Location: Based in NES With frequent travel to Damascus and NWS
Travel: 60% (in-country)
Job Family and Level: Program Management & Leadership Family M8
Pre hire checks: This role is classified as requiring advanced pre-employment checks.
At Relief International, we are committed to building a representative, inclusive and authentic workplace. We strongly encourage applications from candidates from minoritized backgrounds those who bring lived experience of the contexts in which we work.
Scope
Responsibility: Country Level
Department: Management
Reporting to: Country Director
Direct reports: Area Managers / head of offices
Budget responsibility: As per authority matrix
Relationship management
- Interface with Program and Support functional leads at the Country level
- Interface with Local Authorities
- Attendance with relevant coordination platforms
About Relief International
Relief International (RI) is an international non-profit organization that partners with communities impacted by conflict, climate change and disaster to save lives, build greater resilience and promote long-term health and wellbeing.
Our team of more than 4,500 staff and local volunteers work in 14 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, providing Health and Nutrition, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), Education and Livelihoods programming that creates the foundation for community resilience.
We do this by working with local actors to develop safe and inclusive local programming that is evidence based, conflict sensitive, climate smart, and reaches those in need.
About the role
Your role will be to provide strategic, programmatic, and operational leadership across all areas of Relief Internationalโs program implementation in Syria. You will ensure that humanitarian and development activities are delivered safely, effectively, and in line with RIโs standards and donor requirements. Operating in a fragmented and dynamic context across NES, NWS, and Damascus, you will adapt operational strategies to fluctuating access, security challenges, and coordination constraints.
Reporting to the Country Director, you will directly supervise and mentor Area Managers and Heads of Offices, fostering collaboration, accountability, and staff wellbeing. You will also represent RI with key stakeholders, drive program performance, and ensure operational continuity across all hubs. Approximately 20% of your time will be spent in Damascus, with regular travel to field locations to maintain close oversight and strategic alignment
Key Responsibilities
Accountability and Complexity
- Provides oversight of multiple field offices in a highly volatile, fragmented, and politically complex operating environment.
- Ensures program and operational compliance with organizational policies, donor requirements, and humanitarian principles.
- Balances strategic leadership with hands-on field-level engagement to support effective, safe, and accountable delivery.
- Serves as a key link between field operations and senior country leadership, translating strategic priorities into field-level action.
Program Oversight and Quality Assurance
- Provides regular support and supervision to Area Managers/head of offices to ensure high-quality program implementation across all sectors.
- Ensures monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) systems are effectively applied in field locations.
- Supports integration of cross-cutting themes (protection, gender, inclusion, conflict sensitivity) into field programming.
- Reviews field-level plans, budgets, and reports to ensure alignment with country strategy and donor commitments.
Operations and Risk Management
- Coordinate with head of departments in Damascus to ensure systems such as supply chain, finance, HR, and administration, are effective and compliant
- Explores and drives opportunities for harmonization of practices, procedures, and systems across all field offices, ensuring consistency, efficiency, and alignment with country-level strategies and compliance requirements.
- Identifies and mitigates risks related to access, security, and program delivery, in coordination with Security and Operations teams.
- Ensures continuity of operations in fluid and insecure contexts, adapting plans to changing needs and circumstances.
- Strengthens accountability and transparency in the use of organizational resources.
Management and Leadership
- Provides direct line management and mentoring to Area Managers/head of offices fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and performance.
- Contributes to strategic decision-making as part of the Senior Management Team (SMT).
- Facilitates communication and coordination between Country Office and field teams, ensuring consistent standards and approaches.
- Builds leadership capacity in field offices through coaching, training, and professional development.
Behavior and Conduct
- Will ensure the highest standards of behavior inside and outside of work promotes the values in RIโs code of conduct and safeguarding policies
- Will be a model for ethical conduct standards for other team members
- Will ensure own actions and the actions of the teams members they manage do not impact the safety of the RI team and the vulnerable communities we serve
- Will ensure external stakeholders are aware of RI conduct and reporting mechanisms
- Report any concerns
About You
Skills, knowledge and expertise required for the role.
Essential criteria
- Advanced degrees in International Development, Humanitarian Studies, Management, or related field, or equivalent professional experience.
- At least 8 years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian or development programming, with at least 5 years in senior field leadership roles.
- Proven track record of overseeing complex, multi-sector programs in conflict or post-conflict environments.
- Strong knowledge of humanitarian operational systems (supply chain, finance, HR, compliance).
- Experience working in fragile, high-risk, and politically complex settings, ideally in the Middle East.
- Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and representation skills, with fluency in written and spoken English.
- Ability and willingness to travel frequently and spend extended periods in challenging field environments (including 80% time in field offices across Syria).
Desirable criteria
- Previous experience working in Syria or neighboring countries in the Middle East.
- Proficiency in Arabic.is a plus
- Familiarity with major humanitarian donors (ECHO, USAID/BHA, FCDO, UN agencies) and their compliance frameworks.
- Experience in developing and harmonizing organizational procedures and systems across multiple field offices.
- Experience contributing to country-level strategy development and operationalization.
- Background in one or more relevant technical sectors (e.g., Health, Protection, WASH, Livelihoods).
RI Values
Guided by the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, as well as โDo No Harm,โ Relief International Values:
- Integrity
- Adaptability
- Collaboration
- Inclusivity
- Sustainability
Research shows that women and people of colour are less likely to apply to jobs, unless they meet every single requirement. If youโre excited about this role, but your experience doesnโt align with every criteria described, we encourage you to apply anyway, you could be exactly what we need!
How To Apply
To apply for this post, click on the โApplyโ button in the job advert page.
- You will be asked to upload a CV and Cover Letter.
- The cover letter should be one page, and explain why you are interested in this post with Relief International and how your skills and experience make you a good fit.
As a humanitarian organization, Relief International is committed to the safeguarding of all those we come into contact with through our work. We are committed to the core humanitarian principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse. Relief International expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and uphold the values and behaviors outlined in the Code of Conduct.
Recruitment to all roles in Relief International include a criminal records self-declaration, references, and other pre-employment checks, which may include police and qualifications checks.