Head of Mission, Venezuela

About Us

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organization that advances children's rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion, and discrimination—with girls being the most severely affected.

For over 85 years, we have rallied determined optimists to transform the lives of children in more than 80 countries. Working alongside children, young people, supporters, and partners, we tackle the root causes of the challenges vulnerable children face. We support children's rights from birth to adulthood, enabling them to prepare for and respond to crises. We drive systemic change in practice and policy at local, national, and global levels.

In Venezuela, Plan International responds to the humanitarian situation through a principled, partner-led model. Following the June 2026 earthquakes, our response has scaled rapidly. We work with trusted national and international partners to deliver vital interventions in child protection, education, health, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), shelter, and food assistance.

Learn more about our team and mission on the NGO Jobspot homepage.

Key Responsibilities

The Head of Mission provides strategic, organizational, and external leadership for Plan International’s operations in Venezuela. Key duties include:

• External Representation & Advocacy: Serve as the senior representative in Venezuela, establishing institutional credibility and strategic relationships with government authorities, UN agencies, international donors, diplomatic actors, civil society, and local partners.
• Strategic Leadership: Direct the country strategy and humanitarian response, guiding the transition from an emergency scale-up toward a sustainable, compliant, and locally anchored country presence.
• Operational & Financial Accountability: Oversee a complex multi-sector portfolio, ensuring robust partner assurance, financial stewardship, grant compliance, risk management, and cost recovery.
• Team Management: Lead, mentor, and safely develop a diverse, multidisciplinary, and geographically distributed team across program delivery, operations, finance, HR, safeguarding, and business development.
• Quality Assurance & Safeguarding: Ensure the highest standards of program quality, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL), and strict compliance with Plan International’s child safeguarding policies.

Requirements & Qualifications

We are seeking an experienced humanitarian leader who meets the following criteria:

• Senior Leadership Experience: Proven background as a Country Director, Head of Mission, Response Director, or equivalent senior executive role within an international humanitarian, development, or rights-based organization.
• Fragile Context Expertise: Demonstrated success leading humanitarian response and recovery operations in fragile, politically sensitive, or access-constrained environments.
• Programmatic Knowledge: Strong understanding of child-centered humanitarian programming, child protection in emergencies (CPiE), gender equality, inclusion, and localized partner-led delivery models.
• Operational Setup & Change Management: Experience establishing, transforming, or expanding country office operations, legal registrations, and remote or hybrid management structures.
• Financial & Donor Savvy: Outstanding financial management capabilities, including experience with portfolio budgeting, donor compliance, and resource mobilization with institutional donors.
• Language Skills: Professional-level written and verbal communication, negotiation, and influencing skills in both Spanish and English.

Salary & Benefits

Plan International is committed to offering a competitive, equitable compensation package designed for senior international leadership roles:

• Initial 6-month unaccompanied international contract with a strong possibility of extension.
• Full global relocation support and benefits.
• Comprehensive medical insurance, travel insurance, and safety provisions.
• Generous paid annual leave allowance.
• Robust duty of care support, including comprehensive safety briefings and secure field travel coordination.

How to Apply

To apply for the Head of Mission position in Caracas, please submit your updated CV and cover letter in English through our recruitment portal. Please note that applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a suitable candidate is identified.

Closing Date: Sunday, August 9, 2026

Plan International is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and child safeguarding. Pre-employment background checks, including the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, will be conducted for successful candidates.

Quick Job FAQ

What is the location of the Head of Mission role for Plan International?

The Head of Mission role is primarily based in Caracas, Venezuela, with extensive travel required to regional program areas, partner offices, and field coordination sites.

What are the key requirements for this Head of Mission vacancy in Venezuela?

Candidates need previous experience as a Country Director or Head of Mission, senior humanitarian leadership expertise, and professional fluency in both English and Spanish.

What is the contract duration and type for this position?

Plan International is offering an initial six-month unaccompanied contract with relocation support and the potential for extension based on performance and funding.

How does Plan International support diversity and safeguarding in recruitment?

We promote equal opportunities for all backgrounds and conduct strict pre-employment background checks, participating in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme to ensure child safeguarding.