Country Representative, Venezuela

Description - Job Purpose: CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) is a crisis response organization that brings immediate aid and recovery to underserved communities across the globe. Our mission is simple: save lives and strengthen communities impacted by or vulnerable to crisis. We are seeking a highly external, relationship-driven Country Representative to lead CORE’s presence in Venezuela. Based in Caracas, this is CORE’s senior-most in-country leader and public face — accountable for country strategy, external representation, government and donor relationships, the legal and operational establishment of CORE in country, and the growth of a funded, well-run portfolio that extends beyond the immediate earthquake response. The role is deliberately external and forward-looking. Beyond delivering the current response, the postholder is expected to build the relationships, credibility, and institutional positioning that serve CORE well past this emergency and beyond Venezuela — with institutional donors, DHR, UN agencies, INGO peers, regional bodies, and government counterparts whose reach is regional or global. Relationships built here are important to CORE’s global work; The postholder will spend most of their time in the field and in coordination and donor forums. Day-to-day program delivery and internal operations are led by the Deputy Response Lead, allowing the Country Representative to focus on strategy, positioning, funding, partnership growth, government relations, and the safety and wellbeing of the team. CORE’s Venezuela portfolio includes cash assistance, shelter, and debris removal. The Country Representative will represent this work while helping guide future programming. Relevant technical experience is preferred. This is a full-time, fixed-term position for an initial three-month contract, with the possibility of extension based on programmatic needs and funding. The position requires rapid mobilization and relocation to Caracas; candidates must be prepared to be based in country for the duration of the contract. Main Responsibilities: Country Strategy & Positioning • Own and drive CORE’s Venezuela country strategy — setting direction, priorities, sectoral focus, and positioning, and adapting as needs and funding evolve. • Translate needs assessments and field realities into a clear strategic case for CORE’s role, comparative advantage, and growth in country. • Plan deliberately for the transition from emergency response to a sustained, funded country presence — including what CORE should stop, continue, and start. • Feed country-level insight into CORE’s wider regional and global strategy, flagging where Venezuela experience, capability, or relationships could open doors elsewhere. Funding, Partnerships & Business Development • Proactively identify and pursue funding opportunities — institutional donors, pooled funds, foundations, multilaterals, and private philanthropy — and relay them to HQ Development quickly, with the context needed to act. • Build a country funding pipeline with a realistic view of timing, competition, and CORE’s win probability; work with HQ to prioritize where to invest bid effort. • Contribute directly to proposal and concept-note development, shaping program design, consortium composition, positioning, and donor fit. • Cultivate donor relationships whose decision-making sits regionally or globally, so that engagement in Venezuela also strengthens CORE’s standing with those funders in other contexts. • Identify and develop partnerships — local and national organizations, INGO peers, private sector, and academic or technical institutions — including consortium roles that raise CORE’s profile and eligibility. External Representation & Coordination • Serve as CORE’s authorized representative in Venezuela with government, donors, the UN system, and the wider humanitarian community. • Pursue seats and leadership roles in coordination structures (cluster co-lead, working group chair, or NGO forum membership) where these strengthen CORE’s influence and visibility. • Ensure CORE is visible, known, and well-regarded across the response architecture, and work with HQ Communications on country messaging, media engagement, and donor-facing visibility. • Lead civil-military coordination — maintain principled, clearly bounded engagement with Venezuelan military and civil-defense actors involved in the response and safeguarding CORE's independence, neutrality, and humanitarian access. • Build and maintain strong relationships with key contacts — institutional donors (including former BHA/USAID and other funders), UN and INGO leadership, government officials, and civil-society actors. • Follow through diligently on commitments, introductions, and leads. Program Operations • Lead the establishment and maintenance of CORE’s legal presence in country — registration, permits, MoUs with relevant ministries and authorities, and any renewals or reporting obligations. • Establish and oversee the country office and its administrative, procurement, and logistics infrastructure, in coordination with HQ Operations. • Uphold humanitarian principles, safeguarding/PSEA, anti-fraud, anti-trafficking, data protection, and donor compliance across all CORE activity in country. • Ensure sanctions, counter-terrorism, and due-diligence requirements are understood and met, escalating grey areas to HQ rather than resolving them unilaterally. · Hold overall accountability for the country portfolio’s delivery, quality, safety, and reputation. • Oversee country budgets and financial management — supported by the Finance & Admin Officer and HQ Finance — ensuring sound stewardship, donor compliance, accurate forecasting, and value for money. • Ensure strong coordination between the country office and HQ (Development, Communications, Partnerships, Programs, Finance, HR, Security, and Logistics). • Hold overall accountability for safety and security of CORE staff, assets, and operations in