Selection process conducted by matteria
Location and Work Mode
Our main office is located in Riohacha, as a significant portion of our work is focused on the La Guajira department. We will soon be expanding to other regions within Colombia.
Who we are
WaterAid is the world’s leading international not-for-profit organization dedicated to bringing clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene to the children and families who need it most. Our global WASH programs, led and maintained by the communities where we work, aren’t a quick fix. We strive for long-term access to WASH that truly transforms people’s lives. In Colombia, WaterAid is a growing organization addressing the countries’ most pressing issues on communities' lack of access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Our work focuses on responding to the lack of access to water in rural areas in La Guajira, ensuring that indigenous communities, minorities, and women are the main project recipients.
Our vision of a world where everyone, everywhere has safe and sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene - for good.
Our mission is to transform lives by improving access to clean water, hygiene, and sanitation in the world's poorest communities.
We’re looking for people who share a commitment to our vision, and a commitment to playing their part in changing the world. We’re looking for people with an appreciation and respect for different people and ideas, and the energy and expertise to help tackle one of the world’s most pressing challenges.
In return, you can expect to get inspiration from the change you help make happen, a sense of belonging, and the feeling of being part of a global community. You will have the chance to grow and the space to be at your best.
Our impact
1. +25 Million people around the world with clean water.
2. +24 Million people around the world with proper sanitation.
3. Increased the quantity and quality of WASH financing
Purpose of the position
The Country Director (CD) holds the highest leadership position within a WaterAid Country Program (CP). Their mandate is to develop and deliver the Country Program Strategy, empower our people and partners, and influence public and private institutions - all in support of WaterAid's global mission to transform lives by providing clean water, hygiene, and sanitation.
As the principal advocate for the Colombia Country Program, the CD should excel as a partnership-builder, catalyzing the creation of collaborations among private, public, and governmental stakeholders. In their esteemed leadership capacity, the CD is entrusted with shaping the overarching culture of WaterAid Colombia. They are anticipated to embody WaterAid's fundamental values – respect, collaboration, accountability, innovation, courage, and integrity – not merely in rhetoric but through practical demonstration of transparency, honesty, and ethical conduct. Furthermore, they are expected to uphold their commitment to the WaterAid Global Code of Conduct.
Key Responsibilities
WaterAid Colombia, a rapidly growing organization, is committed to addressing the pressing issues of limited access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in local communities. Our efforts are concentrated on alleviating the challenges associated with water scarcity in rural areas of La Guajira, with a particular focus on ensuring that indigenous communities, minorities, and women are the primary beneficiaries of our projects. WaterAid Colombia stands as the sole international NGO dedicated to delivering sustainable and secure WASH services in La Guajira and extending our impact across all of Colombia.
Our ambitious five-year strategy requires an innovative and inspiring leader who is entrusted with empowering and nurturing our staff and partners, forging strategic partnerships and alliances with key stakeholders, and influencing both public and private institutions. Reporting directly to the CEO (based in the US), the Country Director assumes the role of leading and directly overseeing a 4-person Senior Management Team (SMT). Additionally, they provide counsel to the CEO, maintain regular reporting to the WaterAid America Board of Directors, and actively engage within the global WaterAid Federation. This engagement is aimed at fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, learning, and development.
- Lead the country team with a supportive, empowering, and collaborative management culture.
- Build and manage high-performing, diverse teams that maximize their potential.
- Develop and deliver the country program strategy in alignment with WaterAid's Global Strategy (2022-2032) and organizational principles.
- Ensure timely and successful delivery of annual plans and budgets, with a focus on program quality and monitoring.
- Represent WaterAid with professionalism and enthusiasm, effectively communicating our vision, mission, and values.
- Foster strategic partnerships with various stakeholders and support sector development.
- Be accountable for transparent financial management, compliance with funding processes, and identifying funding opportunities.
- Integrate water, sanitation, and hygiene programs with advocacy and sector-strengthening efforts.
- Promote rights, equity, and inclusion, focusing on embedding a transformative gender approach.
- Manage risks, health and safety, safeguarding, and compliance with the Global Code of Conduct.
- Adapt global policies to the Colombian context and effectively advocate our positions.
- Contribute to organizational effectiveness and development at the regional and global levels.
Requirements and competencies to work with us
Education
Undergraduate degree.
Experience
- Minimum of 10+ years of relevant senior-level experience.
- Exceptional communication skills in both Spanish and English; comfortable making presentations in Spanish and English.
- Proven financial acumen and experience with managing large budgets with a diverse international donor base, serving as a strong steward of financial and human resources.
- Strategic planner and thinker with the flexibility to create nuanced plans and objectives that adapt to the situation at hand, while bringing to life an inspirational future for the organization as a whole.
- Demonstrated experience in leading and managing organizational growth and change, as well as building a diverse, multi-disciplinary, and high-performing team of professionals, preferably in the development sector.
- Effective relationship builder and communicator, with a rack record of developing partnerships across different levels of government, donors, and NGO’s for program delivery, policy, influencing, and funding; a proven record of raising and managing funds from government and/or international agencies (bilateral/multilateral) or the corporate sector,
- A strong and nuanced understanding of development in the Colombia and Latin America context; a sound understanding of international development (policy and programs), generally. is preferred but not required.
- High degree of adaptability and resilience, comfortable working in a changing, complex, and demanding environment.
- Consultative and empowering management style, able to both listen deeply and take difficult decisions within an organizational framework in the spirit of mutual trust and respect.
- A strong commitment to gender-sensitive, inclusive, and pro-poor development work.
Desired skills and qualifications:
- Post-graduate qualification in a relevant field of study.
- Prior experience serving as leader of a Country Program in an international development organization.
- Prior experience working in the WASH sector.
- Credible influencer – strong influencing and advocating skills at senior government levels.
Our team profile
- Inclusive environment
- Innovative, entrepreneurial approach
- Diversity
- Equal opportunities
- Collaboration
- Adaptive
- Resilient
Key interests for working with us
- WASH (Water Sanitation and Hygiene)
- Sustainability
- Development
- Social Impact
- Poverty
Reasons to join our team
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If you join our team you can expect to get inspiration from the change you help make happen, a sense of belonging, and the feeling of being part of a global community. You will also experience stimulation and fulfillment, the chance to grow, and space to be yourself at your best.
Relevant details before applying for this vacancy
- Ability to travel regularly within Colombia and across the Latin America & Caribbean regionally, and internationally, as required.
In alignment with WaterAid's ambitious 2022-2032 Global Strategy, we seek a Country Director who epitomizes strategic vision and exudes boundless energy, coupled with a profound humanitarian ethos. In the dynamic landscape of rapid growth, this role necessitates the ability to discern both the challenges and solutions on a long-term horizon. The incumbent must offer strategic, organizational, and political leadership to address these concerns.
To curate, nurture, and mobilize a diverse and inventive team, the CD should exemplify a zeal for transformational endeavors, leading by way of inspiration, integrity, and humility rather than authoritarianism.
As the principal advocate for the Colombia Country Program, the CD should excel as a partnership-builder, catalyzing the creation of collaborations among private, public, and governmental stakeholders.
In their esteemed leadership capacity, the CD is entrusted with shaping the overarching culture of WaterAid Colombia. They are anticipated to embody WaterAid's fundamental values – respect, collaboration, accountability, innovation, courage, and integrity – not merely in rhetoric but through practical demonstration of transparency, honesty, and ethical conduct. Furthermore, they are expected to uphold their commitment to the WaterAid Global Code of Conduct.
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