January 2007

Job Title: Program Coordinator- Mesoamerica

Organization: Horizons of Friendship
50 Covert Street, Cobourg, ON K9A 4L1

Reporting Relationships
· Reports to: Executive Director.
· Supervises: Meso financial assistant, field consultant and other contract personnel.
· Liaises with: Community Outreach, Fundraising and Administration, Board Program Committee and Horizons’ Partners in Central America and Mexico.

Location: Cobourg, Ontario.

Probationary Period: 6 months.

Term: Full-time staff position. Three year contract, renewable upon successful completion.

Salary: $ 40,870- 51,090 (plus benefits), commensurate with experience.

Starting date: March 2007 (or as soon as possible)

Horizons of Friendship encourages minority applicants.

INTRODUCTION

Horizons of Friendship is a Canadian non-profit, international development agency committed to eliminating the root causes of poverty and injustice through the cooperation of people from the South and the North.

Horizons of Friendship supports Central American and Mexican partner organizations that undertake local initiatives, which further this goal.

In Canada, we raise awareness on global issues and work with Canadian organizations at the local and national levels to bring about positive and lasting changes.

POSITION SUMMARY

Under the direction of the Executive Director, the program coordinator is responsible for the supervision of all activities related to the Mesoamerica program. Program management includes project monitoring, administration, budgeting, and supervision of Meso program staff and consultants.

In undertaking this role, the coordinator assesses partners’ capacity to plan, implement and manage approved projects and takes any measures that may be necessary to ensure that they have the capacity to meet established standards. The coordinator manages all activities related to Horizons/Partners learning network initiatives to meet expected results.

The program coordinator reports to and seeks the approval of the E.D. on changes to annual operational planning, partner funding, and monitoring and evaluation budget allocations. Similarly, in consultation with the Executive Director, the coordinator makes recommendations to Horizons’ Program Committee on the acceptance of new partners or the termination of existing relations.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Management
· Foster and coordinate team work with Meso staff, consultants and E.D. to set goals, resolve problems and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness;
· In collaboration with the E.D., effectively manage all aspects of Horizons’ relationship with CIDA;
· Set up processes – that include partner consultation – to assess needs for institutional strengthening (e.g., external evaluations, audits, and capacity-building on strategic and operational planning on results-based management methodology);
· Coordinate the implementation of specific thematic areas identified and agreed by Horizons and partners;
· In the case of programs jointly supported with other Canadian NGOs, manage relations with the sister organizations involved, and ensure that administrative procedures are met;
· In consultation with Horizons’ E.D. and Meso staff and consultants, develop, coordinate and supervise the implementation of workplans to meet expected results outlined in Horizons’ three-year program.

Program Administration
· Ensure full implementation of institutional procedures, particularly for program approval and acceptance of new partners;
· Develop agendas and document the results of team/E.D. discussions and Program Committee meetings;
· Monitor projects via field visits, and consultants’ and partners’ reports;
· Prepare program reports and proposals for CIDA as required, including the approved RBM chart;
· Prepare additional documentation required by E.D. to contribute to meeting CIDA’s requirements;
· Supervise preparation of contracts, project budgets and cash flows;
· Prepare countries partners’ profiles and projects description as needed;
· In conjunction with the E.D., prepare, monitor and adjust as needed, the monitoring and evaluation budget;
· Ensure that all financial transactions are accounted for.

Institutional Collaboration
· Collaborate on Horizons’ initiatives to provide professional development to staff and Board members, including via field visits to Mesoamerica;
· Provide information as needed for the Community Outreach program, particularly with regard to delegations to the South, partners’ visits to Canada and thematic areas;
· Provide timely and accurate information to fundraising;
· Collaborate in the preparation of newsletters, press releases and public presentations as needed;
· Participate in the annual strategic and operational planning process;
· Participate in meetings at the institutional level.

QUALIFICATIONS

· Knowledgeable about the Mesoamerican region and civil society organizations and actions;
· A minimum of two years related working experience in Latin America;
· Proven ability to assess program needs and to coordinate work with consultants in Canada and overseas;
· Commitment to and understanding of development issues such as gender and environment;
· Ability to provide leadership in the development of innovative ideas and suggestions for work improvements;
· Excellent budgeting skills;
· Fully familiar with CIDA requirements and RBM reporting;
· Excellent team player with ability to work cooperatively with E.D., Board, staff and consultants;
· Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines;
· Ability to be away from home and to have the flexibility to work outside of normal office hours to respond to emergencies and to participate in events, fora and board meetings;
· Good analytical and writing skills;
· Excellent ability in spoken and written English and Spanish – essential;
· Proven administrative skills: organization of work, reporting, data management;
· Familiarity with word processing, excel spreadsheets, e-mail, and internet in a Windows environment;
· Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status.

WORKING CONDITIONS

· Full time position;
· Collegial, supportive atmosphere in small community-based office;
· High level of interaction with partners in the South (Spanish is essential);
· Ongoing interaction with Community Outreach, Fundraising, Administrative team and consultants;
· Work on occasional evenings and weekends;
· Travel two to three times a year as needed, overseas and within Canada;
· Own transportation required within Cobourg and surrounding municipalities.

Cobourg is located approximately one hour East of Toronto on the shore of Lake Ontario. A family community with a population of 17,000, it offers a beautiful sandy beach, quality educational opportunities and a host of recreational and cultural amenities.

Qualified candidates are invited to direct their applications to Patricia Rebolledo, Executive Director, by Friday February 23, 2007.

Via e-mail: lrobertson@horizons.ca
Or via fax: 905-372-7095

For more information on Horizons of Friendship, see our website at www.horizons.ca

We wish to thank all those who respond to this posting for their interest, but advise that only those selected for an interview will be contacted.