Costa Rica: Country Director, Costa Rica

HIAS seeks a Country Director to be the official HIAS representative in San Jose, Costa Rica. S/he is responsible for overseeing and implementing HIAS’ services for refugees in Costa Rica. The Country Director is responsible for creating the vision and strategy, overseeing all program implementation and operations for HIAS Costa Rica. Direct reports of this position include the Finance and Administration Manager, Managing Attorney and Program Managers. S/he is also the public face of the agency, regularly engaging with various stakeholders from the government, UNHCR and NGOs to help advance refugee rights and protection.

The successful candidate will have demonstrated ability to build capacity, excellent leadership and management skills, strong commitment to refugee protection, experience implementing, monitoring and overseeing program activities. S/he will also have experience implementing and overseeing cash based assistance programs. This role will report to the Regional Director, Latin America and work closely with HQ stakeholders across multiple departments.

Essential Functions:

Program Management:

• Develops detailed strategic goals and visions for HIAS Costa Rica.
• Oversees the design and successful implementation of all programs offered by HIAS Costa Rica.
• Models HIAS’ values through collaboration, strategic decision-making, evidence-based programming, and efficient management of resources.
• Works closely with HQ to develop country program objectives.
• Manages timely and high-quality proposal, program narratives and financial reports and sends updates to donors, HQ and others, as necessary.
• Ensures that all staff have the necessary tools, resources, and information to deliver and evaluate services that meet or exceed internationally accepted standards and protocols.
• Maintains responsibility for all reporting to donors and HQ.

Outreach and Representation:

• Serves as HIAS’ primary liaison with key partners and stakeholders, particularly UNHCR, other UNHCR NGO partners and the relevant Costa Rica government authorities and other domestic and global partners, as appropriate.
• Liaises with HIAS Advocacy, Communication, Community Engagement and Development teams as needed; drafts and edits materials for outreach and representation uses.

Human Resources Management:

• Manages and builds the capacity of HIAS Costa Rica employees.
• Ensures a positive work environment and compliance with HIAS’ Core Values and Code of Conduct for all field office staff and volunteers.
• Provides ongoing training and learning opportunities in areas of core competency and priority.
• Establishes organizational structure, job descriptions, performance measures that reflect clear work expectations aligned with program goals and HIAS HR manual.
• Works collaboratively with HQ on all personnel-related issues and ensure compliance with local labor laws and regulations.

Financial Management:

• Oversees the overall implementation of all necessary financial and administrative systems to ensure that HIAS Costa Rica has met all required legal requirements and operates in a manner consistent with HIAS global financial standards.
• Oversees financial reporting, audit and in-country financial legal compliance, and cash flow.
• Provides timely, accurate and effective oversight of all aspects of country financial operations consistent with laws, donor requirements, and HIAS policies and procedures.
• Implements effective fiscal controls and institutes and monitors a system to assure the accuracy and timeliness of all aspects of financial managements.
• Provides regular reports to HQ to assure grant compliance and safeguard against uncovered program costs in budgets.

Accountability:

• Models HIAS’ values through collaboration, strategic decision-making, evidence-based programming, and efficient management of resources.
• Ensures accountability through effective monitoring and impact assessment; complies with HIAS and donor policies, procedures and requirements and ensure compliance on the part of staff, volunteers and project partners.
• Contributes to the development of systems to better measure and demonstrate the impact of our work.
• Creates a managerial environment in country to safeguard refugee protection and ensure adequate training to all employees, those representing HIAS, beneficiaries of HIAS’ Safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Ensures compliance with all HIAS policies and procedures.

Safety and Security:

• Maintains responsibility for Safety and Security of all HIAS employees and assets.
• Ensures updated Safety and Security policies and procedures are in place, implemented and updated, as necessary.
• Keeps abreast of safety and security changes in Costa Rica.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Graduate degree required.
• A minimum of ten (10) years of experience with the INGO sector, specifically in humanitarian response settings; a minimum of five (5) years’ experience managing large teams and country programs.
• Familiarity and knowledge of legal protection to refugees and asylum-seekers required.
• Experience in age, gender and diversity mainstreaming and community-based and human rights approaches preferred.
• Oral and written fluency in Spanish and English required.
• Excellent written communication and oral presentation skills, including experience presenting to a wide variety of audiences; demonstrated ability to work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders and facilitate multiparty discussion and collaboration.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and budget and accounting software.
• Experience developing and implementing project objectives, indicators and budgets; experience in cash based interventions, registration and work with vulnerable populations.
• Knowledge of results-based management and experience overseeing procurement and audit procedures, a plus.
• Excellent strategic thinking and problem-solving skills; a flexible, creative and collaborative working style.
• Ability to travel throughout Country and Internationally as required; at times to insecure or difficult working environments.
• A Costa Rican citizen or legal resident with employment authorization or abilities preferred; for international applicants; this will be considered a non-accompanied duty station.
• Commitment to HIAS’ mission and values and refugee protection.

Please submit your resume and cover letter to our website, http://www.hias.org/career-and-internship-opportunities