Head of Support Syria

Background

As the Syrian crisis has entered its 14th year, a record-level 16.7 million people, over 71% of the population, is in need of humanitarian assistance. Almost half are children. The fall of the former government, in December 2024, has sparked hope for the country’s future and those in need of aid. However, ongoing conflict, economic collapse and record-high humanitarian needs persist throughout the country, coinciding with unprecedented cuts to humanitarian aid globally at a time where aid resources for Syria were already stretched thin.

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has been a leading humanitarian actor in the response to the Syria crisis, in Syria and across the region, since 2012. Against a backdrop of conflict, socioeconomic and environmental deterioration, climate change and natural disasters, we provide emergency, transitional, early recovery and resilience programmes to people in need. We lead advocacy to promote unimpeded and sustained access to assistance for people across Syria and we call for increased humanitarian funding, resilience and early recovery support to alleviate the hardships of the Syrian people.

What we are looking for

NRC Syria is in search of a Head of Support to join the mission. The role holder will ensure all support functions are providing high quality and efficient support programme implementation. If you are a seasoned and experienced humanitarian leader with extensive experience particularly in large-scale, complex, or fast-evolving contexts then this is the role for you!

What you will do

The role will have the following responsibilities:

• Line management for support managers such as Finance, HR & Admin and Logistics (incl. ICT).
• Member of the Country Management Group (CMG).
• Ensure compliance with and adherence to NRC policies, guidance and handbooks and donor/auditor requirements.
• Facilitate the support function`s strategic input to the development of the annual Country Strategy and Plan of Action.
• Provide input on operational support in proposal development, and to coordinate and align operational support with programme plans and ensure quality and timely support to project implementation.
• Facilitate the Master Support Budget, country level budgets and BPO development, including assess and monitor costs and resource allocation needs.
• Responsible for the strategic development of country structures, technical systems, human resource capacity and allocation.
• Responsible for development of new country specific technical SOPs, guidelines and tools.
• Responsible for organisational learning related to programme support.
• Responsible for technical capacity building of support staff.

Please download the detailed job description to learn more about the position.

What you will bring

• Minimum 5 years of experience from a senior management position in a humanitarian/ recovery context
• Bachelor's degree in international relations, Humanitarian and Development studies or related field. Master’s degree is an added value.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic planning and organizational restructuring, especially during periods of transition.
• Strong financial and budget management skills.
• Experience in HR management, procurement, and logistics in complex environments.
• Familiarity with auditing and compliance procedures.
• Experience working in complex and volatile contexts.
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal.
• Allocation of resources and costs expertise.
• Knowledge of market analysis and cash-based interventions
• Proven ability to lead and manage change in complex environments, including nationalization and localization strategies.
• Experience engaging with regional and HQ teams, ensuring alignment with global strategies and policies.
• Ability to work independently and under pressure and adapt to rapidly changing environments. Detail-oriented with a high level of accuracy and integrity.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to design and roll out effective SOPs, guidelines, and systems that enhance operational delivery.
• Critical thinking with a constructive approach to problem-solving.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated commitment to staff well-being, inclusion, and team dynamics, especially in multicultural settings.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret financial data and trends.
• Familiarity with NRC systems, policies, and donor requirements is a plus.
• Knowledge of Arabic is a plus.

What we offer:

• Duty station: Damascus, Syria
• Contract: Fixed Term -renewable based on performance and funding.
• Travel: 20-30% within NRC Syria.
• Salary/benefits: Grade 11 on NRC’s salary scale
• NRC is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability.
• We think outside the box, encourage ideas, and give responsibility to all employees at all levels. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative.

Find out more about the benefits of working for NRC

Important information about the application process

• Internal candidates: To apply as an internal candidate, log in with your official email or click on Opportunity Marketplace.
• For internal candidates, please use your official email address when applying.
• Submit your application and CV in English, taking care to attach your latest CV.
• We receive many applications for each vacant position and so only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• Applications that do not meet the minimum standards in terms of experience or qualifications will generally not be considered. Unsolicited applications not related to this specific job advertisement will not be considered.
• If you have any questions about this role, please email mero.recruitment@nrc.no with the job title as the subject line.

Why NRC?

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. Our 15,000 staff work in crises across 40 countries, providing life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of people every year.

NRC currently has over 3,000 staff across the Middle East dedicated to assisting people affected by conflict in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Libya and Palestine. Its humanitarian interventions are based upon its programming expertise in the Core Competencies of Shelter, Education, WASH, Livelihoods and Food Security, and Information Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) to vulnerable displaced people that were forced to flee.

Watch this short video to see NRC in action.

We are looking for people who are passionate about helping refugees and people forced to flee. Are you one of those people? If you are, NRC offers you the opportunity to:

• do demanding and professional work, often in challenging contexts.
• join a work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility.
• be part of a welcoming and supportive community committed to human dignity.

Learn more about NRC's operations in Syria here.

Organization context

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a global humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee.

Join us in assisting millions of people in areas where others cannot, tackling some of the world's most dangerous and difficult crises. Bring your skills and dedication to an organisation recognised for providing high quality aid and for defending the rights of refugees and internally displaced people.

At NRC, we give responsibility to employees at all levels and foster professional growth and innovative teams. You can expect a supportive culture and an open dialogue with management. We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Together, we save lives and rebuild futures.

Safeguarding is central to NRC’s work. We expect all employees to:

• treat everyone with respect and dignity

• contribute to building a safe environment for all

• never engage in any form of exploitation, harassment and specifically sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment (SEAH)

• always report. NRC has a zero-tolerance approach to inaction against exploitation, abuse and SEAH