Regional Director
Background
Co-operatives of the Americas, a region of the International Co-operative Alliance, serves as the cross-sector representative organization for co-operative enterprises in North, Central and South America. Its purpose is to expand the co-operative economy by promoting and developing cooperative enterprise. It is also a representative body whose membership spans the co-operative movement in the Region.
The Americas Region is one of four regions of the International Co-operative Alliance. It unites, promotes and develops the member organizations of the Alliance in the Region. It promotes and strengthens autonomous and viable co-operatives throughout the Region by:
• Serving as a forum for exchange of experience and a source of information on co-operative development, research, and statistics;
• Providing technical assistance for co-operative development;
• Collaborating with United Nations organizations in the Region and with other regional organizations.
Its activities include:
• Capacity and institutional building;
• Policy development, advocacy, lobbying, representation and networking;
• Knowledge management;
• Promotion and defense of the co-operative enterprise model;
• Organization of Regional Conferences/Summits;
• Innovation and social inclusion;
• Promotion of women and youth in co-operative development;
• Support of co-operative sustainability initiatives;
• Visibility actions through website, publications, bulletins, social media etc.
For more information go to www.ica.coop and www.aciamericas.coop.
Appointment and Accountability
The Americas Regional Director is appointed by and accountable to the Americas Regional Board and the Director-General of the International Co-operative Alliance.
The Regional Director will be responsible for ensuring that the business of the Americas Region is carried out in accordance with the Statement on Co-operative Identity, the Articles and Bylaws of the International Co-operative Alliance and the Rules of the Americas Region.
Management Role
The Regional Director will be responsible for:
• The appointment and management of regional staff;
• Carrying out work plans to fulfill the strategic plan of the Region, consistent with the global strategic plan;
• The development of the regional organization to meet the needs of its members;
• Maintaining the independence and impartiality of the Region in dealings with and between its members;
• The preparation of an annual budget and ensuring sound financial practices;
• Organizing the meetings of the Regional Board and ensuring that the highest standards of governance are in place as an exemplar for the co-operative movement;
• The organization of the Regional Assembly of its members;
• Maintaining and developing the relationship between the Region and the other components of the Alliance;
• Serving as a member of the global senior management team of the Alliance;
Remuneration
The salary, terms and conditions are will be in accordance with the relevant experience and skills for a senior level post.
Location
The location of the Regional Director is San José, Costa Rica. There is a requirement for regular regional travel and periodic travel outside of the Region.
Skills Requirements
The post of Regional Director requires an unusual breadth of skills. The Alliance is looking for someone who has most if not all of the following attributes:
• A university degree in a relevant field
• Excellent command of Spanish, both spoken and written; good command of English, both spoken and written.
• Good knowledge, both spoken and written, of other languages desireable, especially Portuguese and French;
• Minimum of 8 years experience of working in the field of development or management, preferably within the co-operative movement;
• A close understanding of the co-operative movement – its values, strengths and potential;
• A commitment to expanding the co-operative economy in the Region, and to defend and promote the seven co-operative principles and the co-operative enterprise model;
• Proven organizational, commercial, financial and leadership skills – sufficient for understanding and engaging with members who range in size from small to large cooperative organizations;
• Political and presentation skills – appropriate to a high profile role which involves engaging with politicians, business people and the media, at ministerial and regional level;
• Good networker with strong communication skills;
• Strong conceptual, analytical and report writing skills, having a keen eye for detail; creative, dynamic and with initiative.
• Ability to work in a multicultural team, excellent interpersonal skills;
• Ability to strictly meet deadlines and deliver results in a fast-changing environment.
Application process and recruitment schedule
Interested applicants should forward a copy of their resume with a covering letter outlining how their experience and skills match the key requirements of the post by 31 December 2016 to:
Director-General International Co-operative Alliance HRamericas@ica.coop