Main purpose of job:

The British Embassy in Bogotá is looking to recruit a capable, motivated, and experienced individual to join the Combatting Illicit Economies Programme, a regional programme focused on identifying and confronting illicit financial flows, criminal markets and the corruption that underpins them. The role will be part of a regional team working across the Latin America region, overseeing project management, financial management and policy development in the organised crime/security fields, as well as monitoring and evaluation across the America’s Portfolio, which includes the sister programme the Conflict, Stability and Peace Programme under the Americas Portfolio of the Integrated Security Fund (ISF).

The Combatting Illicit Economies programme seeks to tackle the drivers of organised crime, corruption and illicit finance threats impacting Latin America, particularly in Colombia, Panamá, Peru, Ecuador and Venezuela. The individual chosen to work in this Programme will work from the Embassy in Colombia and assisting with in that country but will also be part of a regional team seeking to ensure coherence of programming across a number of the different countries part of the programme.

The ISF has been operating in Colombia since 2015, enabling the UK to deliver programmes and projects that support the Colombian Government in addressing the drivers of conflict, insecurity and organised crime. This role will require strong teamwork skills to support the activities of different UK Government Departments, frequent travel to either conflict-affected regions or the other countries involved in the programme and where projects are being implemented. Communication skills will be required to liaise with project implementing partners and host nation officials.

In March of 2025, the programming cycle will come to an end. However, the ISF Americas portfolio may have changes that may entail renewing the position beyond this date. 

The British Embassy is an equal opportunities employer and, for this role, is particularly keen to attract candidates from a minority ethnic background, with disabilities or living in regions most affected by conflict. 

The role is based in Bogotá, but the Embassy will offer an initial period of virtual working if the successful candidate needs some time to relocate from another part of Colombia.

Roles and responsibilities: 

To assist project management and drive strong delivery of ISF programming within Colombia and regionally (60%)

• Be responsible for all parts of the project management cycle – design, mobilisation, delivery, monitoring and closure.
• Track, forecast and monitor project spend and provide accurate financial reporting to the CIEP Deputy Programme Manager and relevant Finance Manager, including the identification and management of spending gaps, budgetary risks and issues and formulate mitigation options.
• Provide support to the ISF CIEP Programme Team to ensure strategic direction and that the funding of the programmes is maintained.
• Support the Programme Technical Advisors and Head of Programme in the spotting new opportunities for UK support and designing new interventions.
• Build and manage relationships with key stakeholders, including high-level diplomatic engagement principally in Colombia but also potentially regionally.
• Identify opportunities to add value to the programme and make recommendations to the senior programme officers to ensure the most efficient use of UK resources.
• Provide a point of contact for coordination across other HMG funds operating in Colombia and support opportunities for collaboration (i.e. International Climate Fund, other CSSF programming in region/the Americas).
• Support the assessment and implementation of regional cross-cutting themes for maintaining and improving compliance of the programme (i.e. gender mainstreaming, project conflict sensitivity, and other as assigned).

Programme Monitoring & Evaluation (20%)

• Support the Deputy Head in the quarterly and annual programme monitoring and evaluation activities. Track status of delivery, including expected and unexpected programme/project outputs and outcomes.
• Support the Combatting Illicit Economies Programme and Peace Programme and determine strategies and processes to conduct effective monitoring and evaluation activities across the portfolio.
• Share best practices across the programmes, in addition to lessons learnt activities to strengthen the portfolio monitoring and evaluation strategy and processes.
• Ensure strong processes are in place to identify, alert and if possible, mitigate risks of under-delivering programme outputs and outcomes.
• Provide support to senior management to ensure that the ISF programme keeps appropriate considerations of monitoring and evaluation in the project management cycle or that appropriate tools are being regularly used and updated.

Learning and Development (10%)

• Attend learning and development events.
• Look for further learning and development opportunities.
• Actively participate in performance appraisal process and take responsibility from timely feedback.
• Identify skills and development opportunities for career growth.

Resources managed:

• Oversee ISF Programme Budget (£1-3 million per year)

     

Essential on arrival:  

• Undergraduate degree or above in a relevant subject (i.e. but not limited to social/political science, international affairs, business administration, or law).
• At least 2 years of relevant experience in managing international cooperation projects related to peace, security, rural development and/or organised crime and security and justice.
• Experience of working with national institutions, NGOs, think tanks or Multilateral Organisations to design and manage projects in the areas of conflict, security and justice, and/or organised crime.
• Be a flexible and creative problem-solver, able to come up with innovative solutions to complex challenges.
• Be IT-proficient.
• High-level written and spoken English (at least B2) and Spanish (fluent).
• Excellent communication skills, including presentations and executive writing.
• Willingness to travel frequently to conflict-affected areas and regionally.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including stakeholder management.
• Legal status to live and work in Colombia in your own right, from time of application.
• Valid passport.