COLOMBIA – ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR – BOGOTA

Desired start date: 1^st of November 2020**
Duration of the mission:** 10 months (extension possible, depending on funding)

Location: Colombia, Bogota (70%) with travels in the region (30%)

ABOUT THE MISSION

Brief overview of Solidarités International’s work in the country:

Solidarités International is operational in Colombia since October 2019. The mission is currently working on reinforcing WASH conditions in the shelters (refugios) along the route between Cucuta and Bucaramanga. Venezuelans are walking along this route aiming at reaching one of Colombia’s major cities or a third country. They are very vulnerable at this stage and SI plans, together with PUI, to reinforce access to basic services along the route, particularly in the shelters managed by local organisations. In addition, SI is active in other countries in the region, working on WASH interventions for most vulnerable households.

How the mission is organized:

The Colombian mission is currently limited in size with only one base in Bucaramanga. The base should grow up to 35 national staffs and 4 international staff. Nevertheless, SI has plans for opening new areas of intervention in 2021.

In addition, SI is working in some neighboring countries in two other bases for which an expatriate log and admin manager is currently in charge and would be managed.

ABOUT THE JOB

General objective of the position

The administrative coordinator will direct and coordinate all administrative, accounting and financial services associated with the mission.

He/she will take part in defining Solidarités International’s human resources policy, and ensure that it is followed.

As coordinator, he is responsible for the mission’s financial balance.

He/she will monitor adherence to Solidarités administrative procedures and donor procedures as well as to the laws of the country in which intervention is taking place.

He/she is the point of reference for the mission, and the link between headquarters and the mission for all administrative matters.

Specific requirements

• Recruitment, induction and organization of the administrative team
• Capacity building of the identified national Administrative Manager as well as the expatriate administrative managers
• Financial piloting of the missions under its supervision
• Budget making
• Support to audits and to put procedures in place
• Reinforcement of basic process (implementation of software, full process at base level) and support the increase of mission’s volume
• Implementation and definition of framework (fiscal, HR….) defined by the Admin Support

Priorities of the first 2 to 3 months

• Induction and capacity building of field teams
• Financial projections and budget making
• Implementation HR framework

YOUR PROFILE

Education: education background in accountancy, internal control or financial management is mandatory.

Experience: at least three years of experience in humanitarian financial and administrative at management level positions. An experience in emergency context, in base or mission opening is an asset.

Technical skills and knowledge:

• Accountancy and internal control skills – knowledge of SAGA is an asset
• Financial management skills – knowledge of major institutional donor rules (OFDA/UNICEF/ ECHO…) is an asset
• Very strong organizational skills are necessary
• HR management (contractual, payroll…) is necessary – knowledge of HOMERE is an asset
• Managerial skills are mandatory – team management, capacity building are highly appreciated
• Perfect command of Excel

Languages: Spanish and English are mandatory.

Other desirable qualities: leadership and management / planning and prioritization / flexibility / capacity to work under stress / solution making oriented

SI WILL OFFER YOU

A salaried post: According to experience from euros 2640 gross per month (2400 base salary + 10% annual leave). Per Diem of 700 USD.

Social and medical cover: International staffs benefit from an insurance package that 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.

Breaks: During the assignment, a system of alternation between work and time off is implemented at the rate of one break every three months. Our policy was just modified: from now on, Solidarités offers you 7 working days ever three months, with a 1240 USD allowance for each break. In addition to these regular breaks, SI adds a day off per worked month. These days off as well as the breaks are not deducted from the paid leaves that are paid every months with your salary as they are offered by the organization.

Specific context of the area in which the expatriate will be working:

The security context is stable in this part of Colombia. Besides usual criminal risks (existing in the country generally), the social context is tense with some of the local communities that feel pressured by arrival of Venezuelans and those who help them. This balance and necessary dialogue is a key to understand the context dynamics and adapt the response to Venezuelans needs but also to local communities’ perceptions and vulnerabilities. The context of living in Bucaramanga is good and leaves the expatriate with few restrictions and is relax in Bogota. The program being multisectoral and implemented with several partners (PUI and local organizations), the coordination is key.