Administrative Officer Senior

Job Summary

The Administrative Officer Senior coordinates and provides advanced administrative support services to ensure responsive, effective, and efficient delivery of country program operations. The Administrative Officer Senior support the stewardship of CRS resources by overseeing assigned administrative processes related to general office support, stores and inventory, asset management, facilities, travel, logistics coordination, and liaison activities. The position is open to national staff and will be based in Damascus.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate assigned administrative support activities and resources to ensure timely, cost-effective, and quality service delivery for staff, visitors, offices, and guest house facilities.
• Monitor administrative service needs, including maintenance requests, office supplies, utilities, equipment, facilities support, and vendor payments, and follow up to ensure issues are addressed in a timely manner.
• Support implementation of administrative systems, processes, and procedures in line with CRS standards, donor requirements, local regulations, and internal control expectations.
• Oversee assigned stores, inventory, and asset management activities, including receipt, storage, records management, physical verification, tagging, stock reporting, and reconciliation of non-commodity items.
• Provide guidance and technical support to administrative support staff involved in stores, inventory, facilities, travel, liaison, and office services to promote accurate records, compliant processes, and quality service delivery.
• Coordinate travel and logistics support for staff and visitors, including documentation, hotel bookings, airport transfers, local transportation arrangements, and related service provider follow-up.
• Liaise with relevant service providers, vendors, landlords, clearing agents, and government offices on assigned administrative matters to help ensure required documentation, authorizations, and agreements are current.
• Monitor shipments, deliveries, and movement of goods for the CRS office and coordinate with relevant internal and external stakeholders to support timely receipt, clearance, documentation, and delivery.
• Help identify safety, security, and facility-related issues and ensure required administrative supplies, first aid materials, fire safety equipment, and related resources are available and functional.
• Prepare, review, and maintain administrative records, reports, trackers, and documentation related to assets, inventory, facilities, contracts, leases, travel, logistics, and other assigned administrative services.
• Recommend practical improvements to administrative procedures, documentation, tracking tools, and service delivery processes to strengthen efficiency, compliance, and stewardship.

Basic Qualifications 

• Associate degree in administration/management, Logistics and Procurement and Accounting from an accredited college or university. 
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in administrative support, office administration, logistics, procurement, asset management, inventory management, or related operational support functions.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Work experience with a local NGO

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities  

• Strong organizational and planning skills.
• Excellent communication skills with fluency in English.
• Excellent skills in communications, networking, negotiating and interpersonal 
• Results oriented and ability to work with minimum supervision 
• Proven level of integrity and honesty
• Ability to work with minimum supervision.
• Must be computer literate in Microsoft Office.

Required Languages: Proficiency in Arabic and English required

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel up to 20%. 

Supervisory Responsibilities: No

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality.  Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.  We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse.  The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.

CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people - especially children and vulnerable adults - to live free from abuse and harm.

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position. 

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

General Requirements

CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements.  All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.