Program Officer

**Location**: Bogotá, Colombia

**Contract type**: Full time, National Employee Contract

**Report to**: Short-term Country Representative, Colombia

**Eligibility**: Must be legally able to work in Colombia

**Language requirements**: Bilingual (Spanish and English are essential)

**Salary Range**:COP 56,636,109 - COP 79,693,601

**ABOUT CUSO INTERNATIONAL**:
Cuso International is an international cooperation and development organization that works to create economic and social opportunities for marginalized groups. Together with our partners, we are focused on efforts to advance gender equality and social inclusion, improve economic resilience, and deliver progress on climate action. We believe that by sharing skills, we can build better futures.

**ABOUT THE ROLE**:
Funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC), Cuso International is implementing the volunteer cooperation program _Sharing Canadian Experience for Inclusive Development and Gender Equality (SHARE) _(2020-2028) in 10 countries in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. In the immediate term, the Program Officer (PO) will report to the Country Representative and once country program offices (CPOs) have transitioned to new regional program structure, the PO will report directly to the Regional Program Manager. The PO will have responsibility for implementing SHARE in the country. Supported by the Regional Program Manager and working closely with the country Finance Officer (FO) and lead partners, the PO will ensure effective planning and management of SHARE activities in country, including development and monitoring of the country workplan. The RPM will have primary responsibility for management of partner and volunteer relationships and mitigation and management of risks in country.

A key role for the Program Officer (PO) is the collaboration with the country lead partner(s) to ensure strategic and sustainable results from SHARE. The PO will be responsible for managing the relationship and capacity strengthening of a lead partner(s) to support implementation of SHARE, including to direct and strengthen our participation in platforms, networks and alliances (PNAs), pursuing emerging opportunities and strengthening engagement, coordination and collaboration with other SHARE partners to achieve project outcomes e.g. for training activities, knowledge sharing, events and campaigns.

**KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Coordinate with the Regional Program Manager (RPM) and Senior Manager, SHARE on the development, management and monitoring of annual workplans
- Collaborate with RPM on establishing partnerships with local organizations to participate in SHARE program, including overseeing partnership agreements and annual workplans
- Deepen partnerships with Lead Partners with shared values, ensuring that mutuality and respect is present from the outset, including during the identification and initial partnership stage
- Work closely with SHARE lead partner (s) on the implementation of SHARE in country, including participation in PNAs, allocation of special project funds, coordination of activities and collaboration with SHARE partners
- Carry out Capacity Assessment Processes (CAP) with new partners to identify needs and capacity gaps to inform Cuso International’s support, e.g. volunteer placements, training, small project funding, etc and conduct regular review and updating with existing partners receiving volunteers and small project funds from SHARE.
- Provide orientation and refresher trainings to SHARE partners on Cuso International’s policies and procedures related to volunteer and placement management, duty of care, communications and monitoring, evaluation and reporting
- Maintain strong relationships with partners and volunteers, including conducting regular check-in meetings with each partner and volunteer and review of progress of activities.
- In collaboration with the Volunteering in Development Manager, develop and manage the volunteer placements plan (e.g. placement descriptions, workplans and quarterly reports).
- Participate in the volunteer assessment process, e.g. short-listing, participating in panel interviews, facilitating partner approval
- Deliver in-country orientations for volunteers in coordination with the country Finance Officer (FO) and partner organizations.
- Serve as first line of management of any volunteer or partner complaints, in line with the complaints process and conducting investigations where necessary.
- Develop and implement emergency and risk-management plans at the country-level, reviewing on a regular basis and communicating with staff, partners and volunteers.
- Keep the SHARE program management team and Safety and Security Advisor informed of any potential safety and security threats, whether low, medium or high, at all times.
- Ensure MEAL systems are in place and understood by partners and volunteers and produce reports according to timelines (e.g., workplans, annual partnership reviews and annual reports).