COOPI recruits 01 Head of Mission

COOPI in Syria

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.

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 Easetrn 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.

The Head of Mission (HoM) provides leadership and strategic direction of COOPI’s operations in Syria, in collaboration with the HQ Area Manager, 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. The HoM reports directly to the HQ Area Manager. The position is based in Damascus (with possible filed visits, when needed and possible).

Main Responsibilities

Strategy and planning

• He/she verifies and proposes to the Area Manager the intervention priorities to consolidate the organization’s opportunity to be more involved in the country;
• He/she contributes to the definition of the Country Strategy in collaboration with the Area Manager and proposes the country planning (projects and coordination).

Programme extension

• He/she 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

• He/she is responsible for the country’s economic result;
• He/she 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;
• He/she participates to the projects/coordination budget preparation. He/she has the signature for all COOPI’s bank accounts in the country.

Country office management

• He/she 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;
• He/she guarantees the respect of the country’s legislation and administrative regulation.

Safety

• He/she is responsible for the expatriate staff security, for the correct implementation and respect of the general security rules.

Staff management

• He/she is responsible for the local staff management;
• He/she participates and supports the Area Manager and the Human Resources office in the selection of the expatriate staff.
• He/she coordinates and monitors the country’s expatriate staff management.
• He/she is responsible to supervise the preparation of projects reports and all the monitoring documents requested by the central headquarters and by the donors.

Requirements

Essential

• 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).

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 will be an asset;
• Previous experience with an international humanitarian NGO in a similar context will be an asset.