Officer, Programs
Guatemala City, Guatemala
Global Programs – Latin America /
Full Time - Local /
On-site
Team Summary
This position is part of Search’s team in Guatemala, our newest program. The Guatemala team works under the umbrella of a USAID-funded, one-team approach project, reporting to the Chief of Party of the project. Search’s Regional Director, Latin America, has oversight to ensure that our Guatemala team delivers on our contribution in a timely, quality manner. The Guatemala team is focused on project implementation, including planning, execution, and reporting. They work with Search’s regional and global structure for technical expertise and implementation support.
Position Summary
Search is seeking a Project Officer in Guatemala City to support Search’s implementation of a multi-year project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) targeting 5 municipalities across Guatemala. The project aims to strengthen target communities’ ability to address crime and violence through multisectoral collaboration.
As a Project Officer, you will be responsible for supporting implementation of the day-to-day activities of the program, working closely with the Collaboration Lead, Facilitation Leads, Inclusion Specialists, and other personnel to ensure smooth program operation and effective communication among team members.
Responsibilities
- Organizes activities for Search’s project component, including planning, participant invitations, logistics, and documentation;
- Produces activity reports, success stories, lessons learned, and other reporting and communication materials for the project;
- Works with the finance team and other related colleagues to coordinate activities with other component teams in the project;
- Supports partner coordination and management.
Contributions
- Participates in planning sessions, working with other component colleagues to outline feasible and timely execution.
- Participates in reflection sessions and discussions on adaptation. Facilitates support for technical assistance where appropriate. Ensures lessons learnt are well documented and disseminated for better program implementation in future, in line with best practice in reflective practice and adaptive management.
- Supports colleagues with co-facilitation, activity monitoring, and other community engagement
- Represents the project and organization in stakeholder meetings, including with local authorities, civil society and community organizations, and others
- Other duties that are broadly in line with the above key contributions as assigned.
Competency Behavior Indicators (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)
- Initiates brainstorming or problem-solving meetings. With time in job, develops skills for analyzing and communicating program successes and failures; reports lessons learned to the team and other members.
- Develops skills to independently initiate and maintain relations with vendors and partners. Articulates project goals and objectives within Search and to external audiences, especially community stakeholders.
- Demonstrates appreciation for diversity of thought. Builds cross-functional relationships with other functional departments.
- Demonstrates ability to be adaptable and willing to confront and change own ideas and preconceptions with the resiliency and flexibility to make changes based on hearing a diversity of thoughts.
- Drafts team documents, briefing materials, and presentations. Articulates program/project objectives and how they fit into a team’s goals and/or Search’s mission and adapts to the communications setting.
- Applies standards, identifies areas for standardization, and coordinates across functions from a multicultural perspective that reflects consideration of other cultures, other viewpoints, and other ways of doing things.
- Takes into account the environmental landscape, assesses one's own and others' viewpoints in their environment, and proposes solutions from an ethical perspective.
- Recognizes the options available for solving problems, conducts analyses, and calculates metrics and other technical tools to support informed decision making.
- Conducts Quality Control of team documents, briefing materials, presentations, and systems data. Carefully reviews and checks the accuracy of information in work reports, management information systems, or with other individuals and groups. Checks the accuracy of one’s own and others’ work. Proactively informs management of potential risks and concerns; suggests resolutions.
- Independently prioritizes time to reach deadlines and reaches end results of assignments with ability to accomplish multiple steps with limited to no supervision.
- Remain alert and responsive to any safeguarding risks, acquire relevant knowledge and skills that will enable you to promote strong safeguarding practices, understand the safeguarding policy and procedures, and conduct yourself in a manner consistent with the Safeguarding Policy.
Type and Nature of Contacts
- Routinely coordinates with colleagues and consultants on-site and in the field and resolves problem situations with tact.
- Represents, as assigned, selected projects to external stakeholders, including community members, local authorities, vendors, and partners.
- Interacts with country office and regional staff.
Required Skills
- University degree in Peace and Conflict Studies, Development, Political Science, International Affairs, Social Sciences, Project Management or other relevant subjects.
- Experience in project implementation in Guatemala. Preferably in the context of international development or peacebuilding.
- Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple deadlines effectively.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams and stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to problem-solve and adapt to changing circumstances in a fast-paced environment.
- Experience working in multicultural or cross-cultural settings is desirable.
- Fluency in written and spoken Spanish is required; knowledge of other languages spoken in Guatemala is an advantage.
Education and Experience
Typically BS/BA with minimum 5 years’ experience.
Working Conditions and Physical Requirements
Usual office environment conditions; ability to travel domestically at least 50%.
Supervisory and Budget Responsibility
None
