Operations Director
Job Title: Operations Director – Syria
Reports to: Country Director
Terms: 24 months Fixed Term, Unaccompanied.
Location: Raqqa, Syria
Salary: GB7 – (€51,861 - €57,623)
Requirements: The person will be based in Raqqa with frequent travel to Damascus and other area offices
About Concern: Established in 1968, Concern is a non-profit, non-governmental humanitarian organisation, dedicated to the reduction of suffering and the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries.
Concern’s vision, our mission and our work are all defined by one goal – ending extreme poverty, whatever it takes. Concern strives for a world free from poverty, fear and oppression.
Our culture is values driven and we believe that our people are central to all that we do and are key to delivering on our goal of Reaching the Furthest Behind First. We are committed to ensuring a workplace where everybody feels valued and are enabled to succeed in their work and contribute to delivering on our mission.
Role Purpose: You will be responsible for the overall management of Concern Syria support functions, which comprise administration, HR, and logistics including procurement, warehousing and fleet management. You will ensure appropriate systems are in place to meet programme needs, while ensuring the effective and efficient use of Concern’s resources. As a member of the Country Management Team, you will provide strategic direction to Concern Syria. You will also supervise security management in country.
Responsibilities:
- Ensure that key Concern support policies (Procurement and Logistics, Transport, HR, IT, SMP) are continuously updated as required and appropriate to the context
- Ensure that all staff are aware of and comply with Concern’s policies and procedures
- Ensure that the logistics function of Concern is strengthened to adequately support programmes in all aspects of logistics including but not limited to procurement, storage and stock management, transport and distribution of goods and facilitation of services.
- Ensure effective and efficient HR management and support Programme Managers in resource planning for new projects including logistics, HR and administration.
- Ensure appropriate IT support for the programme.
- Ensure Security Management Plan is updated and SOPs rolled out throughout the programme.
- Together with CMT ensure implementation of 4Ps policy across the Iraq and Syria programmes.
- Liaise with other INGOs, legal advisor, and other relevant stakeholders for effective coordination and implementation of logistics, HR and administration.
- Responsible for assuring Concern is compliant with local legislation, rules and regulations in terms of visas, tax, and labour law.
People Management:
- Ensure Human Resources policy and procedures are in place, and kept up to date, incorporating best HR practice, in line with Concern Worldwide organizational policy and following relevant labour legislation.
- Lead the country team in rolling out the approved Human Resources Manual, including provision of briefings to staff and new recruits at induction
- Provide technical support and on-going on-the-job training and coaching to staff
- Ensure that all positions have accurate job descriptions and staff contracts continue to be compliant with labour, tax and social security law and represent best practise
- Ensure effective performance review and development through the use of the PDR system for direct reports, and in supporting teams in its use across the country programme
- Provide support to the HR Manager including advice and guidance for International Staff, ensuring any issues that arise are dealt with in accordance with Concern Worldwide HR Policy and the National and International Staff Manuals.
- In collaboration with the PD, ensure the effective implementation of HR related HAP standard commitments.
- Uphold organisational values and comply with Concern’s Code of Conduct and our associated policies i.e. Programme Participant Protection Policy, Child Protection Policy and Anti Trafficking policy.
- Promote an attractive working environment based on equality, caring attitudes, and integrity where staff feel safe, valued and respected.
Administration and logistic functions: To ensure effective and efficient administrative and logistical support and resources are provided to the staff including, but not limited to:
- Ensuring efficient procurement of goods and services in a transparent and accountable manner, ensuring value for money for the organisation and justifiable use of donor funds.
- Ensure procurement procedures are effective, efficient and adhered to by all staff
- Ensure effective management of drivers and fleet including supervision of fleet management, monitoring of transport reports, planning of vehicle rental according to programme needs, ensuring safe, reliable and efficient transportation for programmes and staff.
- Oversee the management of the offices and apartments and ensure contracts are up to date.
- Oversee the management of the fixed asset register
- Liaise with Concern’s lawyer to ensure all legal procedures are being followed.
Information Technology:
- To ensure effective IT systems for communication and data management linking with Concern Worldwide systems, Including but not limited to:
- Follow up on recommendations from regional IT Adviser visit
- Ensure Concern’s IT policy and procedures are in place and followed
- Through the IT designated person, ensure provision of effective support systems, enabling the smooth operation of IT systems
- Participate in the preparation and implementation of an ERP system
Budget and Financial Management:
- In conjunction with the Country Director and Country Financial Controller set, manage and monitor the support systems annual budgets for Transport/ Administration/International Staff
- Ensure all Systems’ staff are trained on budget procedures and monitor their monthly expenditure
Security
- Implementation of the Security Management Plan and regular update and roll of SOPs for incidents management
- Ensure all new staff receive thorough security briefings and apply Concern’s security protocols
- Monitor the day-to-day management of security matters and closely work with the field Security Focal Persons (SFPs), other NGO security personnel and NGO security coordination mechanisms
Accountability
- Promote and ensure compliance with the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) commitments and quality criteria
- Ensure that all staff are familiar with the principles underpinning accountability, safeguarding and Concern's Complaints and Response Mechanism (CRM) and ensure that information about Concern's commitments on accountability and safeguarding are disseminated among programme participants and communities
- Ensure that the CRM is functional, effectively implemented and accessible in all programmes' locations, enabling safe reporting of both programmatic and sensitive complaints, including safeguarding concerns
- Ensure that complaints are welcomed, managed and responded to in a timely, fair and appropriate manner; ensure that sensitive complaints, including safeguarding concerns, are handled with utmost confidentiality and that the safety of the complainants and those affected is prioritised at all stages.
Other
- Any other related duties as assigned by the Country Director
- Contribute to organisational accountability initiatives
- Adhere fully to the commitments and rules of Concern’s Code of Conduct and its Associated policies, including the respect of confidentiality.
Role Holder Requirements:
- Significant previous experience with an INGO in developing and delivering systems which are compliant to EU, Department of State and/or UN procedures.
- Sound experience in HR, administration and logistics management including procurement and fleet management.
- Demonstrable proven experience in HR, administration and logistics management, including procurement and fleet management. As well as experience leading operational transformation initiatives (systems upgrades, restructuring, ERP adoption, supply chain optimization)
- Specialist knowledge and experience in at least one area of systems
- Experience in team building and supervision of staff.
- Experience in dealing with local authorities, national and international NGO’s /UN bodies.
- Experience in security management and working/living in insecure and sensitive environments.
- Empathy with Concern’s vision, mission, goal and objectives and commitment to capacity building, protection and participation.
- Very good command of English.
- Previous experience working in the Middle East/North Africa.
- Arabic language skills desirable.
Competencies:
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to lead and motivate a team.
- Excellent interpersonal, facilitation and negotiation skills.
- Ability to act as part of a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary team
- Ability to organize and prioritize workload, using initiative when appropriate
- Ability to represent the organization
- Ability to cope with stress, work under pressure often to strict deadlines
- Flexibility, adaptability, sense of humour, and patience
- Ability to motivate and develop skills of others
- Analytical and problem solving skills
- Ability to assess problems and recommend solutions
- Cross cultural awareness and sensitivity to cultural differences
- Good knowledge and competence of computer applications i.e. Microsoft Office Professional
Candidates are expected to demonstrate abilities in the following priority competency areas
We encourage all eligible candidates, irrespective of gender, ethnicity or origin, disability, political beliefs, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status to apply to become a part of the organisation. Concern is against all forms of discrimination and unequal power relations and is committed to promoting equality.
If this role sounds right for you, please apply with your CV and cover letter. We will respond to every applicant. Please be aware we may offer positions before the closing date.
If you have any concerns about our recruitment process and need particular assistance - for example if you have a disability e.g. a hearing impairment - please let us know and we will do our best to respond to your needs.
Important information:
Concern has an organisational Code of Conduct with three Associated Policies: The Programme Participant Protection Policy, the Child Safeguarding Policy, and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Policy accessible here. These have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation, and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organisations, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context, staff have a responsibility to the organisation to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in their work, in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Concern Staff Code of Conduct and Associated Policies as an appendix to their contract of employment. By signing the Concern Code of Conduct, candidates acknowledge that they have understood the content of both the Concern Code of Conduct and the Associated Policies and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these policies. Additionally, Concern is committed to the safeguarding and protection of adults and children in our work. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to work or volunteer with adults and children are recruited by us for such roles. Consequently, working or volunteering with Concern may be subject to a range of vetting checks, including criminal background checking.
During this job application, you will provide Concern with your personal data. Concern takes its responsibilities towards this personal data very seriously and is committed to complying with all relevant data protection legislation.
- Salary:€51,861 - €57,623
- Based in Country:Syria
- Job Title:Operations Director
- Contract Type:Fixed Term Full Time
- Annual Allowance:e5,000
- Benefits:See T&C's attached
- Closing Date:16 July 2026