Venezuela – Head of Mission At COOPI – Cooperazione Internazionale

COOPI is looking for a Head of Mission in Venezuela

Since 2019, COOPI has established a presence in Venezuela to assist the local population following the worsening of the country’s socio-economic crisis. As of July 2020, it has started a regional crisis response program that is implemented in consortium with Venezuelan organizations for the protection of vulnerable groups. In recent years, COOPI has expanded its interventions and is currently implementing projects with different donors in Miranda, Distrito Capital, Bolivar, Delta Amacuro and Sucre in protection (GBV, Child Protection, Human Trafficking and Smuggling), sexual reproductive health, WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene), school feeding, livelihoods (circular economy) and the environment. COOPI is currently implementing projects funded by COOPI Suisse, ECHO, INTPA, BHA and UN Agencies.

Job Description

Coordination, management and supervision of the work of COOPI and its local partners in the country, ensuring the training and support provided within the framework of ongoing programmes, in compliance with the procedures of COOPI, donors and legal frameworks of reference.

Areas of responsibility

Expected results

• Programs: seeking new opportunities and ensuring the implementation and monitoring of programs when funded by donors.
• Human resources: ensured internal management of contracted personnel and consultants.
• Operations: Ensures that operations are effectively defined and supervised (logistics, administration, programs), in accordance with local reality and security conditions.
• Fundraising: Identify and monitor programmatic opportunities complementary to those in progress and potential funding (institutional donors, United Nations agencies and the private sector).
• Partnerships: manages partnerships with local CSOs and international NGOs, with which to implement, identify/formulate consortium projects, the effective management of any partnership agreement and its development.
• Sectors: promotes the COOPI experience in the different groups that make up the humanitarian architecture in the reference country, in INGO forums in general, with the public and private sectors.

Main responsibilities and activities

• General coordination and supervision of ongoing programme activities.
• Constantly update sectoral and geographic priorities in line with the ever-changing humanitarian situation.
• Coordinate the organization, execution and formulation of needs assessments, in line with sectoral and geographic priorities.
• Supervise and coordinate the eventual identification and formulation of complementary project proposals, directly and/or in consortium with local or international partners.
• Represent and position the organization in the various coordination spaces, both with the international community and with national authorities, institutions and civil society.
• Support the identification, selection, monitoring and evaluation of the performance of human resources and consultants hired to implement the programs in the country.
• Properly supervise the legal and tax registration process in Venezuela.
• Periodic update of: Country Regulations, Security Plan, Operational Plan, Annual Strategic Planning Instrument;
• Supervision and monitoring of tasks and activities carried out by expatriate staff operating within the framework of the programs implemented in the country (in person and/or remotely).
• Drafting of execution documents for ongoing programmes (periodic operational plans and any integration, modification and/or extension; interim and final reports).
• Identify and monitor the economic and financial commitments necessary to carry out the planned activities (purchasing plan, expenditure planning and request for funds).
• Compilation and transmission of all additional information required by the Regional Coordination, the Regional Administration and/or the Headquarters (HQ).

Desired profile

ESSENTIALS

• Professional studies (minimum bachelor’s degree, desirable postgraduate or master’s degree) in Political Science, Foreign Relations, Human Rights, International Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid, Economic Sciences, Business Administration, Management of Non-Profit Entities and/or related fields
• Demonstrable experience of at least 5 years in project management for INGOs and/or companies abroad
• Experience in International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and/or related fields
• Previous experience with procedures for managing funds from institutional donors, UN agencies, and the private sector
• Inter-institutional and inter-agency coordination capacities (donors)
• Written and oral negotiation skills
• Excellent management and teamwork skills, both in person and remotely
• Ability to work in emergencies and under pressure , as well as in contexts with high complexity
• Interest, availability and experience working in multicultural environments and with multidisciplinary teams
• Flexibility, adaptability and willingness to move within the country
• Ability to work independently (organization, work planning, analytical development, synthesis)
• Respect for COOPI’s Vision and Mission and its charter of values
• Motivation, honesty, proactive and decisive attitude, common sense, discretion
• Capabilities in systematizing processes and preparing documents and reports
• Languages: Spanish and English
• Handling of computer tools (Microsoft Windows operating system) and office automation (Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

DESIRABLE

• Work experience and knowledge of internal procedures of COOPI and donors
• Previous work experience in the country and in the region
• Consortium work experience
• Languages: Italian desirable

COOPI reserves the right to close a recruitment before the announcement deadline. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis and the vacancy will be closed when filled. Thank you for your understanding.

COOPI Cooperazione Internazionale is a secular and independent NGO founded in Milan in 1965. It carries out development projects to contribute to the fight against poverty in particularly degraded areas and emergency programmes to support people affected by natural disasters or conflicts. COOPI is currently present in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean.