Associate Director, Justice System Strengthening, Colombia

Who We Are

International Justice Mission (IJM) is the global leader in protecting vulnerable people from violence around the world. Our team of over 1,200 professionals are at work worldwide in over 30 offices. Together we are on a mission to rescue millions, protect half a billion, and make justice unstoppable.

We are a global community that cares for one another. We believe that the way we work is as important as the results we achieve. We provide professional excellence with joy and celebration to all those we serve.

The Need

For over 25 years, IJM has pioneered the work to protect vulnerable people from violence. 9 out of 9 times in the last decade, IJM’s Justice System Strengthening Projects have reduced slavery and violence between 50 and 85% for very large populations of people in poverty. As we grow to expand our impact to protect 500 million people from violence, we are seeking an Associate Director on Justice System Strengthening for our Country Office in Colombia.

The Associate Director of Justice System Strengthening serves as the foremost subject-matter expert on Criminal Justice and Rule of Law. Consequently, this expert will substantially contribute to the strategic and programmatic development and implementation of the IJM Colombia project.

Under the Country Director’s supervision and in close cooperation with other team members, this Associate Director is responsible for interacting with Government and Non-Government actors, including high and mid-ranking Justice System Officials, in order to achieve that the Colombian justice institutions are more efficient and effective in the investigation, prosecution and punishment of crimes especially those related with violence against women and children.

This position is based in Bogotá, Colombia and reports to the Country Director. It is only available for candidates with the right to work in Colombia.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic guidance on capacity-building measures to strengthen the Colombian Justice System to investigate, prosecute and punish criminals, especially those involved in violence against women and children;
• Identify opportunities to support the Colombian Justice System capacity-building by providing training, mentoring, and advice;
• Identify opportunities to mobilize and empower communities and civil society to drive the strengthening of the justice system through sustainable and measurable results;
• Provide technical guidance to support the development of legislative, policy, and systemic solutions that achieve a high level of impact on the performance and functioning of key Colombian justice institutions;
• Support the identification and development of partnerships with key actors at the national and local levels on Criminal Justice Process and Rule of Law issues;
• Participate in inter-agency working groups and initiatives to promote the Rule of Law and increase equal access to justice for all;
• Serve as liaison with national and local government counterparts and stakeholders;
• Advise the Country Director on potential opportunities to activate stakeholders, partners, and relevant actors;
• Support the implementation of the Colombian Project at the local level, offering strategic guidance to create capacities to protect communities; and
• Oversee the implementation of M&E processes in their component.

Requirements:

• Master’s degree in Criminal Law, Justice or related field;
• Bachelor's degree in Law or Bachelor’s degree or related field;
• At least 10 years of progressive experience working on access to justice, judicial reform and/or strengthening the rule of law;
• At least 5 years of progressive experience working in organizational development, implementation of projects and/or capacity building in the justice sector;
• Experience working effectively cross-culturally;
• Knowledge and experience in inter-institutional coordination processes in the justice sector; and
• Fully fluent in Spanish and proficient in English, both written and spoken;

Critical Qualities:

• Strategic, analytical and critical thinking skills;
• Teamwork and team management;
• Ability to advise high-level officials;
• Good project development and implementation skills;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Passion for IJM’s mission;
• Results Oriented;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence;
• Mature, professional leader;
• Ability to work in a team and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural background; and
• Unfailing integrity and honesty.

Additional Information

• The position will be hired as a full-time labor contract, including all Colombia Colombia labor benefits.
• This position does not offer an international expatriate benefits package, so it is open to nationals or residents who are legally able to live and work in Bogota Colombia.

Application

Send your resume and cover letter in a single document to the following email address: colombiarecruitment@ijm.org

Only those candidates who meet the requirements for the position will be contacted.

IJM holds strict safeguarding principles and a zero tolerance to violations of the Safeguarding Policy, Protection against Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment Policy, and Code of Ethics. Candidate selection is based on technical competence, recruitment, selection and hiring criteria subject to assessing the candidate’s value congruence and thorough background, police clearance, and reference check processes.