Lutheran World Federation
Representative, Colombia and Venezuela
Position type and closing date
Status: Family Posting
Location: Bogota
Duration of Contract: 3 years contract (with possible extension)
Please note that applicants should be able to travel to Venezuela.
Lutheran World Federation (LWF) World Service
LWF World Service is the humanitarian and development arm of the Lutheran World Federation. We are a widely recognized, international, faith-based organization working in over 20 countries. We seek to bring people of all backgrounds together in the common quest for justice, peace, and reconciliation in an increasingly complex and fragmented world.
A commitment to the human rights of every individual, regardless of their status, guides our work, actions, and operations. We are particularly known for our timely, compassionate, and professional humanitarian work and for our field presence in hard-to-reach areas. Our work is people-centred and community-based. Above all, we work with the most vulnerable, and to claim and uphold their rights we engage proactively with local government and community structures.
Our partners include Lutheran Churches and their related agencies, the European Commission (ECHO), the US Government (PRM) and UNHCR, with whom we are a key implementing partner.
For additional information, please see www.lutheranworld.org/WorldService.
Purpose of the position
The Representative will assume leadership responsibilities for guiding, overseeing, and supervising the Lutheran World Federation’s World Service Program in Colombia and Venezuela. This pivotal role will include driving the development of new projects and partnerships, strengthening resource mobilization efforts, and implementing projects, programs, policies, and guidelines to achieve the objectives outlined in the LWF World Service Strategy at both global and local levels. The Representative will be based in Bogota with frequent travel to Venezuela.
The LWF World Service Program in Colombia is currently undergoing significant adaptative challenges related to the limited funding opportunities and changes in the organizational structure and team dynamics. The evolving country context and funding scenarios may require quick mobilization of resources and flexibility in programming priorities and organizational structure. Additionally, the program in Venezuela has been developing and growing its operation and portfolio in the last two years. However, it requires careful attention to ensure risk management and navigate the complex and unpredictable context as we continue to provide the expansion of our work on the ground in a safe and sustainable manner.
Required Qualifications
University degree in a relevant field; master’s degree preferred.
Knowledge, skills, and experience
Minimum 5 years of work experience at management level in humanitarian assistance or development-oriented programs within an international environment, preferably with church-related or non-governmental organizations.
Strong understanding of the Colombian and Venezuelan contexts and commitment to addressing underlying justice and human rights issues.
Significant working experience at the management level within an international environment, preferably with non-governmental or faith-based organizations.
Significant knowledge and experience in humanitarian assistance, sustainable development, advocacy, and human rights-based programs.
Knowledge and experience of cooperation with United Nations, EU/ECHO, PRM, GAC, 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 solid relational approach.
Excellent listening and communication skills.
Ability to adjust strategically to a changing context.
General knowledge of LWF, its member churches, and related agencies.
Language Skills
English: advanced verbal and written skills.
Spanish: advanced verbal and written skills.
LWF Core Skills
Leadership – resource level*
Working effectively with others – resource level
Accountability – advanced level
Analytical thinking – advanced level
Initiative – advanced level
Achieving results – resource level
LWF Functional Skills
People Management – resource level
Facilitation / Negotiation – advanced level
Project Management – advanced level
Networking – resource level
Communication – resource level
*LWF 3 skills levels are: basis – advanced – resource
Main duties
On Leadership
Provides overall leadership to the LWF World Service Colombia-Venezuela Program, guiding it in the face of a changing world and funding structures.
Promotes, implements, and upholds the vision, mission, core values, and objectives of the LWF World Service global strategy, the Colombia-Venezuela binational strategy, and other approved program documents.
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.
Ensures that all health, safety, and security matters are handled according to the LWF Safety and Security Policy, the Security Packs in Colombia and Venezuela, and national health and safety regulations as applicable. Oversees the development of security plans for all levels of field staff and visitors to Colombia and Venezuela.
Acts as the PSEA focal point for the bi-national program, participating in training and coordination meetings as required and ensuring the application of LWF’s Zero Tolerance policy.
Promotes and facilitates establishing and strengthening national and regional networks relevant to the LWF World Service bi-national strategy.
Heads and ensures effective coordination and operation of the bi-national senior and extended management teams.
On Program
Ensures management systems in Colombia and Venezuela strengthen the smooth implementation of LWF World Service programmatic work, facilitating learning and capacity building and ensuring the complementarity and close working relations of finance and program units.
Ensures that projects, programs, and policies are aligned with the Colombia-Venezuela binational strategy
Is responsible for overseeing 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.
Makes proposals to LWF World Service for any changes in the program, including new service opportunities and program changes to better meet needs and facilitate transition/localization to the respective local partners.
Ensures that timely, accurate, and relevant reports are submitted according to agreements.
Promotes partnership and collaboration with affected populations, primary focus groups, and local partners throughout the program cycle as central to overall mutual accountability. Ensures programming that follows a transparent, integrated, rights-based empowerment approach and makes full use of LWF World Service’s methodology linking local rights-based action to global leverage to provide clear added-value and funding opportunities.
Mainstreams gender and implements gender sensitivity in program measures. Addresses, monitors, and documents environmentally sound project implementation in accordance with relevant LWF World Service policies and guidelines and internationally agreed standards.
Undertakes regular on-site monitoring of programs/projects.
Ensures all emergency response and humanitarian interventions are undertaken in accordance with the LWF World Service policies and guidelines and with the guidelines, policies, and procedures of the ACT (Action by Churches Together) Alliance, specifically concerning the Code of Conduct, the Sphere Project, the CHS commitments, and those of the specific donors.
On Fundraising and Finance
Actively engages in negotiations with UN agencies, EU offices, embassies, PRM, GAC, BHA, and other potential funding sources to maximize and diversify local fundraising while sharing information and coordinating with Geneva.
Ensures covering staff and core costs through reviews and updating financial management processes.
Oversees the timely and quality implementation of approved projects within the agreed budgets and subject to the availability of funds, including timely reporting.
Ensures procurement activities are in line with LWF World Service procurement manual
Ensures efficient financial management of program activities and administration, including effective internal control systems to promote financial accountability. Also, it ensures that financial transactions are conducted in accordance with the relevant LWF priorities and LWF World Service procedures.
On Human Resources
Acts as the direct supervisor of the Program Coordinator, Finance Manager, Human Resource Manager, and other possible (extended) 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.
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 that the skills of national staff are developed and fully utilized possible to further the program.
Prioritizes staff development and continual learning for staff and local partners.
On Relations
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 UN, EU/ECHO, PRM, embassies, government and ethnic authorities, and other international and national NGOs, and promotes the Principles of Partnership (PoP).
Maintains the requisite consultative relationships with the relevant governmental authorities and national organizations and coordinates contacts with voluntary agencies engaged in rendering assistance related to the program objectives of LWF World Service.
Maintains a close working and consultative relationship with LWF member churches and other appropriate ecumenical and faith-based partners through frequent informal coordination and collaboration.
Plays an active role in the Action by Churches Together (ACT) forums, ensuring participation in strategic discussions and providing support where possible.
Carries out cooperation with the relevant LWF Regional Secretary in the General Secretary’s Office of the LWF Communion Office on issues related to LWF member churches in the region.
Other duties – As may be assigned by the direct supervisor.
Major Challenges
Work to embed structural changes in the bi-national program so as to increase agility, effectiveness, efficiency and impact.
Maintaining the Colombia Venezuela Program’s effectiveness and good reputation in a highly complex programming context, particularly in relation to security constraints.
Ensuring the program remains stable and well-funded in an increasingly competitive environment.
Continual review of operations and finance structures and processes to meet compliance requirements and improve performance on the ground.
Maintaining LWF’s profile in humanitarian response and the nexus approach while achieving timely and demonstrable impact in remote and hard-to-reach areas.
Ensuring a healthy organizational culture and team dynamic while changes in structure take place to ensure financial stability and relevance in the sector.
How to apply
To apply, please click on the following link:
https://lutheranworld.hire.trakstar.com/jobs/fk0pmpq?cjb_hash=O_qsYd33&apply_now=true