Colombia: Project Manager, Expanding Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) and Protection for IDPs in Colombia

Job Title: Project Manager, Expanding Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) and Protection for IDPsin Colombia

Reports To: Colombia Program Director

Location: Colombia

*Transform the lives of the most marginalized and vulnerable communities and be at the forefront of social change. Be a part of a dedicated team of human rights workers and make a lasting impact.**

Organizational Background:

Heartland Alliance International (HAI) is the global arm of Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights, a family of organizations that has been leading anti-poverty and social justice work in Chicago for more than 125 years. HAI’s offices in nearly a dozen countries implement programs on a range of global human rights issues, as well as the Chicago-based Marjorie Kovler Center for the Treatment of Survivors of Torture, which serves individuals from more than 50 countries. HAI has significant expertise in the fields of trauma-informed mental health care and access to justice for survivors of rights abuses. It is also an industry leader in access to high-quality and stigma-free health care. Across all of its programs, HAI promotes progressive, innovative approaches to human rights protections and gender equality.

In Colombia, HAI provides innovative, collaborative, and community-based mental health services, including individual and group psychosocial therapy, to underserved populations most affected by armed conflict and violence in the Pacific region of Colombia. HAI’s culturally-competent and locally-adapted programs allow people to heal, become empowered to access justice and social services, and ultimately lead change in their own communities. HAI in Colombia includes direct survivors of the conflict who provide services to vulnerable populations, including Afro-Colombians and indigenous communities. HAI partners with community leaders, local organizations, and institutions to provide effective, evidence-based and culturally- adapted mental health services, and continuously strengthen these programs to better support people in need. As Colombia builds the foundation for an enduring peace, communities that have been historically marginalized and most affected by decades of violence need sustained support. HAI is committed to addressing crucial humanitarian needs and protecting human rights for the most vulnerable and underserved populations in the country. HAI will support the construction of an inclusive and sustainable peace through community engagement, strategic partnerships, and a focus on concrete results at the territorial and national levels.

About the Project:“Improving Health and Building Resilience: MAS ColombiaMejorando el Acceso a la Salud y fortaleciendo la resiliencia: MAS Colombia”, is a two year project to increase access to mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) and protection for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and conflict victims, including by strengthening support from government authorities, and enabling communities to effectively and collaboratively advocate for their rights. This innovative project builds on HAI’s extensive experience providing integrated services for IDPs including for women and girls, Afro-Colombians and other particularly vulnerable communities. The project will expand existing coordination efforts among government, civil society organizations and communities impacted by forced displacement and create identification and referral networks to respond to the needs of IDPs.

(Please note that offer is contingent on availability of funding).

Overview

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Program Management and Oversight:

• Guide the implementation of the program components and the methods of follow-up, with a focus on technical aspects and quality assurance through close monitoring and supervision.
• Ensure that the program components are implemented according to approved work plan to achieve program deliverables. Through strong planning, monitoring, and activity tracking, identify potential obstacles to programmatic success in a timely fashion, and implement corrective actions as needed.
• Manage program components budget in close coordination with Finance and Program staff to ensure spending is executed as appropriate.
• Ensure the development and timely submission of program documents, including narrative reports, lessons learned, success stories, and beneficiary-related data.
• Manage contractual and programmatic aspects of relations with communities and implementing partners.
• Support regular evaluation of program components in terms of feasibility, efficiency and effectiveness.
• Ensure that program documentation is prepared according to donor standards.
• Ensure technical oversight and field-monitoring of the program staff, notably to ensure quality control and adequate implementation of the planned tools and frameworks.
• Provide regular comprehensive program updates to supervisor as to program status, current and emerging issues.
• Draft narrative reports and contribute to the development of financial reports through regular budgetary follow up.
• Oversee the recruitment of field staff as well as personnel and documentation follow-up.

Technical:

• Design MHPSS programming in line with activities detailed in proposal and work plan.
• Capacity building:Develop and implement capacity building training relevant to the MHPSS program activities and provide supervision for national MHPSS staff.
• Provide technical advice to local partner on their project related psychosocial activities.
• Coordination: Participate in and contribute to MHPSS and GBV subclusters or working groups and actively work with and coordinate with other local and international agencies and organizations engaged in MHPSS programming and services
• Work in coordination with HQ MHPSS Technical Advisor to review MHPSS program design, trainings, materials, and other deliverables.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or competency required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience:

• Master’s degree or higher in mental health, social work, counseling or related field

Technical Skills:

• Master’s degree or higher in clinical social work, counseling or clinical psychology with a minimum of 3 years post-licensure experience
• At least two years of experience implementing MHPSS programming in development and/or humanitarian settings
• Demonstrated ability to train staff and implementing partners on MHPSS
• Experience with program design, development and management
• Experience working on protection issues including gender based violence (GBV) in emergencies preferred

Other Competencies:

• Time Management – Ability to prioritize tasks, manage time and complete projects in a fast-paced, changing environment with minimal supervision
• Quality Management - Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness
• Analytical - Synthesizes complex or diverse information; Collects and researches data.
• Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively
• Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events
• Cultural Sensitivity – Respects cultural environment in which person is working and does not act in a manner that is outwardly offensive to the local community

Language Skills:

• Excellent oral and written English language communication skills required
• Advanced proficiency in oral and written Spanish required

Computer Skills:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Outlook/Exchange, Windows operating systems
• High proficiency in Excel, SPSS, or another statistical analysis software
• Other software routinely used by Heartland Alliance

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; use hands to handle or feel and reach with hands and arms.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• The employee may be required to remain on Organization premises during breaks and/or meal periods and may be required to stay on Organization premises until their replacement arrives.
• The employee is required to travel regularly to often insecure and limited-resource environments.

Heartland Alliance makes all hiring and employment decisions without regard to race, creed, color, age, gender, gender identity, marital or parental status, religion, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, sexual identity, immigrant status, political affiliation or belief, ex-offender status (depending on the offense and position to be filled), unfavorable military discharge, membership in an organization whose primary purpose is the protection of civil rights or improvement of living conditions and human relations, height, weight, or HIV infection, in accord with the Organization's AIDS Policy Statement of September, 1987. Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodation should contact the Employee Services Office at +1 (312) 660-1431.

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