venezuela - country director (m/f) - caracas

VenezuelaVENEZUELA - COUNTRY DIRECTOR (M/F) - CARACASOrganizationSolidarités InternationalPosted 4 Apr 2025 Closing date 3 Jun 2025Beginning of contract : 15/06/2025Duration : 1 yearLocalisation : CaracasSOLIDARITES 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 26 countries, the SI teams – 3200 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 MissionAs many other INGOs, SI started in 2019 and managed to become a recognised stakeholder mainly in the field of wash and food security with interventions in Caracas, Flacon, Lara and Sucre over the last years. In 2025, SI is operation in 5 states with two permanent bases and one coordination : Caracas, ine base in Puerto Ordaz (Bolivar), one base in Carupano (Sucre) and with WASH activities in Sucre, Bolivar, Delata Amacuro, Tachira and Apure. Since the end of the FSL activities, SI only operates in the WASH sector with a wide range of activities : Wash in Health, access to water and emergency responses, community based approach, rehabilitation etc. SI operates in partnership with other INGOS (PUI, IMC, MdM) and local organisations. It is funded by different international donors.General ObjectiveThe Country Director is Solidarités International's official representative in a country. He / She oversees the smooth running of the mission. He / She proposes mission strategy, according to the geopolitical and humanitarian context, and ensures its implementation once it has been validated. He / She monitors projects, ensuring that they are progressing in accordance with the Solidarités International charter and complying with internal and contractual procedures. He / She mobilizes the material and financial resources necessary for the programs to run effectively and supervises the administration of these resources. He / She coordinates the teams in place and ensures their security on the mission. He / She is the direct liaison for Solidarités International's HQ.The main challengesSI Venezuela, as many other stakeholders is impacted by the profound humanitarian financial crisis, and is therefore reshaping its operations in the country. The new Country Director will most probably hold two different roles : CD + Program Coordinator or CD + Field Coordinator. The mission and HQ are currently working on the a new organisation chart (April 25).Main Responsibilities And PrioritiesSecurityServe as main focal point for the mission for critical incidents.Liaise with security national authorities and other stakeholders (INGOs, NGO Forum, UN).Ensure security procedures and analysis are regularly updated.Brief new staff on security context of the country and the mission.Maintain overview of the security context by studying the daily, weekly, and quarterly security analysis from relevant organizations (INSO, NGO Forum).External outreachServe as main point of contact for strategic decisions with donors, UN, NGO Forum or other NGOs.Keep awareness of relevant donors and their funding priorities.Maintain regular communication with the donors.Represent SI in director level fora.Coordination with HQEnsure that desk is informed of the situation of the mission through regular updates and sharing of the monitoring tools as well as regular calls with desk manager.Request approvals from HQ on decision requiring decision above his / her level.Team managementMonitor the performance of his / her team directly managed.Ensure regular meetings with the directly managed team.Appraisal of team members and ensure relevant documentation for external audits and audit report archiving.Annual strategyLead the exercise of defining the annual strategy.Ensure the application of the strategy throughout the new proposals.Review the fulfillment of strategic goals.Strategic managementLead the Coordination team in adhering to the strategy as well as maintaining the sufficient functional setup of the whole mission.Make strategic decisions influencing the direction of the mission, in discussion with HQ and coordination team.Maintain overview of the security and funding context of the country as well as situation of the mission (financial, HR, logistics) to inform the strategic decisions.Coordination within the missionLead the coordination between coordination departments and bases through regular meetings with coordinators.Lead weekly Senior Management Team Meeting.Ensure that mission monitoring tools are updated and shared on regular basis.Keep an overview of the gaps and needs in multiple locations and departments.Priorities for the 2/3 first monthsIn this context, the main priorities for the Country Director will be :Put in place the new organisation chart (Coordination and new bases) and precisely redefine ways of working, roles and responsibilities as some positions will be made redundant.Fundraise and develop new project proposals with the support of the field teams and the coordination.Closely monitor the implementation of the ongoing projects to make sure they reach SI standards in terms of quality and relevance.Keep on building the staff capacities to progressively put in place the "subsidiarity" strategy as designed by HQ.Draft a country strategy for 2026.Monitor the political and security environment.Support the creation of a local structure to become the legal SI representative body in the country.A Salaried PositionAccording to experience, starting from EUR 3740 gross per month (3400 base salary + 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly) and a monthly Per Diem of USD 750.SI also covers accommodation costs and travel expenses between the expatriate's country of origin and the place of assignment.Breaks: 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 a USD 850 break allowance, allocated by SI). To these breaks periods, SI grants one (1) additional rest day per month worked.Insurance package: Expatriates benefit from an insurance package which refunds 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.Living ConditionsCaracas has an average elevation of about 900 m from the sea level and the annual average temperature is approximately 24°C which makes it extremely pleasant to live in. The office and accommodations are in a residential area and tree-lined streets walkable. The area proposes a wide range of restaurants and bars to enjoy and culture life is very active in the city. Phone and Internet networks are functional.Contribution to individual housing possible or guest house.Security ConstraintsThe security context is complex in Venezuela but is overall considered as calm with, however, criminal risks in specific areas. The authorities have a strong presence throughout the country and are very wary about international organizations. It is important to remain calm and to ensure good communication. The context of living in Caracas is good. It will be necessary to remain vigilant to the good respect of security rules especially while travelling to remote areas and/or specific areas of Caracas.Nonetheless, within the limitation of the safety minimum requirements, one can easily enjoy living in Caracas, weekends and/or vacations in other areas including specific coastal cities. There is a vibrant expatriate community in the capital.Education / academic backgroundGraduate degree and/or post-graduate degree in Humanitarian Affairs, international development, or related career; or equivalent field experience.Experience in the humanitarian sector: 3-4 yearsExperience in a similar position: 3-4 yearsSpecific Skills And ExperienceTechnical skillsTechnical skills in water, hygiene and sanitation.Network coordination/animation and leadership skills.Analytical and projection skills.Transversal skillsWriting and information dissemination skills.Excellent interpersonal skills, adaptability to different interlocutors.Strategic vision and responsive to changing circumstances.LanguageSpanish oral and written.English oral and writtenDo you recognize yourself in this description? If yes, please send us your CV and cover letterPlease 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 SI: www.solidarites.org
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