Job Synopsis:

The MCC Representatives for Colombia facilitates, coordinates and provides direction for all of MCC’s involvements in Colombia, both with partners as well as with its diverse staff. This is a large country program in partnership with Anabaptist churches focused on peace-building, food security and accompaniment of migrants/internally displaced people. This position will be supervised by a LACA Area Director (AD). 

MCC is looking to hiring 2 full time MCC Representatives for this program, and hiring will be determined based on the candidate pool.  Successful candidates could be two separate people or a couple.

Qualifications:

All MCC workers are expected to exhibit a commitment to: a personal Christian faith and discipleship; active participation in a Christian church or Christian community; and nonviolent peacemaking. MCC is an equal opportunity employer, committed to employment equity. MCC values diversity and invites all qualified candidates to apply.

Required for all MCC Representative Positions:
Minimum Education Level: BA/BSc or equivalent
Minimum Experience: International experience and MCC experience preferred

Invitations to serve with MCC are contingent on the successful outcome of criminal background check(s).

1. Relational Skills: Ability to form, foster and maintain positive, working relationships with MCC service workers, MCC staff, local churches and MCC partners, building trust by demonstrating integrity in actions and communications and modeling the values of the organization. Ability to create an environment on the team that is supportive of staff who may experience oppression or sexual violence.
2. Supervisory Skills: Ability to manage/supervise personnel, which includes staff appointments and terminations, performance appraisals, interpreting and enforcing policies, conflict resolutions/problem solving and development of staff (in cooperation with the Human Resources Department).
3. Computer Literacy: Ability to use email programs, navigate the internet, locate resources, use Microsoft Excel and Word. Ability to navigate and use MCC specific databases for the purpose of planning, monitoring, evaluation, and recording.
4. Adaptability: Ability to adapt as needed to work effectively in ambiguous or changing situations and with diverse individuals and groups.
5. Analytical Thinking: Ability to analyze and synthesize information to understand issues, identify options and support sound decision making.
6. Planning and Organizing: Ability to develop, implement, evaluate and adjust plans to reach goals, ensuring the optimal use of resources.
7. Initiative: Ability to be proactive and persistent in efforts, identifying opportunities and needs then taking action for resolution.
8. Teamwork: Ability to work collaboratively with others to achieve organizational goals, taking actions that respect the needs and contributions of others.
9. Communication: Ability to listen, to model open communication and foster good will among others.
10. Self-awareness: Ability to understand one’s own emotional framework, maintain a non-defensive posture and manage personal reactivity when leadership is challenged.
11. Cross cultural/multi-cultural awareness: Ability to work with issues of equity in a cross-cultural setting.
12. Financial Management: Ability to successfully manage MCC resources within a country program.
13. Program, Monitoring and Evaluation: Ability to understand and implement Program, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Results based management.
14. Previous experience in making well-informed, effective and timely decisions, taking into consideration impact and implications within local and regional context.
15. Demonstrated ability to serve as MCC Representative without bias or conflict of interest, with ability to withstand intense pressure from multiple constituencies.

For this specific assignment:
Minimum Education Level: BA/BSc or equivalent
Minimum Experience: Preference is given for previous experience in Latin America region. 

Skills:
1. Creativity and Innovation: Ability to generate new approaches and viable solutions.
2. Organizational Awareness: An understanding of the structure and organizational culture of large non-profit organizations, such as MCC, and ability to work successfully within the structure to achieve results.
3. Development of Others: Ability to foster worker development by providing a supportive learning environment.
4. Partnering: Ability to seek and build alliances that further MCC objectives and benefit all people.
5. Conflict Transformation: Ability to bring conflict and dissent between others into the open to arrive at constructive solution while maintaining positive relationships with all parties.
6. Risk Taking: Ability to identify, assess and manage risk while striving to attain objectives.
7. Strategic Thinking: Ability to understand and process complex information and exercise sound judgment, considering the situation, the issues and the key players. Is able to propose course(s) of action that further the objectives, priorities and vision of the program and/or MCC.
8. Team Leadership: Assumes a leadership role in helping others achieve excellent results.
9. Writing Skills: Can communicate ideas and information in writing to ensure that information and messages are understood and have the desired impact.
10. Language Skills: Fluency in Spanish and English

Key Responsibilities:

1. MCC Vision and Mission – Be the carrier/communicator of institutional identity in relationship to:
   i. Local partners, church, government, other international NGOs 
   ii. MCC workers: Nurture understanding of and respect for MCC values and witness; reflect upon and communicate the spirituality of the team.  Direct supervision may include Global Service Learning (GSL) coordinators, Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting (PMER) coordinators, Finance staff, administrative staff, program coordinators, and Seed coordinators.
   iii. Plan, organize, and facilitate team retreats. 
2. Oversight of Country Program – Direct and oversee implementation of regional priorities and country-specific strategies 
   i. Select, build, maintain and plan annual visits to strengthen relationships with partners 
   ii. Prepare and administer long-term country strategies 
   iii. Plan, monitor, report and evaluate projects in coordination with ADs, regional PMER coordinator, and country PMER staff 
   iv. Facilitate, coordinate and respond to disasters, including those that generate unexpected additional resources and require shifts in focus of time/energy and requiring development of immediate and/or short term plans in coordination with Planning, Learning, Disaster, Response (PLDR) disaster response team
   v. Understand and ensure compliance with local laws while working with regional HR and Financial Coordinators.
   vi. Coordinate and strengthen local advisory committee 
   vii. In coordination with regional Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse( PSEA) coordinator and team focal points, Ensure that there are appropriate mechanisms in the MCC program and with partners to prevent and respond to situations of abuse of power (sexual harassment, child abuse, racism, exploitation, among other situations). 
   viii.  Facilitate and monitor security guidelines alongside Global Security Coordinator.
3. Management of MCC Resources 
   i. Prepare, monitor and evaluate annual goals and objectives in the context of a multi-year strategic plan 
   ii. Prepare and monitor budgets in accordance with strategic and annual plans and in alignment with Financial Management Policies 
   iii. Develop and monitor financial record-keeping and reporting, taking corrective action where needed, in coordination with finance staff and regional finance coordinator. 
   iv. Develop and maintain lists of inventories of equipment, including computers, etc. along with replacement plans in coordination with administrative staff
   v. Ensure resource stewardship across the country 
   vi. Prepare and monitor project reporting alongside PMER staff
   vii. Receive and respond to worker reports
   viii. Ensure maintenance of personnel records and other documents for MCC Records and Archives 
   ix. Manage Material Resources distribution as needed 
   x. Provide information about the country situation, through Insight, Annual Plans and Reports, Learning Tours, regular check-ins with regional Communications and Advocacy coordinator and written communication.
   xi.  Manage contract renewal and payment of global and regional staff living in Colombia., as well as other support as outlined in regional documents.
4. Select, supervise and motivate MCC workers – those directly supervised by Rep(s) and also provide overall oversight for those supervised by Seed and or Connecting Peoples Facilitators 
   i. Negotiate suitable service assignments and write assignment descriptions alongside GSL facilitators 
   ii. Select highly qualified staff using predetermined criteria based on job content and organizational values 
   iii. Provide orientation for new workers, including language study 
   iv. Create an environment where all individuals are comfortable openly addressing concerns/opinions 
   v. Ensure spiritual, emotional and professional support for workers 
   vi. Monitor relationships between workers and partners with whom they work 
   vii. Implement MCC Human Resource policies and assist in policy interpretation for workers
   viii. Conduct timely performance appraisals and End-of-Term reports for workers 
   ix. Ensure workers’ compliance with MCC values and witness 
   x. Develop and/or monitor compensation, benefits and policies for national staff 
5. Teambuilding: build and maintain MCC personnel team 
   i. Clarify team expectations regularly 
   ii. Monitor team relationships 
   iii. Lead team in decision making 
   iv. Demonstrates skill in resolving difficult situations, drawing on a variety of resources
6. Hospitality: arrange for hospitality as needed 
   i. MCC program and support staff, as well as MCC constituents from North America 
   ii. Organize and guide Learning Tours. 
7. Represent the Country to MCC and Constituents 
   i. Cultivate and maintain awareness of the political, economic, social, cultural, and historical contexts of the country/region 
   ii. Provide information about the situation, needs and resources of the country to the Area Director and others within MCC and to MCC constituency. This  can includes overseeing regular communication with the regional Communications and Advocacy Coordinator and possibly MCC Donor Relations and Communications staff. 
   iii. Coordinate possible advocacy initiatives with the MCC Washington Office or MCC Canada Peace and Justice Office alongside the regional Communication and Advocacy coordinator.
8. Relate to the local church 
   i. Maintain good relationships with local Anabaptist churches by: minimally visiting churches and church leaders, attending their annual meetings, and including their representatives on advisory committees 
   ii. Regular attendance at a local congregation

FTE: 1.0

Compensation Type: Salary

Salary Description:

Compensation for international roles is calculated based on prior experience and anticipated living expenses of the household in the location of service.

Benefits:

In addition to a monthly compensation amount based on the sum of relevant allowances, MCC Reps would receive the following benefits;
Travel expenses to and from assignment,
Housing,
Transportation related to work,
Education for children benefit,
and Retirement Plan

Start: October 1, 2026 (flexible)

Term Length: 5 years

Location: Latin America & Caribbean

Location Country: Colombia

Location Description:

The MCC Colombia office is located in Teusaquillo, a neighbourhood near downtown Bogotá. Bogotá has a diverse population of around 8 million people. Like most big cities, one can find almost anything in Bogotá – opulence and poverty, most any modern imported product alongside very traditional hand-made goods and foods, crime as well as solidarity. Although the services available vary depending on the economic status of a given neighbourhood, good quality education and health services are readily available in Bogotá. Bogotá also has a relatively effective public transportation system, although traffic jams are common. Other large cities in Colombia have similar conditions. All MCC Colombia Workers use public transportation regularly. 

When traveling to rural areas in Colombia, one finds different conditions, including very poor road conditions, lack of potable water, intermittent electricity in some areas, limited internet access, and periodic armed strikes or other armed-group actions. 

Although near the Equator, Bogotá has a cool climate (15-20C during the day, under 10C at night) due to the higher altitude (2600 metres). It tends to rain frequently. Unfortunately, the air quality is not very good in some parts of the city, due to pollution. The climate in the rest of the country can be warm to very hot, depending on the altitude. Due to the climate variations, Colombia has a very diverse and beautiful landscape. Colombian people also represent diverse cultural groups. 

Living in Colombia implies some risks due to the unstable conditions as a result of the diverse armed groups and gangs, and the illegal economic activities (drug-trafficking, illegal mining, etc). In Bogotá, the risk level is comparable to the risks of living in most large cities, primarily related to theft. In recent years there has been increased political volatility and massive public protests in large cities like Bogotá and Cali, which has created additional challenges in mobility and general anxiety. There can be higher or lower risks while traveling in other regions of the country, depending on the dynamics of the armed groups. MCC workers depend on Colombian partners and friends who know the situation well to help make decisions as to when and where it is safe to go. MCC service worker must be willing to abide by collective decisions regarding safety procedures. We do not expect or want MCC workers to take undo risks.

Related to Bogotá’s conditions as a large, polluted city, some MCC workers experience allergies. People with asthma or other pre-existing respiratory issues are especially affected by the city’s poor air quality. 

The MCC Colombia program is large and complex, with different networks and projects as well as diverse settings where personnel are serving, and the diverse cultures represented in the team. The Rep positions in this country requires leadership with a broad vision that can see how the many pieces fit together, while also paying attention to details. The diversity brings great richness, but requires leadership with strong relational and inter-cultural skills. 

It is not uncommon for partners or workers to unexpectedly face some sort of “crisis” situation that the MCC Rep needs to accompany in one way or another. It is important for MCCers to be able to gauge their own emotional well-being and to take care of themselves physically, emotionally and spiritually. MCC staff receive spiritual and emotional support from each other, from the broader MCC system, from other friends in the community and from the Colombian church.

Challenges:

High levels of pollution; Political instability; Security issues; Occasional overnights; Local area not supportive to LGBTQ+ persons