Country Director, Syria

The Country Director, Syria provides strategic leadership, management, and representation for Save the Children’s operations in Syria, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, impactful programmes that protect and advance the rights of children in a complex humanitarian and early recovery context. The role is accountable for setting the overall direction of the country programme, driving implementation of the country strategy, and ensuring programmes respond to evolving needs arising from conflict, displacement, and economic hardship.

Responsibilities

• Provide vision and direction for the Syria country programme
• Effectively lead a high-performing Senior Management Team to deliver against strategy and model behaviours and values expected of staff
• Take responsibility for the leadership and management of staff and programmes in Syria
• Ensure ongoing, current analysis of the national socio-economic, humanitarian, security, and political situation in the country
• Support the development of the Country Strategy and ensure ongoing review of progress against key country and organisational level objectives, indicators, and targets
• Ensure that the focus of the organisation remains on the rights and needs of children
• Contribute to regional and global knowledge and learning
• Ensure that Save the Children attracts and retains high-calibre staff
• Proactively develop and coach staff to optimise their potential in pursuit of Save the Children’s objectives
• Ensure effective implementation of HR policies and procedures at country level, in line with HR policies, procedures and guidelines, and local labour law
• Ensure consistent implementation of strong performance management systems throughout the country team
• Foster a collegial, supportive and respectful culture within the Syria team
• Support and build a high-performing Senior Management Team and ensure strong collaboration
• Promote a harmonious team culture, and manage challenges constructively and positively
• Drive internal work on inclusivity and acceptance and apply a zero-tolerance policy toward bullying and harassment
• Lead the Country Office team in improving KPI performance and achieving organisational targets
• Ensure programme interventions are aligned with technical best practices, humanitarian standards, and emerging national and local policies, as well as country and global strategic priorities
• Ensure that effective monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) systems are implemented in line with organisational policies and guidelines
• Ensure that programme learning is effectively captured, documented, and shared
• Prepare for and implement rapid, effective responses to emergencies affecting children
• Lead operational and programmatic adjustments in response to the evolving humanitarian, economic, and security context in Syria
• Inspire and promote innovation across the Country Office
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with Members and their donors
• Represent Save the Children’s interests in Syria with government counterparts, UN agencies, donor delegations, and international and national NGOs
• Play an active role in relevant coordination platforms
• Ensure the timely provision of internal and external communications materials as required
• Develop and adapt media, advocacy, and campaign strategies that address key child rights issues in Syria
• Ensure effective financial budgeting, management systems, processes, and controls are in place and compliant with organisational standards and local legal requirements
• Ensure effective, compliant procurement and asset management systems are established and maintained
• Ensure that partner organisations are assessed against financial management and governance standards and are supported to address capacity gaps
• Ensure compliance with all host authority requirements in relation to registration, taxation, labour law, auditing, fraud prevention, and related areas
• Ensure internal and external audits are conducted in a timely and efficient manner
• Ensure follow-up on audit recommendations and implementation of corrective actions where necessary
• Support the advancement of risk management and compliance priorities
• Lead the team in responding to new funding opportunities; ensure development of high-quality concept notes and proposals
• Ensure effective collaboration with Members to position the Country Office for upcoming funding opportunities
• Ensure regular donor landscape analysis and develop and implement donor engagement strategies
• Ensure full compliance with donor and Member requirements for all secured awards
• Actively network and lead senior-level engagement with donors, Members, and peer organisations
• Represent Save the Children at donor meetings and events
• Develop, establish, and manage Syria programme safety and security plans and procedures
• Maintain, document, and communicate up-to-date analyses of the evolving security context
• Ensure all staff are provided with appropriate security information, training, and support to manage risks and safeguard their wellbeing
• Any other duties as assigned by the Regional Director

Requirements

• Master’s degree level qualification or equivalent length of experience in the sector
• Substantial experience of building, leading and developing a diverse team of senior staff to deliver on both development and humanitarian programs
• Experience working with large, complex donors to secure and/or manage new large-scale and/or competitive funding
• Experience of managing a humanitarian crisis situation requiring quick changes to priorities and rapid action to respond
• Excellent understanding and experience of risk, programme, financial and operational management processes
• Experience of successfully leading change in an organisation
• Experience of building effective personal networks at a senior level
• Experience of managing security in a complex and rapidly changing environment
• Experience of solving complex issues
• Good understanding of key trends in international and humanitarian development
• Commitment to Save the Children values
• Fluency in English
• Experience of Syria with sound knowledge of the country context and key government and civil society stakeholders (desirable)
• Fluency in Arabic (desirable)

Skills

• Team Leadership
• Humanitarian Programme Management
• Donor Relations
• Crisis Management
• Risk Management
• Programme Management
• Finance Management
• Operational Management
• Change Management
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Security Management
• Conflict Response
• Strategic Leadership
• Country Context Knowledge
• Network Building

Languages

English, Arabic