contact person].