View Vacancy – TEFOS Programme Manager

The British Embassy is seeking to recruit a new Programme Manager on an initial 12-month basis, with a likelihood of extension, to deliver the UK’s flagship forest programme Territorios Forestales Sostenibles (TEFOS). This £64m programme is the UK’s largest bilateral programme in Colombia and seeks to address deforestation in the Colombian Amazon through: (i) promoting a strengthened land rights system; (ii) tackling environmental crime; and (iii) promoting sustainable livelihoods. This is an exciting role and an opportunity to work at the forefront of UK-Colombia efforts to tackle deforestation in the Amazon. The successful candidate will have a background in and understanding of forest programmes in Colombia and experience of delivering ODA programmes. 

The role holder will be responsible for overall delivery of the TEFOS programme working directly with the programme’s delivery partners. They will ensure the programme delivers against the programme’s impact and outcomes statements and the overall theory of change. They will drive coordination between the three programme pillars (cadastre implementation, promotion of environmental rule of law, and sustainable livelihoods). They will make sure that the programme meets its strategic outcomes and outputs within the agreed timescales, costs and quality constraints. The role holder will also provide strategic guidance to the programme SRO (Head of Economics Climate and Science), the Ambassador and key UK government stakeholders in London. This will include advice on budget forecasts and profiling, approval of annual delivery plans, annual reviews, and risk ratings and escalation.

Finally, they will be responsible for ensuring that TEFOS contributes strategically to the UK’s wider forest and land use portfolio in Colombia. They will align TEFOS and other programmes and ensure that TEFOS is delivering against the Embassy’s Country Business Plan.

The role holder will be line managed by the Head of Forest and Land Use Programmes within the Embassy’s Economic, Climate and Science team. The role will require travel to Departments of Colombia to monitor the delivery of the programme and external engagement. There may also be opportunities to travel to the UK subject to funding.

Roles and responsibilities:

The role holder will be responsible for managing the successful delivery of the UK’s largest forest programme in Colombia, Territorios Forestales Sostenibles (TEFOS).

In the first instance they will lead TEFOS programme delivery in line with the programme’s impact and outcomes statements as well as the Theory of Change. In doing so they will drive coordination and synergies between the programme’s three pillars: cadastre implementation, promoting environmental rule of law and creating sustainable livelihoods. They will ensure that programme delivery is compliant with the UK’s legal requirements and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s (FCDO) Programme Operating Framework (PRoF). And they will ensure that the programme delivers strategic outcomes and outputs within agreed timescales, costs and quality constraints.

The role holder will be responsible for working with the Government of Colombia and delivery partners at a technical level to ensure the highest levels of ambition in programme delivery. And identify where intervention from senior members of the Embassy is required. They will work closely with the TEFOS Monitoring and Evaluation (MEL) partner on monitoring, evaluation and learning activities across the programme’s three pillars. This includes quality controlling annual reviews, ensuring the log frame reflects the programme’s aims and that delivery partners act on strategic recommendations. The role holder will work closely with the FCDO’s commercial and financial teams on contract and financial management. 

They will provide strategic guidance to the Programme SRO (Head of Economics, Climate and Science), the Ambassador and senior UK stakeholders in the FCDO in London. This will include advice on budget forecasts and profiling, approval of annual delivery plans, assessment of annual reviews, and risk rating and escalation. They will also ensure that TEFOS strategically contributes to the UK’s wider Forest & Land Use portfolio in Colombia by aligning between TEFOS and other UK funded programmes and initiatives. Moreover, they will ensure that TEFOS delivers against the Embassy’s Country Business Plan (CBP).

The role also includes a strong leadership component. The role holder will lead the TEFOS team which includes two officers within the Embassy, a senior advisor on environmental rule of law and other cross-cutting technical experts. They will set strategic direction, agree stretching objectives for each member of the team and support team members to achieve their career and development goals, and contribute to corporate contributions within the embassy.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in a relevant discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• At least 5 years of experience working, lobbying and influencing governments on climate issues. Strong track record of delivering development programmes.
• Strong knowledge of Colombian forest and land use, climate and development policies and related institutional frameworks.
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, communication and relationship skills.
• Ability to develop and work through a strong network of national and international stakeholders including organisations such as the World Bank and UNODC.
• Sound judgement in taking decisions without direct supervision, and working effectively in a team environment.
• Proven ability to write fluently and persuasively in English about technical and policy issues for a senior UK audience.
•  The right to work in Colombia.

Language requirements: 

Language: Fluent written and spoken English and Spanish

Level of language required: minimum level required C2 (under the CEFRL or equivalent).   

The successful candidate will have the right set of skills and experience to lead a team that is central to Embassy activity and needs to deliver effectively often under significant pressure from competing and urgent demands. They will have experience of managing large development programmes and ideally of working with international partners such as the World Bank and UNODC. They will need to be familiar and comfortable with the particular demands and sensitivities of government work. The role will place an emphasis on developing a network of senior and influential contacts, flexibility, leadership and creativity.