Cooperative Director

The Cooperative for rural development of Al Aizarieh (“Jerusalem Hills”) was established in 2010 by a group of women united in order to address their economical and social needs by creating income-generating activities. The cooperative as of today counts 5 board members, whereas 12 people are part of its general assembly. Its staff includes a salesman, a quality controller, an accountant and 5 permanent workers. It is a for-profit cooperative, working as a social business for the benefit of the women of Al Aizarieh and its surroundings.

The Jerusalem Hills cooperative is producing high quality sweet and salty vegetarian products from natural fresh material harvested from the land of Palestine and based on traditional recipes and know-how. Its flagship products include a range of jam and labaneh that are distributed in about 70 salespoints in the West Bank. The cooperative implements its activities together with a range of partners, including International Non-Governmental Organizations.

The main objectives of the cooperative and of its partners are to develop the sales of the cooperative and its quality control in order to reach a break-even point allowing its complete autonomy within a period of 2 years.

For that purpose, the cooperative is currently recruiting a director with consistent knowledge of the food-processing business sector, a strong interest in the development of sales, and consistent management capacity. His mission will be to structure the cooperative and ensure its development and economic sustainability. This will include:

• Establish a 5 years business plan, in coordination with the board and the cooperative’s partners
• Develop the sales of the cooperative in the West Bank and in Jerusalem
• Increase consistently the internal quality and management control system
• In coordination with the board, renovate and structure the governance model of the cooperative, with the view to place the workers at the center of the decision-making process
• Implement consistent internal procedures for the management of human resources, procurements and logistics
• Meet the goals agreed with the cooperative’s partners, which include the development of its network with other cooperatives of the region and the implementation of food-processing trainings, together with the objectives mentioned above (sales, business, plan, quality control)

MISSION

1. Sales

• Elaborates and implements yearly sales objectives and action plan
• Analyses the market and, in coordination with the quality manager, enlarges the product offer of the cooperative
• Manages and plans the work of the salesman to ensure the timely delivering of goods to the cooperative’s salespoints
• Ensures professional and positive relations with current clients
• Develops the portfolio of clients
• Follows and controls the results
• Prepares and implements a plan to participate to key fairs and events

2. Production
   • Coordinates the work of the quality controller and monitors the implementation of the quality control system, according to a framework settled with the cooperative’s board partners
   • Monitors the timely buying of goods and raw material
   • Monitors the network of suppliers and the procurement of raw material and goods according to the cooperative’s requirements in terms of quality, origin and buying prices

3. Operational management
   • Implements administrative and logistical tasks (procurements, suppliers, contracts)

• Ensure the regular follow-up of indicators and of expected results of the cooperative and of its partners
• Monitors the work of the salesman, the quality controller and the cooperative’s workers
• Ensures that the cooperative works in accordance with Palestinian laws
• Ensures transparent relations with the cooperative’s partners through regular updates

4. Finance, accounting and budget

Under the supervision of the board and the cooperative’s partners, the director:

• Elaborates, pilots and updates a 5 years business plan, a yearly operational budget and quarterly financial review
• Sets yearly sales’ objectives allowing the cooperative to generate profits
• Coordinates with the accountant to ensure the monthly balance of accounts. In that respect, the director ensures that all bills, invoices, contracts and formal documents are readily available and recorded in the cooperative’s accounting system
• Coordinates the work of the accountant and the relation with the Ministry of Finance to ensure that audits are conducted in a timely manner, and that the cooperative abides by laws and regulations
• Ensures the sound use of funds, in accordance with the cooperative’s procedures
• Controls the sound standing of analytical accounting

• Prepares and transmits financial reports for the board and for financial partners (incurred and forecasted expenses)
• Participates to the preparation of financial audits with the accountant

5. Manages the cooperative’s team

• Recruits, manages and retains the team, within a logic of competency transfer
• Identifies staff with managerial capacities
• Animates the team, develops a sense of cohesion and ownership
• Settles objectives for each staff and evaluates them according to the cooperatives’ procedures, through regular interviews
• Embodies and transmits to its staff the values of the cooperative (social business dedicated to improving the lives of women through sustainable work)
• On the administrative side, ensures that files are up-to date, including contracts, payment of salaries and expenses
• Ensures that the administration of staff respects the requirements of the Ministry of Labor

6. Vision and strategy
   • In accordance with the requirements of the board and with the cooperative’s partners, the director settles a 5 years’ growth strategy
   • Elaborates a framework to place women workers at the center of the decision-making process and of the overall goals of the cooperative
   • Validates the strategy with the board and the cooperative’s partners
   • Updates the board on the implementation of the strategy, and of operational challenges incurred as well as needs in terms of decision-making process, through monthly board meetings

• Organizes regular meetings with the team and the cooperative’s board to pilot the work of the cooperative on operational issues
  • Identifies key institutions and organizations of the sector and builds links with them through partnerships
  • Prepares a communication strategy allowing the cooperative to gain in visibility, through social media, newsletters, and coordination with the media regarding key events (press releases)

In all the fields mentioned above, the director is expected to show strong managerial capacities, an ability to formalize information and report in a transparent, efficient and timely manner to the cooperative’s board and partners.

Jobs.ps, Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Academic background: Master’s degree/business management/economy. Remark: Rather than the academic background, the key factors that will be scrutinized will be the experience, skills and values.

Expérience :

• Experience of company management in the private sector (or in management of cooperatives, social businesses)
• Knowledge of Small and Medium enterprises
• Experience in sales
• Experience in food processing business

Skills :

• Understanding and interest in the management of a social business
• Capacity of analysis
• Strong managerial and organizational skills (human resources, processes, procedures, planification, follow-up of indicators)
• Strong financial skills (ability to build and pilot a budget, financial control, follow-up of accounting)
• Planification skills
• Good knowledge of English
• Driving license
• Capacity to work in Jerusalem

Expected qualities:

• Autonomy, rigor and organization
• Values suited to a social business for women workers : special eye on human beings, commitment and professionalism
• Leadership, multi-task and pragmatism
• Field oriented
• Taste for team work
• Creativity, flexibility

CONDITIONS

Statut: Fixed term contract under Palestinian Labor Law

Location: Al Aizarieh, with frequent travel in the West Bank and Jerusalem

Starting date: asap, for one year

Under the responsibility of: the cooperative’s board

Package:

• Salary according to profile
• Bonus according to sales, profits, and fulfilment of objectives
• Participation to health insurance  
• Home to work transportation covered
• Paid leaves according to Palestinian Labor Law

Send a resume and cover letter with the reference (COOP Director) to

[email protected]