Country Director Syria

Country Director Syria

Your mission

Strategic Leadership

• Provide overall strategic leadership and direction for Help's Syria program.

• Lead the implementation and regular review of the country strategy in close coordination with HQ.

• Drive the continued development and implementation of Help's localization approach across all program and operational areas.

• Identify strategic opportunities for program growth, innovation, and organizational development.

• Foster a culture of accountability, integrity, collaboration, and continuous learning and improvement, encouraging open feedback and a constructive approach to learning from mistakes.

• Ensure alignment between country operations and Help's global strategy, policies, and humanitarian principles.

 
Representation, External Relations & Fundraising

• Represent Help towards national and local authorities, donors, embassies, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, humanitarian coordination mechanisms, and other relevant stakeholders.

• Build and maintain strategic relationships that strengthen Help's visibility, credibility, and operational access.

• Lead donor engagement and identify new funding opportunities.

• Oversee development of high-quality project concepts and funding proposals with partners, the country team, and HQ.

• Promote Help's mission, values, and strategic priorities in all external engagements.

 
Localization & Partnership Management

• Lead the implementation and continuous development of Help's localization strategy in Syria.

• Foster equitable, transparent, and long-term partnerships with Syrian civil society organizations.

• Oversee partner identification, assessment, due diligence and capacity sharing

• Promote mutual accountability, shared ownership, and organizational learning.

• Support partners in strengthening organizational systems, program quality, and compliance capacities.

 
Programme Leadership & Quality Assurance

• Provide strategic oversight of all program activities implemented through local partners.

• Ensure timely, high-quality, and accountable program implementation.

• Oversee program planning, MEAL, procurement, financial management, visibility, and reporting.

• Promote evidence-based decision-making and adaptive management.

 
People Leadership & Country Office Management

• Develop, empower, and support the professional growth of the country team, fostering individual development, ownership, and high performance.

• Ensure effective communication and collaboration between departments, partners, regional structures, and HQ.

• Promote staff development and ensure performance management.

• Ensure effective operational management of the country team.

 
Financial, Compliance & Risk Management

• Provide overall leadership and accountability for country budgeting, financial planning, resource allocation, and financial performance.

• Ensure compliance with donor regulations, organizational policies, and legal requirements.

• Promote effective internal controls and proactive risk management.

• Ensure the effective implementation of safeguarding, PSEAH, and CFR mechanisms as well as anti-fraud and anti-corruption measures throughout the country program.

 
Safety & Security

• Ensure development, implementation, and regular review of security management systems.

• Promote informed operational decision-making based on evolving security developments.

• Safeguard the security and mental and physical well-being of staff, partner staff, and organizational assets.

Job Scope: 100%

Place: Damascus, Syria (with frequent travel within Syria)

Contract duration: Initially one year with the possibility of extension.

Reporting channel

HQ Programme Coordinator – Middle East & South-Central Asia

Your profile

Education

• Master's degree in International Humanitarian Action, Development Studies, International Relations, Political Science, or another relevant field.

• Additional technical qualifications are considered an asset.

Professional Experience

• Minimum ten years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian or development cooperation.

• At least seven years in a senior country leadership position within an international NGO.

• Proven experience of working through local implementing partners and leading localization processes.

• Experience managing multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.

• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with headquarters, regional support functions, and diverse international stakeholders in a complex organizational environment.

• Strong experience in donor relations and fundraising.

• Proven track record of developing successful project proposals for institutional donors (e.g. GFFO, BMZ, EU, KfW, UN agencies or similar)

Personal Competencies

• Strategic leadership and vision

• Integrity and sound judgement

• Excellent communication, representation and diplomatic skills

• Strong people leadership and team development skills 

• Cultural sensitivity

• Decision-making and problem-solving

• Ability to work in complex humanitarian environments

• Commitment to accountability, ethical leadership and continuous learning

Language

• Excellent written and spoken Arabic (mandatory).

• Excellent written and spoken English (mandatory).

Why us?

• A senior leadership position within an international humanitarian organization.

• The opportunity to shape Help's localization approach in Syria.

• A collaborative international working environment.

• Professional development opportunities.

• A competitive salary package in accordance with organisational policies           

Application Deadline

Please upload your application stating your salary expectations and earliest availability (please include only a cover letter; a CV including three references; professional qualifications; and certificates in a file attachment) by 20 September 2026.