COLOMBIA – PROGRAM MANAGER (H/F) – BUCARAMANGA

Desired start date: April 2021

Duration of the mission: 2 months
Location: Bucaramanga, Colombia

ABOUT THE MISSION

In Venezuela, people are faced with hyperinflation, struggle to find necessities, lack of medicines and access to medical services in addition to a rise in crime rates. Many Colombians, formerly settled in Venezuela have decided to go back home while many Venezuelans chose to migrate to major cities in Colombia or to transit through them during their journey to other countries in the region. They walk along the roads, often with no means or possessions. One of the main routes for those travelling to Bogotá or Medellín goes through Bucaramanga. Walkers called the Caminantes use this road every day.

SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL is at the moment running or providing support to four shelters located at strategic points on the migration route in Santander and North Santander. SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL, in consortium with PREMIÈRE URGENCE INTERNATIONALE, is ensuring access to basic services for persons on the move using these shelters, with a particular focus on access to water, sanitation and hygiene (rehabilitations/construction for water supply, sanitation facilities, provision of hygiene items, etc.). We are also improving shelter infrastructure and delivering food assistance as well as healthcare and psychological support services through PREMIÈRE URGENCE INTERNATIONALE.

SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL is seeking to further develop this response in the coming months, through various proposals, and support new shelters, providing additional services, and proposing a daily transportation and shelter services for the most vulnerable and PWSN (People with Specific Needs) Caminantes.

ABOUT THE JOB

General objective:

The Program Manager is in charge of implementing and achieving the objectives defined in the proposals. He/she is in charge of supervising the operational teams allocated to his/her program. He/she guarantees the proper execution and the quality of the implemented program and, if applicable, suggests adjustments or developments to ensure its relevance.

Main duties and responsibilities:

1. Project relevance, quality and design
2. Implementation and operational monitoring
3. Capitalization
4. Personnel management
5. Reporting / communication / representation

Type and content of program:

The present position aims at launching and setting up a new program on humanitarian transportation that is then to be run by a local Program Manager. The project consists in:

• Establishing a transportation service for 25 caminantes per day between Bochalema and Bucaramanga with a contracted bus company
• Ensuring a referral system is in place as well as all the selection methodology set up in order to have a list of people to be on boarded on a daily basis
• Support referral, follow up and service delivery to vulnerable caminantes in Bucaramanga through coordination with all actors and proper referral and protection pathway
• Distribute vouchers and accompany beneficiaries up to the bus that will take them to their final destination.

This project requires organization and logistical abilities as well as a strong understanding of protection components in the beneficiaries’ selection process and individual follow up.

The main challenges:

• Setting up a new project with an atypical activity in a challenging environment
• Design and implement a referral system that includes coordination with several actors for service delivery and transportation and make it run 7 days a week to sustain the continuous flow of Caminantes

Priorities for the 2/3 first months:

• Recruit, induce and train a team
• Select and train the transport company
• Set up the referral pathways and the capacity to process beneficiary identification within a day
• Train on protection and offer individual follow up of each case and beneficiary

Management:

The team managed is at it follows :

• 5 team members contracted directly to select, accompany, refer and follow up vulnerable caminantes
• Drivers contracted through the company

YOUR PROFILE

Education: generalist background highly organized

Experience:

• At least two years of experience as manager in humanitarian environments
• A significant experience of management and team organization is necessary
• Experience in Logistics is an asset
• Experience in Protection is an asset
• Skills in humanitarian analysis and external representation is a prerequisite
• Experience in Latin America is an asset

Technical skills and knowledge:

• Knowledge on project management
• Technical experience in protection or in Logistics are assets
• MS office

Languages: Spanish and English are mandatory.

Other desirable qualities: leadership and management / coordination with partners / planning and prioritization / flexibility / capacity to work under stress / solution making oriented / Team player

SI WILL OFFER YOU

A salaried post: According to experience, starting from 1 800 euros gross per month (+ 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly) and a monthly Per Diem

SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL also covers accommodation costs and travel expenses between the expatriate’s country of origin and the place of assignment.

Vacation: During the assignment, a system of alternation between work and time off is implemented at the rate of 7 working days every three months (with 850 USD allocated by SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL). To these break periods, it is necessary to add the granting of one additional rest day per month worked.

Social and medical cover: Expatriates benefit from an insurance package which reimburses all healthcare expenses (including medical and surgical expenses, dental care and ophthalmological expenses, repatriation) and a welfare system including war risks. Essential vaccination and antimalarial treatment costs are refunded.

LIVING CONDITIONS:

Expats are housed in a hotel house which offers very good housing conditions (each bedroom with a bathroom), outside living area, etc. Almost everything can be found in Colombia. The position will require regular travelling to Pamplona (4 to 6 hours by car).