Colombia: Vice President, Colombia Program

Organization: Rare
Country: Colombia
Closing date: 31 Aug 2017

About Rare

Rare is a fast-growing, international conservation organization inspiring change so people and nature thrive. With more than 170 staff operating in 10 countries, Rare advances this mission through innovative grassroots marketing strategies that promote the adoption of proven solutions to social and environmental challenges.

Rare’s impact is delivered via its Pride program, a powerful blend of local capacity building, the replication of technical solutions, and grassroots communications for behavior change that has been empowering local conservation leaders since 1988 at more nearly 300 sites around the world. By catalyzing in-country private and public sector funding, shifting behavior toward more sustainable practices, and focusing attention on critically threatened ecosystems and species, Rare accelerates and creates lasting social, environmental, and economic benefits for local communities and nature.

Rare’s program for watershed protection in Colombia is one of Rare’s three priority global conservation themes, and is poised to deliver increasing impact at a critical time for natural resource management in Colombia’s history. Working at the nexus of water, agriculture, forests, climate resiliency, and the most impoverished communities in the country, there is increasing demand for Rare’s work throughout Colombia.

Position

After years of proven success, Rare is opening two new offices in Colombia (in Cali and Bogota) and is building a local team, creating an immediate opening for a Vice President. The Vice President has overall responsibility for leadership and management of the Colombia program, and is a critical representative for Rare on a global level.

A successful applicant will be an entrepreneurial and inspirational leader, as well as a manager who can both operate at high levels and be willing to roll up his or her sleeves and dig into the details.

Major responsibilities include the development, management, and implementation of Rare’s Colombia Country Program, with a focus on scaling up its watershed protection methodology throughout key regions of the country. The candidate is fully responsible for the program’s revenues and costs, team management, private and public-sector relations, and serving as the key representative of the Colombia program within Rare.

As part of the role, the candidate will be expected to lead the development of blended or sustainable finance solutions that will lead to the funding of the program at scale, by engaging the private sector and developing “investable” solutions for climate-smart, watershed protection.

The candidate is expected to have complete fluency in Spanish and English, and will be based in the Rare office in Bogota, Colombia. S/he will exercise independent judgment regarding the following three priority areas:

Strategy, Vision and Leadership

Refine and execute the Colombia strategy to achieve Rare’s targets for social and environmental impacts, including the scaling of the watershed program to at least 20% of the applicable market
Develop replicable programs and products and ensure their execution through the management of Rare’s team and partners
Develop sustainable or blended finance solutions to engage the public and private sector, and deploy private capital in investable vehicles that fund watershed protection at scale
Engage with relevant policy initiatives at national and sub-national levels of government
Create a national advisory board of top government, industry and technical professionals
Oversee marketing and communications efforts in Colombia to increase the brand and profile of Rare in country

Required Experience and Education
Bachelor’s degree; Master’s degree or equivalent preferred
At least twelve years of management and leadership experience, with increasing

responsibility and full P&L management if at a growing organization or business unit Page | 2

This is an outstanding opportunity for an executive with a proven record of success in growing and managing a business or business unit, hands-on product development and operational experience, and a problem-solving mentality to join in a high-growth, mission-driven organization.

Revenue Generation and Financial Management

Generate pipeline and close revenue opportunities to ensure funding and growth goals are met
Steward domestic and international donors and partners
Ensure long-term country and program financial resilience

• Manage costs effectively and ensure the efficient delivery of outcomes on a cost-per-unit basis

Proactive, consultative and results-oriented with a track record of having strategically driven an organization’s mission forward, while simultaneously striving to improve organization business models
Proven success managing complex projects involving multiple stakeholders, partnerships and contracts
Record of success in sourcing, developing and closing US-based and Colombia sales and/or fundraising opportunities, responding to RFPs and working with customers/donors to secure contributions
Demonstrated interest in and commitment to environmental issues, conservation or other cause/movement. Experiences and expertise related to water, forests, climate or agriculture a plus.
Analytical, detail-orientated and organized.
Demonstrated success at building partnerships and strategic alliances that resulted in a

quantifiable outcome.
Ability to work and manage staff in a multi-cultural setting
Excellent public speaking abilities and strong writing skills
Willingness to travel internationally and locally based on needs of the position, often in

uncomfortable circumstances, and to work extended hours when necessary
Fluency in spoken and written English and Spanish
Preferably, in-country and/or regional experience and established networks

Rare is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply; EOE/M/F/D/V