Deputy Country Director for Programs, Syria, 100%

HEKS/EPER pursues the vision of a just world where the dignity of everyone is respected, peace reigns and the natural environment is conserved. In the framework of the 2030 Agenda, we work in the four thematic priority areas of “Climate justice”, “Right to land and food”, “Flight and migration”, and “Inclusion”. HEKS/EPER also provides humanitarian aid for people affected by natural disasters and armed conflicts. The goal is to induce change at the social, economic and political levels. HEKS/EPER helps improve the living conditions of people in Switzerland and around the world, claims their rights, and to this end, mobilizes and raises awareness on the part of society, policy-makers, business and churches.

After thirteen years of humanitarian crisis linked to conflict, economic crisis, COVID 19, cholera outbreak and February 2023 earthquake, 16.7 million of individuals are in need of humanitarian assistance in Syria.

In this situation, our response capacity requires to be consolidated to ensure the timely and qualitative implementation of the mission programing in particular for infrastructure and livelihood related projects. To do so we need a Deputy Country Director for Programs, able to ensure the programs design, planning and implementation, internal coordination with support departments (Finance/logistics,…), external representation and actively contribute to the HEKS/EPER Syria mission development.

We are therefore looking for a proactive and experienced employee on the ground in Damascus as:

Deputy Country Director for Programs, Syria, 100%

Your main responsibilities:

Programs design, planning and implementation

• Design (or propose adjustments to) projects and activities according to the identified needs and context evolution
• Follow-up the timely implementation and quality of the designed projects
• Ensure the intervention’s compliance with national standards as well as Sectors and Working Groups’ recommendations

Representation, external coordination, reporting and development

• Ensure the HEKS/EPER representation and contribution to the relevant clusters / sectors, INGOs coordination bodies
• Ensure maximum quality standards for internal and external reporting
• Support the Country Director in fundraising representation as well as donors relationship for program related aspects
• Develop qualitative project proposals

Team management and capacity building

• Manage the full program team (Implementation, Quality (Grant management, MEAL) including recruitment and career development
• Substitute the Country Director for the full Syria mission team management when needed

Budget / Logistic planning and follow up

• Follow-up on the financial aspects of the projects (FFU), analyze and propose solutions of reallocation if needed
• In collaboration with the Administration, Finance and Logistic teams ensure the full internal and external compliance of the program related activities

To be successful you bring:

• Fluent in English (speaking/reading/writing), knowledge of Arabic is an asset
• Baccalaureate/University degree
• Minimum 5 years of experience in a similar position (International NGOs) at Coordination level.
• Significant experience of project cycle management
• Good knowledge of INGOs financial and logistic procedures
• Good management capacities and team leadership spirit
• Good knowledge of the MS office software (including Word, Excel, Outlook)

What you can expect from us:

• An international position based in Damascus, Syria, with regular field visits
• An opportunity to make a difference in this world
• An interesting and challenging position with scope for evolution
• Duration 6 months (possible extension)
• Attractive salary and compensation (R&R)
• Insurance package