Job Details

Save the Children International has an exciting opportunity for a Country Director to join our Venezuela Country Office.

 
Team Purpose 

The LAC Regional Senior Leadership Team (RSLT) forum is composed of the Regional Director, Country Directors, and key Business Partners who work together to provide strategic direction, foster alignment across offices, and ensure the effective implementation of regional priorities. The RSLT serves as a leadership and coordination body that supports informed decision-making on operational and programmatic matters, guided by both local realities and the Global and Regional Objectives of Save the Children. It also ensures alignment on global and regional topics and discussions, including strategy, priorities, annual planning, organizational transformation, and the broader movement agenda. 

The RSLT promotes collaboration, shared accountability, and continuous learning among country offices in Latin America and the Caribbean. It plays a key role in advancing regional strategies, strengthening leadership capacities, and ensuring coherence in the implementation of global organizational policies and initiatives across the region, in line with Save the Children’s mission to ensure that every child survives, learns, and is protected. 

 
Role Purpose

As a member of the Latin America and the Caribbean Senior Leadership team, you will have shared accountability for Save the Children’s international development and emergency programming in the region.  The role holder will have direct accountabilities for all aspects of the Venezuela Country office. The Country Director will continue to strengthen the management of the country, whilst also delivering Save the Children’s strategy within the country through: 

• Advocating for the rights of children 

• Delivering quality programmes for children, families, and vulnerable communities  

• Ensuring world-class stewardship of resources from Members and their donors  

• Foster donor diversification and sustainability of the country office operation  

• In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly. 

 
Job Title: Country Director, Venezuela

Reports To: Regional Director, Latin America, and the Caribbean 

Work Pattern: on-site

Contract Length: National contract, 12 month FTC - renewable annually

Grade: M5

Location: Caracas, Venezuela 

Time Zone: GMT -4

Right to Work: The successful candidate must possess the unrestricted right to work in their current or preferred location for the duration of employment.  

Language Requirements: Spanish and English  

International Travel Requirements: Occasionally < 10%

 
Principal Accountabilities 

As a member of the Regional Senior Leadership Team, contribute to strategic development and delivery of international programming, in both humanitarian and development contexts, in line with the Save the Children mandate, strategy and theory of change.   

1- Deliver transformational change in-country, including: 

• Developing and delivering improved outcomes for children, through the delivery of the Save the Children global programme strategy and country strategic plan. 

• Engaging Save the Children staff, partners, and other stakeholders to create real shared ownership and collaboration. 

• Working to develop local solutions to country issues in close partnership with local and international actors and in ways which promote a net shift of power to local and national actors. 

• Creating an environment of continuous learning, where staff are encouraged and supported to grow and develop, and are willing to be held accountable for their commitments. 

• Ensuring that the focus of the organisation remains on the rights and needs of children, families, and vulnerable communities  

2- Be accountable, and develop the capacity of, mentor and hold staff accountable for:  

• Developing strong country strategy and operational plans that identify and address significant issues facing children and are in line with Save the Children’s global strategy and theory of change. 

• Preparing for and implementing rapid and effective responses to major emergencies affecting children, including building relationships with key humanitarian and development decision-makers and local and national actors.   

• Delivering programmes and advocacy in line with the country strategy, operational plans, budgets, and Save the Children Member requirements that result in significant impact for children. 

• Developing and maintaining good relations with Save the Children Members and their donors. 

• As a leading INGO addressing children’s issues in the country, serve as a leader on localization, sharing capacity with local partners and government stakeholders. 

• Developing and maintaining efficient and effective operating systems and ensure compliance with all Save the Children Quality Framework for Country Office Management, with a particular focus on risk mitigation, child safeguarding, fraud prevention, and safety & security management. 

• Developing and coaching staff to optimise their potential in pursuit of Save the Children’s objectives. 

• Contributing to global knowledge and learning in Save the Children  

• Promoting and ensuring the implementation of the diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy at organisational and programme level, ensuring that Save the Children is an inclusive organisation and promotes gender-transformative processes. 

3- Ensure the continued financial and programmatic sustainability of Save the Children in Venezuela by: 

• Work closely with SC Members to develop a strong and strategic portfolio of awards designed to further the country strategic plan.
• Engage with local and international donors to identify funding opportunities and to project a stable, efficient and competent organization to partner with.
• Develop and support the implementation of a strong resource mobilization strategy that furthers the country strategic plan.
• Develop networks and partnerships with national/regional/international institutions in the Country and promote collaboration and localization.
• Represent the Save the Children in ways that strengthen the brand and communicate SC’s message.

4- Advocacy and Representation

• Advocate for the rights of Venezuelan children and their families locally and regionally.
• Lead on presenting SC’s activities and achievements to donors, government, and other policy makers. 
• Ensure that we have the right staff participating in the right meetings to maximise our influence among donors and government departments as we work towards effective implementation of positive policy change.

5- People

• This role/ holder will be expected to strive for a high level of professional satisfaction and well-being among CO staff. 
• Line manages and mentors the Senior Management Team 
• Ensure that talent is developed, and high performance is recognized across the CO.
• Ensure that compensation for all staff is based on SC principles of equity and fairness.
• Strive for an organizational environment characterized by kindness and fairness and encourage the consistent promotion of staff well-being.

6- Audit, Compliance and Fraud

• Save The Children is committed to being an effective steward of funds we receive from our various donors. We also maintain a 'zero tolerance' policy toward fraudulent, dishonest, and corrupt practices. The Country Director is accountable for the implementation of and compliance with all aspects of the Anti-Fraud policy.
• Ensure compliance with all host government requirements in relation to registration, taxation, labour law, auditing, fraud etc.
• Ensure that internal and external audits are undertaken in a timely and efficient manner in line with policy and back donor and host government requirements.
• Ensure follow-up on recommendations arising out of audits of operations and take appropriate actions where necessary.
• Ensure all incidents of fraud are rapidly investigated, with decisive action taken and lessons learnt applied immediately and sustainably.

7- Security Management

• Save the Children is committed to minimizing safety and security risks to staff and ensuring staff are given training, support and information to reduce their risk exposure while maximizing the impact for children. Therefore, the Country Director is accountable for the implementation of and compliance with all aspects of the Safety and Security policy
• Ensure the Country office has security plans and procedures in line with policies, systems, and guidelines.
• Maintain, document and communicate up to date analyses of the changing security context.
• Ensure all staff adhere to security guidelines.

8- Child Safeguarding 

• Children who come into contact with Save the Children as a result of our activities must be safeguarded to the maximum possible extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of child abuse, sexual exploitation, injury and any other harm. 
• The Country Director is accountable for the implementation of and compliance with all aspects of the policy. 
• Understand and fulfil responsibilities in achieving compliance with Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding Policy standards. 
• Provide overall leadership and oversight to the development of country-level child safeguarding systems with the aim of achieving full compliance with the Child Safeguarding Policy’s criteria.

 
Experience and Skills 

Essential 

1. Experienced leader who has held a senior position in a relatively complex organisation.
2. Experience working in a variety of cultures and countries, including experience both inside and outside Venezuela.
3. Experience holding Country Director roles or similar positions
4. Demonstrable experience implementing programs through partners.
5. Knowledge and experience in children's rights issues in Latin America, specifically in Venezuela. 
6. Proven ability to manage and motivate self and others to respond to crisis, requiring swift action and rapid changes in priorities including through emergency management and humanitarian responses.
7. Strategic thinker who is comfortable with developing ambitious business strategies and has a good track record of delivering on these.
8. Evidence of identifying and building strategic and effective business networks at a senior level, which have resulted in clear business benefit for the organisation including resource mobilization and development of new funding sources.
9. Highly developed political acumen and ability to navigate diverse political situations 
10. Fluency in Spanish and English is essential
11. Track record in developing and empowering staff. 

Desirable 

• Track record in recruiting, leading, and developing high-calibre senior staff with a range of backgrounds and expertise.
• Strong track record in building high-performance teams and future successors/leaders
• Innovative approach to solving a range of highly complex issues and galvanising buy-in to the solutions at all levels

 
Education & Qualifications 

• Master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field

 
Working at Save the Children International 

Save the Children is the world's leading organisation for children, employing ~25,000 staff. We save children's lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their potential. Through our work in 116 countries, we put the most deprived and marginalised children first. 

We know that great people make a great organisation, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued. 

The work here is challenging but is also immensely rewarding. At Save the Children, you will be in good company, working with talented, like-minded individuals who are determined to ensure that all children survive, learn, and are protected. Your contribution will help ensure children's voices are heard at the highest levels, and that we achieve our global strategy, Ambition for Children 2030, and reach every last child. 

 
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Equal Opportunities 

DEI is core to our vision, values and global strategy. Save the Children is committed to creating a truly diverse, equitable and inclusive organisation, and one which will support us in our vision to ensure every child attains the right to survival, protection, development, and participation. 

We are committed to equal employment opportunities, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality, disability, marital or civil partnership status, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, caring or parental responsibilities, age, or beliefs and religion. We are committed to diversifying our staff to better represent the communities we serve and actively welcome underrepresented groups to apply. 

Reasonable adjustments will be made should any candidate invited to interview require this. 

 
Application Information 

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application. A full copy of the role profile can be found here via the job listing. It is recommended that you save a copy of the role profile as it will no longer be available after the advert closes. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the job advert may be closed earlier than advertised subject to the volume of suitable applicants. Please submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.  Due to the high volume of applications we receive, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Candidates who are successfully shortlisted should expect to hear from us within 2 weeks of the advert deadline. 

Our recruitment process: 

Application review by our recruiting team based on your CV and cover letter 

Two-stage competency-based interviews with the hiring team 

Some recruitment may include an additional assessment or case study stage, or a third-stage interview 

If successful, you will receive a conditional offer of employment, followed by your contract subject to passing background checks 

We need to keep children and adults safe so our selection process includes rigorous background checks and reflects our commitment to the protection of children and adults from abuse. All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our Code of Conduct and all policies and procedures relating to Anti-harassment, Health and Safety, Safeguarding, and DEI and Equal Opportunities. 

Save the Children does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.