INTERSOS – Head of Mission – Venezuela/Colombia

INTERSOS sta selezionando un/a Head of Mission da inserire nella sua operatività in Venezuela e Colombia . Durata 12 mesi. Scadenza candidature 17/03/2023

INTERSOS is an independent humanitarian organization that assists the victims of natural disasters, armed conflicts and exclusion. Its activities are based on the principles of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equality of rights and opportunities, respect for diversity and coexistence, paying special attention to the most vulnerable people.

Terms of reference

Job Title: Head of Mission Venezuela/Colombia

Code: 57-5720

Duty station: San Cristobal, with frequent travels to Caracas, and field locations and with missions to Colombia

Starting date: 01/04/2023

Contract duration: 12 months

Reporting to: Head of Emergency Unit

Supervision of: 4 international staff + national staff

Dependents: Accompanied duty station

General context of the project

INTERSOS is a non-profit humanitarian aid organization that works to bring assistance to people in danger, victims of natural disasters and armed conflicts.

INTERSOS is register in Venezuela as a Local Civil Society Organization since November 2019. INTERSOS Venezuela Programme has focus on providing relief to the most vulnerable population in particular on Protection and Primary Health. INTERSOS Venezuela has started its operations in Venezuela within an funded ECHO consortium, supporting the implementation of protection and health activities in Venezuela and Colombia. In Venezuela, stand-alone activities started with a CP project within six hospitals in the state of Táchira, with the support of UNICEF and have been expanded in Tachira, Apure and Merida with an integrated health, nutrition and protection programme.​

General purpose of the position

The general purpose of the post is to represent INTERSOS in Venezuela and Colombia, ensuring the set up of the mission and the development and planning of INTERSOS program for Venezuela crisis in strict coordination with E-Unit team in HQ.

The HoM will be mainly based in Venezuela and will be supported by the programme coordinator that will be mainly based in Colombia.

Main responsibilities and tasks

Communication and representation

• Establish and maintain collaborative relations in Venezuela and Colombia with Local Authorities and Institutions, Donors, International Agencies, NGOs, partners and other stakeholders both in Venezuela and Colombia;
• Follow up, guarantee and monitor government recognition procedures for the organization in compliance with the host country formalities;
• Promote and seek networks and partnerships with other NGO working in the Venezuela crisis
• Proactively participate in relevant coordination and strategic meeting at, Caracas, San Cristobal and field level.
• Planning and implementation of project(s):
• In coordination with the Emergency Unit define country priorities according to the context and needs analysis. Monitor donor strategies and priorities for intervention in the country and evaluate, promote and develop new projects;
• Define strategic priorities for the development and set up of the mission structure;
• Continuously assess, analyse and evaluate new areas of intervention in Venezuela and in Colombia (especially in the bordering regions with Venezuela and Ecuador);
• Conduct frequent mission to the field in order to ensure proper activities supervision and coordination with stakeholders and with the authorities
• Plan the mission’s activities and verify their implementation; supervise, monitor and evaluate the implementation of projects also through periodic visits to the areas of operation;
• Approve project reports and interim and final financial reports and assume responsibility for presentation to donors
• Ensuring compliance with INTERSOS procedures (e.g. procurement of goods, works and services)

Information and reporting:

• Transmit information received from headquarters to field teams;
• Responsible for the continuity and quality of field-headquarters reporting;
• Prepare monthly reports (including humanitarian analysis) on INTERSOS operations in the country and on the development of the humanitarian situation

Finance:

• Coordinate with the Country Finance Coordinator on the economic and financial planning of the mission;
• With the support of the Country Administrator, ensure self-sufficiency and consistency of expenses, and assume responsibility for the mission funds management, including bank accounts;

Human Resources:

• Be ultimately responsible for the management of expatriate and national human resources:

For expatriate staff:

• Identification of human resources needs, development of job profiles, validation of the mission organisation chart, individual follow-up: support, advice and evaluation of the team (interim and end-of-assignment evaluation);
• Ensures regular evaluation by line managers.

For local staff:

• In coordination with headquarters and with the support of the Country Finance Coordinator and HR manager/Area Coordinator definition of the national staff management policy, ensuring that the mission’s internal rules and regulations are put in place.
• Recruit, Coordinate, guide and supervise the missions national core staff, and evaluate their performance;

Security:

• In collaboration of E-Unit, drafting and validation of mission security plans (capital and bases);
• Interaction on security issues in the country with headquarters (Security Referent) and with relevant actors;
• Final responsibility for all decisions concerning security.

Required profile and experience

Education

• Advanced university degree
• A first level university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Professional Experience

• At least 4 years of professional work experience as Head of Mission/Emergency Coordinator or other management/ coordination positions in humanitarian contexts.
• Knowledge of the regional coordination mechanism.
• Proven experience in the management of EU, UN, USAID and ECHO funds.
• Proven experience in the management of staff teams.
• Remote control experience is an asset
• Risk management knowledge is an asset
• Previous working experience and knowledge of the country and region is an asset

Professional Requirements

• Knowledge of the regional coordination mechanism.
• Proven experience in the management of EU, UN, USAID and ECHO funds.
• Remote control experience is an asset
• Risk management knowledge is an asset
• Ability to set high standards for quality of work
• Ability to analyze the regional dimension of the Syria situation
• Ability to analyze and integrate information from a wide range of sources
• Ability to define country and program strategies
• Ability to administer funds, logistics and human resources
• Mastery of IT tools (MS Office package, internet, email, etc.)

Languages

• Fluency in Spanish;
• Knowledge of English is required;
• Italian is a plus

Personal Requirements

• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to establish effective working relations with staff, beneficiaries and other stakeholders
• Excellent analytical skills
• ability to adapt to stressful environment and basic living conditions
• Ability to take initiative and work autonomously
• Ability to achieve results effectively, considering the need for speed, scale and quality
• Able to ensure quick quality delivery in stressful environment (stress-resilient)
• Ability to integrate and work well within multiethnic and multicultural teams
• Knowledge of Venezuela context especially of the bordering areas with Colombia (Tachira and Apure state)