The position is located in the Country Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Colombia. The incumbent will report to the Director of the Field Operations and Technical Cooperation Division, under the overall authority of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Deputy High Commissioner.

The incumbent represents the High Commissioner and OHCHR in Colombia and is responsible for establishing and maintaining relations inter-alia with government, state institutions, the diplomatic community, civil society, the United Nations system, the private sector and the academia in respect of the work of OHCHR; identifies human rights priorities in the country through the coordination of the observation, technical assistance and advisory programme and elaborates a strategy for the effective promotion and protection of human rights in the country supervising the implementation of the associated work programme. The Representative provides authoritative advice and maintains constant communication with head-quarters and the relevant Regional Representative; ensures mainstreaming of human rights and contributes significantly to the coordination of the work of the United Nations in Colombia. The Representative provides substantive support and guidance to the Staff of the Office in Colombia; to the relevant human rights mechanisms and is responsible for the timely reporting Obligations of the Office. Within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties: 1) Formulation of the strategy to implement OHCHR's mandate and oversight/coordination of its implementation in the Country under her/his supervision: • Identifies the human rights developments and priorities in the country (through the Capital Bogota as well as the sub-offices) in conformity with the Mandate of the Office as specified in the Agreement between OHCHR and the Government of Colombia and advises the High Commissioner, the Deputy High Commissioner and the Assistant Secretary-General, through the Director of the Division, on these developments and issues as well as on adequate actions required to address them for the promotion and protection of human rights in compliance with applicable international law and recommendations from UN human rights mechanisms; • On this basis, develops (and adjusts, as relevant) country strategies, including identification and definition of specific tools needed for the effective promotion and protection of human rights in consultation with relevant parts of the Office as well as relevant partners; • Formulates, guides and supervises the implementation of the observation work as well as the substantive work programme in the country; • Actively promotes the integration of universally recognized human rights norms and standards into policies, programmes and activities of national institutions, including through dialogue with counterparts, as well as public advocacy; promotes and facilitates inclusive and meaningful participation of governmental and state institutions, National Human Rights Institution, civil society and academia in the execution of the technical cooperation programmes. 2) Represents the High Commissioner and OHCHR in the country: • Represents the Office and speaks on behalf of the High Commissioner in meetings with authorities, non-state actors, diplomatic missions, governmental and non-governmental organizations both at the international and country level on human rights and protection issues in close cooperation with headquarters in Geneva and in NY; • Establishes and maintains relations with governments, state institutions, regional organizations, national human rights institutions, the diplomatic community, civil society, academic and research communities, the private sector and the media for the promotion and protection of human rights; • Builds and maintains cooperation with other United Nations entities, including Resident Coordinator and the UNCT to promote and ensure the integration of human rights in their work; organizes regular meetings with the heads of agencies and programmes with the view of adopting UN human rights-based strategies in the country; • Participates, where relevant to Colombia, in inter-agency coordination bodies such as the Executive Committee on Peace and Security; • Ensures the timely preparation and presentation to headquarters of reports on the activities of the Office and on achievement of the objectives set in the mandate, including an annual report; • Identifies fundraising opportunities and organizes meetings with donors and major partners to update them on the human rights situation and on the activities of the Office; 3) Reporting: • Leads the formulation and implementation of a communications strategy and interaction with international and local media, in close cooperation and consultation with the Communications Section in Geneva; • Reports to the High Commissioner through the Director of the Division on a regular basis on mandate implementation and relevant human rights developments and the work of the Office in the country; • Coordinates and fulfills the reporting obligations of the Office including for the human rights mechanisms; • Coordinates knowledge management efforts within including sharing of lessons learned and good practices; and • Performs other duties, including special projects, as requested by the Division Director or the High Commissioner.