About Us:
The Norwegian Red Cross is a well-respected humanitarian organization, part of the global Red Cross Red Crescent Movement. Together with National Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies, we collaborate to alleviate human suffering worldwide. We are actively seeking an experienced and dynamic Regional Representative to lead our team in the Americas Region, a pivotal role in our joint mission to bring positive change to communities facing adversity. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape impactful strategies, foster collaborative relationships, and lead the implementation of our international strategy within the Americas region.
The overall purpose of the Country Manager (CM) is to achieve Norwegian Red Cross (NoRC) humanitarian objectives at country level through results-based project management, risk management, strategic and technical leadership. The CM will be responsible for the planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of NoRC supported health and protection programmes in close collaboration with the Colombian Red Cross (CRC). The CM will support in ensuring sound technical quality of the NoRC supported health projects, in line with established technical standards, including NoRC’s technical standards, and best practices. S/he will also ensure that the implementation of the projects respects the NoRC operational guidelines and standards and complies with established NoRC and national society rules. In addition, the CM is responsible for the overall management and guidance of the NoRC country team. S/he will also act as the main technical/operational liaison for Movement and non-Movement partners in Colombia. This should contribute to CRC implementation of quality health and protection programmes and improving humanitarian outcomes.
Strategic Responsibilities:
- Develop and strengthen the Movement partnership between CRC, NoRC, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) through programme development and management in line with existing and future agreements and plans.
- Represent Norwegian Red Cross in-country within the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement (RCM), within the wider community of humanitarian organizations, and vis à vis the Norwegian stakeholders and contribute to complementary RCM roles and responsibilities.
- Draft yearly plans of action and corresponding budgets for NoRC country portfolio in consultation and collaboration with the CRC and follow up on progress through regular meetings and reporting.
- Develop further with effectiveness and efficiency the cooperation with the CRC in accordance with established in-country agreements.
- Safeguard agreements and plans and follow up on risk assessments for all in-country initiatives.
- Take initiative to conduct needs assessments and co-develop supported by the Partnership & Fundraising Advisor fundable programme proposals aligned with organizational strategic ambitions.
- Oversee that NoRC supported interventions comply with established technical and operational standards, and relevant thematic frameworks.
- Consistently and proactively monitor planned and unplanned effects of all projects supported by the NoRC and report on progress through quarterly and yearly reports while complying with established deadlines.
- Ensure reliable data and information collection from all projects in accordance with NoRC results framework and oversee the drafting of the yearly results reports.
- Engage team members by providing clear expectations manifested in individual work plans and follow up through expressing positive expectations and holding each other accountable.
- Promote good collaboration between NoRC in the Americas region and beyond to ensure use of available technical expertise and standards.
- Manage NoRC staff supporting NoRC country programmes.
Operational Responsibilities:
- Ensure that CRC health projects (including protection and climate change-related components) are designed, implemented and monitored in line with established technical standards and overall project management (planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting) standards.
- Assist with the technical capacity strengthening of the National Society to ensure coherence and technical alignment with other health initiatives supported by Movement partners in Colombia.
- Coordinate with and complement the work already done by the CRC, ICRC, IFRC, other PNS and humanitarian/ health organizations in health programming/ including mobile emergency health units, and actively participate in Movement operational coordination meetings on a regular basis.
- Provide technical support to the quality design, including monitoring structures, of health and protection projects, in line with NoRC strategic documents and technical standards.
- Ensure timely implementation and quality monitoring of NoRC supported health and protection projects through structured and regular monitoring, field visits, follow up and reporting on them.
- Support in providing trainings and coaching Host National Society project staff on the operationalization of established technical standards and when challenges arise.
- Ensure operationalisation of NoRC and Movement health and protection technical standards to ensure an evidence-based approach.
- Oversee the design, implementation, and analysis of base- and end-line studies, and the application of the qualitative and quantitative data in the planning, evaluation and reporting of the projects.
- Responsible for quarterly and annual narrative reporting to NoRC regional office.
- Ensure sound financial and administrative management of NoRC projects in line with NoRC rules, regulations, and operational guidelines, and in accordance with established rules and guidelines within the CRBF.
- Oversee the planning and implementation of project- and delegation-related procurement plans and ensure application and respect of established procurement guidelines and norms.
- Provide technical input to NoRC regional and national offices that enables conveying the purposes and services of health and protection projects to back donors and other stakeholders, including the humanitarian outcomes that the projects contribute to.
- Support the host National Society to better plan for future projects, review and provide input to reports, analyse trends and suggest project adjustments. Maintain and develop, with support from the security focal point, the security policy and procedures for the NoRC Colombia office and fully ensure respect for security rules.
Collaboration:
- Collaborate with ICRC, IFRC, other PNS and the CRC to ensure coordination and complementarity for maximized humanitarian outcomes.
- Collaborate and ensure complementarity with health programmes of other Movement and non-Movement partners which are carried out in the same areas.
- Collaborate with and support the Host National Society on operational matters, liaising with the head of programmes and the Secretary General for the sound implementation of ongoing programmes and the development of the bilateral partnership.
- Collaborate with NoRC regional team and national office to ensure alignment with NoRC established work processes, technical standards, and efficient use of NoRC technical resources for the purpose of the country portfolio.
- Coordinate regularly with all other PNSs, IFRC and ICRC in country and in project location (as applicable).
- Collaborate with Movement partners to ensure an inclusive approach putting the NS closer to the center of the operation and with a stronger focus on the reinforcement of local capacities of the branch.
- Collaborate with ICRC sub delegations and NS branches in target zones in matters related to health projects and field security management.
- Engages with the wider humanitarian community in Colombia through relevant networks events and workshops to ensure closer coordination and collaboration with non-Movement partners.
- Liaise with the Global Disaster Management Unit related to preparedness and emergencies in country as relevant.
Mission Specific Responsibilities:
- The CM will be based in Bogota, Colombia, with occasional travel to the selected programme sites.
- Act as the technical lead in the areas of, emergency preparedness and response, and protection (incl. protection of healthcare).
Formal Competency:
- Master’s degree in public health, political science, law or other relevant discipline combined with working experience relevant for health programmatic focus.
Skills and Knowledge:
- In-depth understanding of relevant technical standards and the operationalization of technical standards in humanitarian projects.
- Strong experience from designing, implementing, and managing health and protection projects in complex humanitarian settings.
- Experience working in areas of armed conflict and knowledge of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is desirable.
- Proven strong experience from project management, including needs assessments, base and end lines, project design, and reporting.
- Skills related to building technical capacities of partner organizations. English and Spanish working proficiency is required.
Personal Qualifications:
- Very good ability to take initiative and accept responsibility.
- Very good ability to work towards achieving objectives and results.
- Very good ability to cooperate and share competency.
- Very good ability to develop and coach others.
- Collaborates well with others and supports others in the pursuit of team goals. Creates a stable and re-assuring work atmosphere and is firm and reliable.
Reporting to:
- Regional Representative, Americas
Position is based in:
- Bogota, Colombia
Contract length:
- 24 Months
Why should you apply?
- Meaningful: You`ll be a part of the world’s largest humanitarian organization, reaching the most vulnerable people in their local community.
- Impact: You will help National Societies in the region to become strong, self-sustained and accountable humanitarian actors.
- Career: You will be connected to an international organization with staff based all over the world
- A great place to work: You will work in a multicultural environment with hard-working, dedicated and fun colleagues with a strong culture of collaboration, continual improvement, and celebration of wins.
Norwegian Red Cross striving to build a working culture based on respect, honesty and generosity. We do a thorough background check on relevant candidate.