Desired start date: ASAP
Duration of the mission: 12 months
Location: Caracas, Venezuela
ABOUT US
SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL (SI) is an international humanitarian aid association which, since more than 40 years, has been providing assistance to populations affected by armed conflicts and natural disasters by meeting their basic needs for food, water and shelter. Particularly committed to the fight against diseases linked to unsafe water, the leading cause of death in the world, SI’s interventions provide expertise in the field of access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene promotion, but also in the essential area of food security and livelihoods. Present in some twenty countries, the SI teams – 2500 people in total, made up of expatriates, national staff, permanent staff at HQ, and a few volunteers – intervene with professionalism and commitment while respecting cultural norms.
ABOUT THE MISSION
Being present and operational in Venezuela since the end of 2019, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL initially started working in Caracas, but later launched WASH activities in the city of Barquisimeto, Lara State, then expanding to Falcon, Sucre and Portuguesa states. A FSL activity was initiated in Barquisimeto in 2021. Since then, the mission grew steadily on Falcon and Sucre State, opening a sub-base in Punto Fijo and strengthening its relationship with our main local partner. While projects remain centered on Wash and FSL, protection and health components are progressively added either directly or through consortium and/or partnerships.
ABOUT THE JOB
General objective:
The Country Director is SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL’s official representative in a country. S/He is in charge of the smooth running of the mission. S/He proposes mission strategy, according to the geopolitical and humanitarian context, and ensures its implementation. S/He monitors projects, ensuring that they are progressing in accordance with the SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL charter and complying with internal and contractual procedures. S/He mobilizes the material and financial resources necessary for the programs to run effectively and supervises the administration of these resources. S/He coordinates the teams in place and ensures their security on the mission. S/He is the direct liaison for SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL HQ.
Main tasks:
Coordination and strategic orientation
Relevance and operational quality / operations monitoring
Resource management
Human Resource Management
Security
Relationships with financial donors / fund-raising
Internal and external communication
Representation
Specific stakes and challenges:
Leading a small but growing mission, the future CD must be ready to work in an atypical context requiring a good understanding of the South American and Venezuelan culture as well as partnership mechanisms. Given the nature and origin of the humanitarian/development needs and brings its support through local partners. The mission and all INGOs in general face a general shortage of good data. There is a need to navigate context issues, develop modalities for operations, provide framing and support to bases, building team dynamic and reinforce procedures.
If confirmed during the first quarter of 2023, the CD will also supervise the remaining activities of our mission in Colombia until its closure.
Priorities for the 2/3 first months:
Enhance organization of the Coordination team including field teams
Lead the “localization” process aiming at progressively replacing key expatriate position by local staff.
Strengthen donor linkages, initiate new contacts for new strategic alliances in a competitive funding market.
Reinforce coordination and complementarity strategy with health, protection and education partners. Local and international.
Support the team to switch (progressively) from a humanitarian centered approach to a more developmental way of thinking projects, set-ups, processes and ways of working.
Optional: If confirmed, take over the supervision of SI Colombia activities until the closure of the mission. This would probably require one field visit per month during a semester.
YOUR PROFILE
Experience:
Min. 5 years of humanitarian and/or development experience in senior project co-ordination or a country director.
Successful experience in HR management (Both local and expatriates) and multi-sector programs.
Proven track record of expertise in the field of partnership (Local and consortium with INGOs/Local NGOs), localization and capacity to implement projects and navigate in a complex political, administrative, legal and diplomatic context.
Soft skills:
Ability to take decisions and work in autonomy
Diplomacy and smooth leadership skills
Understanding and commitment to SI’s mission and values
Able to work under pressure and highly motivated to meet populations’ humanitarian needs.
Language:
English and Spanishare mandatory
SI WILL OFFER YOU
A salaried post:
According to experience, a salary of between €3400 and €5400 (+ 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly) and a monthly Per Diem of USD 750.
SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL also covers accommodation costs and travel expenses between the expatriate’s country of origin and the place of assignment.
Vacation: During the assignment, a system of alternation between work and time off is implemented at the rate of 7 working days every three months (with 850 USD allocated by Solidarités). To these break periods, one additional rest day per month worked is granted.
Social and medical cover: Expatriates benefit from an insurance package which reimburses all healthcare expenses (including medical and surgical expenses, dental care and ophthalmological expenses, repatriation) and a welfare system including war risks. Essential vaccination and antimalarial treatment costs are refunded.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Do you recognize yourself in this description? If yes, please send us your CV and cover letter!
Please note that CV-only applications will not be considered, and that the vacancy may close before the deadline.
Thank you for your understanding.
To learn more about Sl: www.solidarites.org
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Solidarités International (SI) est déterminé à prévenir et à combattre tout type d’abus – tout acte d’exploitation, d’abus et/ou de harcèlement sexuels (SEAH) à l’encontre des membres des communautés bénéficiaires ou de ses collaborateurs et collaboratrices, atteinte aux personnes et/ou aux biens, fraude, corruption, conflit d’intérêt non déclaré, financement d’activités portant atteinte aux droits de l’homme – qui pourrait être perpétré dans le cadre de ses interventions. SI applique une tolérance zéro à l’égard de tout type d’abus, particulièrement des actes de SEAH.
Solidarités International est un employeur équitable qui combat toute forme de discrimination. SI ne demandera jamais une rétribution quelconque en vue de participer à un processus de recrutement.
Solidarités International (SI) is determined to prevent and fight all type of abuse – all act of exploitation, abuse and/or sexual harassment (SEAH) against members of beneficiary communities or collaborators, fraud, corruption, violation of persons and/or property, funding of activities harmful to human rights – that could be perpetrated in the frame of its interventions. SI implements a zero-tolerance policy regarding acts of abuse, notably acts of SEAH.
Solidarités International is an equitable employer committed to find all forms of discrimination. SI will ever ask for any remuneration to take part in a recruitment process.