Country Director Syria

Job location:                     Damascus, Syria
Starting date:                    as soon as possible
Vacancy closing date:      30 November 2024
Duration position:             3 years
Working hours:                 Fulltime (40 hours per week)

We are here for our neighbours in need, who are suffering in this broken world.

ZOA, as an international NGO, supports people who have lost everything due to armed conflict or natural disaster. Together, we can come to their aid in emergencies and remain faithful to communities as they recover – providing new opportunities for them to help themselves again. The work of ZOA is coordinated from the Netherlands. We are active in multiple countries in Africa, South America, the Middle East Region, and Asia. We work with approximately 900 employees worldwide and with (local) partners.

ZOA Syria has since 2014 been supporting Syrian refugees, internally displaced Syrians, and host communities in Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. Since September 2018, ZOA has been registered in Damascus, enabling it to manage and run its operations and projects from within the country. ZOA works through local partners and own direct implementation with a dynamic team of 25 staff members and a pool of volunteers. We invite you to join our enthusiastic team of committed colleagues.

For ZOA's programme in Syria, ZOA is looking for a

Country Director

Your challenge 

The Country Director is responsible for the leadership and the integral management of the programmes and activities of ZOA in Syria within the framework of ZOA’s Strategic Plan, Business Plan, and agreed Country Annual Plan.

Your main tasks and responsibilities

 Leadership

• Responsible for overall management and leadership and legal representation of ZOA in Syria;
• Create and implement ZOA’s Country Annual Plan with the corresponding annual country budget;
• Spiritual oversight and leadership of the country programme and team.

Programme Cycle Management

• Programme formulation, development, implementation and supervision;
• Final responsibility for project cycle management;
• Ensure gender diversity and conflict sensitivity in all activities.

External relations & partner management (in country)

• Managing and implementing strategic partnership engagements;
• Develop and maintain the relationship with donors, local authorities and other relevant actors;
• Ensuring legal compliance.

HR/admin/finance

• Final responsibility for Human Resource Management and Supervision and control of the administrative and financial organisation;
• Supervising and appraising the performance of the members of the Country Management Team.

Security

• Ensures the design and maintenance of an effective security management system at country level and monitoring staff compliance.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

• The employee is also responsible for reporting security incidents in accordance with the process description for reporting data incidents of ZOA;
• The employee is responsible to work in accordance with the General Data Protection;
• The employee will handle personal data, confidential information and (information) systems with care.

The Country Director reports to the Chief Programme Officer of ZOA and is an international management team member.

Your profile

 Identity

• The candidate is expected to fully support the vision, mission and Christian values of ZOA;
• University graduate;
• At least five years of relevant management experience in an international setting;
• Good spoken and written Command of English; good spoken and written Arabic is a benefit.

 Leadership skills

• Spiritual leadership;
• Vision and strategic thinking;
• Decision making ability;
• Participative leadership;
• Staff development and coaching.

Management

• Command of operations;
• Conceptual and writing skills;
• Analytical skills;
• Networking;
• Organisational sensitivity;
• Provides regular feedback, acknowledges success and the need for improvement;
• Develops and supports career plans and learning opportunities;
• Supports and promotes work-life balance.

Attitude

• Flexibility and adaptability;
• Interpersonal and cross cultural sensitivity;
• Able to work under pressures and meet deadlines;
• Able to work in a sometimes fluid and insecure environment.

Special conditions

• Duty station not suitable for accompanying children.
• Multi-year management experience in the Middle East region plus speaking Arabic, is considered as an advantage for this position.

Interested and ready to apply?

If you are interested in this position, please apply directy via the "apply now" button below this page. The closing date of this vacancy is December 8, 2024. For both questions or applying for this vacancy, please contact Mrs. Sandra Vogd via zoa.vacancies@zoa.ngo . Motivation letters cannot be longer than 1 page. CVs of no more than 4 pages in length are appreciated.

ZOA operates with an equal opportunities policy and is committed to diversity in the workplace. Qualified women and men, people of all nationalities, and cultural backgrounds, and candidates with disabilities are welcome to apply.

Please note that we carry out background and reference checks (including COTER – Counter Terrorism check) for all candidates as part of the recruitment process. As ZOA participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, all reference checks include a written questionnaire: the “Statement of Conduct”, which will be sent to past employers regarding Misconduct (such as sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment).