COLOMBIA: Country Director

Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)

The Norwegian Refugee Council is a non-governmental, humanitarian organization with 60 years of experience in helping to create a safer and more dignified life for refugees and internally displaced people. We advocate for their rights and assist with shelter, education, food distribution, camp management and counselling on repatriation.

Closing date: 26 Apr 2009
Location: Colombia - Bogota

NRC has had a presence in Colombia since 1991, initially through support to local organizations and within the PCS consortium (Project Counselling Service), then, since 2005, as an independent NGO implementing Education and ICLA (Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance) projects in areas of the country affected by internal displacement as a consequence of armed conflict. With support from its main office in Bogota, NRC implements programme activities in the provinces of Norte de Santander (Cucuta), Magdalena (Santa Marta) and Nariño (Pasto). In addition, NRC implements smaller-scale projects in the border areas of Ecuador, Venezuela and Panama, targetting Colombian refugees. The NRC programme in Colombia is funded by the Norwegian MFA, SIDA, DFAIT, CIDA, the British Embassy and ECHO.

All project activities in Colombia aim to reinforce the displaced population's capacity to ensure its own protection, to contribute to the reinforcement of Colombian civil society and government insitutions at a local and central level, as well as to support the elaboration of public policy actively protecting the rights of IDPs. Projects are generally implemented in partnership with local and international organizations and are reinforced by active advocacy work.

The Country Director for Colombia is based in Bogota, Colombia, and reports directly to the Head of Section for Latin America, the Middle East and the Caucasus at NRC's Head Office in Oslo. The Country Director has the overall responsibility to ensure that NRC´s country programme develops in line with NRC’s mandate, policies and country specific strategies.

Job description

Programme Development

* The Country Director has the overall responsibility to ensure that NRC´s country programme develops in line with NRC’s mandate, policies and country specific strategies.


Programme Management

* The Country Director has the overall responsibility to ensure that NRC´s country programme is managed in accordance with NRC´s policies and guidelines.


Personnel Management

* The Country Director has the overall responsibility to ensure that the country programme is managed in accordance with NRC´s personnel policies and guidelines.


Programme Coordination

* The Country Director has the overall responsibility to ensure that NRC´s programme activities do not overlap with other organisations activities and that interests of the target group are safeguarded in the country.


Advocacy and Information Activities

* The Country Director has the overall responsibility to ensure that the NRC country programme contributes to NRC´s advocacy efforts, nationally, regionally and internationally.


Security

* The Country Director has the overall responsibility for the safety and security of NRC personnel employed in the country programme.


Qualifications

* Relevant university degree or higher education, preferably in management, social sciences or international development
* Proven management and programme development experience
* Experience from international work, preferably with refugee/IDP-related emergencies
* Experience in administration and personnel management
* Proven experience from development of project proposals and budgets
* Experience from advocacy work
* All employees of the Norwegian Refugee Council should be able to adhere to our Codes of Conduct and the four organizational values: Dedicated, innovative, inclusive and accountable.
* Proven communication, interpersonal, representation, negotiation and management skills
* Proven skills and experience in application-, report writing and budgeting
* Political, cultural and gender awareness
* Fluency in Spanish and English, both written and verbal
* Above average computer literacy
* Holder of a valid international driver’s licence
* Goal oriented and visionary
* Result oriented and problem solving
* Personal authority
* Flexible and creative, and it helps if you have a sense of humour


Commencement: August 2009
Contract period:2 years with possible extension
Salary/benefits: According to NRC’s general directions, approximately NOK 52 500,- (€ 5900) per month, and free housing of moderate standard. Please note that tax fees may occur for some countries.

Duty station will be Bogota. This is a family posting. Programme follow up will require frequent travelling in the provinces of operational area. Bogota is usually quiet and relatively safe, and foreigners can normally move around without harassment or danger, provided that they respect local cultural sensibilities. Travel outside Bogota is dependent on changing security conditions, especially for certain roads in the area.

How to apply

Please note that you are required to enter the geographical location for all your previous positions while registering your CV. There is no specific field for this information in our CV form, but you can use the "Company name" field for both company and location.

For more information:
http://www.webcruiter.no/WcMain/AdvertViewPublic.aspx?oppdragsnr=449501474&Company_Id=255041664&culture_id=EN&Link_source_id=