Syria: Head of Mission

Apr 20, 2020 | Cooperazione Internazionale
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Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI) is an Italian humanitarian non-governmental organization founded in Milan in 1965. For more than 50 years of long-term support and constant presence in the field, COOPI has been engaged in breaking the cycle of poverty and responding to specific emergencies in numerous sectors, including Food Security, Humanitarian Aid, Health, Socio-Economical Services, Water and Sanitation, Human Rights, Education and Training, Migrations and Sustainable Energy.

COOPI is active with its humanitarian action in Syria (Damascus) since January 2017; started with an AICS-funded project in the FSL sector; then implemented a first assistance FS project in Eastern Ghouta promoted by OCHA. Currently COOPI is extending its presence in FSL and Protection. COOPI is currently implementing these projects: Food Security/WASH/PSS integrated approach programme in Eastern Ghouta (ECHO-funded); PSS activities and Protection services in Eastern Aleppo (UNHCR-funded). COOPI is aiming at extending its programme with particular focus to its commitment in the Food Security/Livelihood and Protection sectors. Negotiations in progress with several donors.

General context

After 7years of conflict, the security and humanitarian situation in Syria has become worse and worse. The conflict has caused significant internal displacement and a massive damage to homes, schools, hospitals and many other infrastructures, leaving millions of people in need of assistance. Among the most relevant figures to represent the concerns, the following ones are encountered: 13.1mln of persons in need; 5,6mln in acute need; 8.2mln of persons at risk of incurring in explosive hazards; 6,5mln of persons are food insecure, 30% of children out of school; 5,6mln refugees; 6,1mln Internally Displaced Persons.

Specific context

COOPI is based in Damascus and working in coordination with SARC (MOU signed in August 2016). COOPI was one of the first INGOs working in FSL in Eastern Ghouta after the March/April 2018 crisis. The FSL are aiming to bring first assistance (hot meals distribution) and resilience empowering (e.g. gardening and poultry) by an integrated approach (with PSS and WASH). In Eastern Aleppo COOPI is managing together with partners a satellite centre delivering PSS activities and it’s about to activate one more.

Main Responsibilities

The Head of Mission (HoM) provides leadership and strategic direction of COOPI’s operations in Syria, in collaboration with the Regional Coordinator, and is responsible for the implementation and development  of the country programme in line with COOPI’s organisational and country strategy, policies and procedures. The HoM is also responsible for the management and capacity building of the staff, securing donor funding and to represent the organisation to the government, donors, and other appropriate bodies – including clusters, UN agencies and the media.

S/he is responsible of the following activities:

  • Strategy and planning: s/he verifies and proposes to the Area Manager the intervention priorities to consolidate the organization’s opportunity to be more involved in the country; s/he contributes to the definition of the Country Strategy in collaboration with the Area Manager and proposes the country planning (projects and coordination).
  • Programme extension: s/he coordinates the elaboration, writing and documents’ preparation for presenting new projects, referring to the Area Manager and the headquarters support offices.
  • Economic and financial management: s/he is responsible for the country’s economic result; s/he supervises the financial management in collaboration with the Country Administrator and ensures – through the administrative function – that all financial reporting deadlines and donor/COOPI’s procedures are respected; s/he participates to the projects/coordination budget preparation. He/she has the signature for all COOPI’s bank accounts in the country.
  • Country office management: s/he is responsible for all different aspects related to the country office management: economic and financial situation, local regulations, office organization charts, logistics, local and expatriate personnel management, in conformity with the organization’s guidelines; s/he guarantees the respect of the country’s legislation and administrative regulation.
  • Safety: s/he is responsible for the expatriate staff security, for the correct implementation and respect of the general security rules.
  • Staff management: s/he is responsible for the local staff management; s/he participates and supports the Area Manager and the Human Resources office in the selection of the expatriate staff; s/he coordinates and monitors the country’s expatriate staff management; s/he is responsible to supervise the preparation of projects reports and all the monitoring documents requested by the central headquarters and by the donors.

Requirements

Essentials

  • Advanced degree in International Education, International Development, Health and Nutrition or a related field or equivalent work;
  • Minimum 5 years experience in the humanitarian field and in a similar position, with a track record of success and results achieved;
  • Experience of working on one or more among the main donors, with priority to ECHO, UNHCR, AICS, OCHA, USAID-FFP and WFP;
  • Experience of working within an insecure environment with responsibility for security planning, monitoring and management;
  • Proficiency in written and spoken English;
  • Computer literacy, with high proficiency in the use of standard office software applications (e.g. Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint).

Soft skills

  • Ability to organize a mission in a comprehensive way (logistics, programme, reporting, staff management);
  • Ability to organize work efficiently and deliver assignments in a timely manner often under time constraints;
  • Ability to conduct sectorial analysis and to understand and transform into possible proposal the policies and strategies of the donors;
  • Strong analytical and practical problem-solving skills;
  • Very good inter-personal and writing communication skills;
  • Institutional relations management and cultural context understanding.

Others

  • Knowledge of Arabic;
  • Previous experience with an international humanitarian NGO in a similar context.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the application closing date, once a sufficient number of applications have been received.