Head of Mission

Job Advertisement

Position Title: Head of Mission
Location: Damascus
Country: Syrian Arab Republic
Deadline Date: Not specified

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
COOPI Cooperazione Internazionale is an Italian secular and independent humanitarian organization that has been actively fighting against all forms of poverty since its establishment in 196

• With a mission to improve the world, COOPI operates in 33 countries across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. The organization focuses on both emergency and development projects, employing an average of over 240 expatriate staff annually, alongside national staff. COOPI's main institutional funders include the European Union (ECHO and INTPA), USAID, various UN agencies, the Italian Government, local authorities, and other European Governments. In Syria, COOPI has been active since 2016, responding to the protracted crisis and addressing the intensified needs arising from socio-economic challenges, the impacts of Covid-19, cholera outbreaks, and significant losses in the food production sector. The main office is located in Damascus, with additional field offices in Hama and Aleppo, where they implement programs funded by various donors such as UNHCR, OCHA, ILO, UNDP, and AICS.

Job Overview:
The Head of Mission (HoM) plays a crucial role in providing leadership and strategic direction for COOPI's operations in Syria. This position requires collaboration with the Regional Coordinator and entails the responsibility for implementing and developing the country program in alignment with COOPI's organizational and country strategy, policies, and procedures. The HoM is tasked with managing and building the capacity of the staff, securing donor funding, and representing COOPI to government entities, donors, and other relevant organizations, including clusters, UN agencies, and the media. The role demands a proactive approach to identifying intervention priorities, coordinating project proposals, and ensuring compliance with contractual obligations and donor procedures. The HoM must also oversee the economic and financial management of the country program, ensuring that all financial reporting deadlines are met and that the organization adheres to local regulations and administrative guidelines.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Head of Mission's responsibilities encompass a wide range of organizational and management tasks, including:

• Strategy and Planning: Proposing intervention priorities to the Regional Coordinator and contributing to the definition of the Country Strategy.
• Programme Extension: Leading the development and documentation of new project proposals.
• Visibility: Collaborating with the Communication and Fund-Raising office to enhance communication, awareness, and fundraising activities.
• Procedures: Monitoring project implementation to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and COOPI's management standards.
• Economic and Financial Management: Supervising financial management in collaboration with the Country Administrator and ensuring adherence to financial reporting deadlines.
• Country Office Management: Overseeing all aspects of country office management, including logistics and personnel management.
• Staff security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Security: Ensuring the safety and security of expatriate staff and implementing security protocols.
• Staff Management: Participating in the selection and management of local and expatriate staff.
• Reporting: Supervising the preparation of project reports and ensuring the transmission of official documents to headquarters. 1
• Institutional Relations: Managing relationships with institutional donors and representing COOPI in various forums to ensure quality project implementation and maintain the organization's reputation.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a university degree in relevant subjects and have a minimum of five years of relevant working experience. At least three years of demonstrated successful experience in international relief and development in a similar position is required. Strong verbal and written communication skills, negotiation skills, and the ability to multitask and organize effectively are essential. Experience in liaising with governmental and local authorities, international organizations, and NGOs is also necessary. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to work in stressful environments and under pressure, with experience in conflict-prone areas considered a plus. Proven capacity in team management is essential, along with skills in monitoring and evaluation, analysis" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">financial analysis, and strategic decision-making. Fluency in the English language and computer literacy are mandatory.

Educational Background:
A university degree in relevant fields is required for this position. This educational background should ideally align with the responsibilities of managing humanitarian operations and understanding the complexities of international development and relief work.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of relevant working experience, with at least three years in a similar role within international relief and development. Candidates should have a proven track record of effective leadership and management in challenging environments, particularly in conflict-affected regions.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position. Additional language skills may be advantageous, particularly in languages relevant to the region or the communities served by COOPI.

Additional Notes:
The job posting does not specify a deadline for applications, indicating that the organization reserves the right to close the vacancy once a sufficient number of applications have been received. It is noted that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted, and interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. The role is likely to be full-time, and COOPI may consider candidates for international recruitment.