Country Representative – Syria

The “Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland (ASB)” is a German aid and welfare organisation with more than 300 branches at national, regional, district and municipal level all over Germany. More than 1.4 million members provide a broad social basis for our organization and more than 40,000 employees as well as over 20,000 volunteers form part of the ASB ensuring a high level of quality in areas such as rescue services, civil protection and social services. Since its foundation in 1888, the ASB has acted as a politically and denominationally independent association ensuring a high level of continuity and reliability.

ASB Foreign Aid Department provides people centered humanitarian response to alleviate human suffering, contributes to building the resilience of systems, communities and societies and applies integrated approaches to welfare and to social and socio-economic development. ASB currently has a portfolio of more than 100 relief, rehabilitation, development and inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction projects and runs offices in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Haiti, Indonesia, Iraq, Kosovo, Nicaragua, Niger, Serbia and Ukraine.

About ASB’s Program in Syria

ASB has been active in Syria since 2023, working closely with local partners to support at-risk and conflict-affected communities through humanitarian and early recovery interventions. With the currently ongoing establishment of its Country Office in Damascus, ASB will be entering a new phase of its engagement in Syria, focused on consolidating structures, strengthening systems, and enhancing overall operational and program oversight.

ASB is currently seeking expressions of interest from qualified and committed individuals for the position of Country Representative – Syria

The Country Representative is responsible for the overall leadership, management and consolidationof ASB’s presence in Syria. The position carries a strong hands-on leadership and execution mandate, with a particular focus on country office establishment, transition management and operational stabilization, alongside full responsibility for program oversight, compliance, representation and team leadership.

The Country Representative reports to and is supervised by the respective Desk Officer at ASB Headquarters Germany and holds in-country line management responsibility for the Syria team.

Duration: 12 months (with possibility of extension)

Start: 15.04.2026 or 01.05.2026

Location: Damascus, Syria (with travel within Syria and close coordination with HQ and remotely based staff)

Vacancy: International position (preferred)

Salary: ASB offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience

Key Responsibilities

• Country Leadership & Start-up Management: Provide overall leadership for ASB’s in-country presence in Syria and actively steer the transition from a remote management setup to a consolidated country office. This includes establishing clear leadership structures, reporting lines, workflows, and decision-making processes in a complex start-up environment.
• Country Office Establishment & Operationalization: Lead the operational establishment and consolidation of the ASB country office in Damascus, ensuring that office infrastructure, internal routines, administrative processes, coordination mechanisms, and country systems are functional, aligned with ASB standards, and fit for purpose.
• Assessment & Strategic Input: Conduct a rapid but comprehensive organizational and operational assessment covering program priorities and gaps, staffing and capacity needs, system requirements, and operational, contextual and compliance risks. Translate findings into clear recommendations to inform ASB’s Syria strategy and next steps.
• Project Management: Supervise all projects implemented by ASB and its local partner organizations in Syria, ensuring the achievement of objectives and the timely development and submission of all required documentation, including assessments, project proposals, narrative and financial reports, and MEAL-related documentation.
• Program Development & Fundraising: Develop project concepts and proposals in close cooperation with ASB HQ, establish, and maintain working relationships with bilateral and multilateral donor agencies. Support resource mobilization in line with ASB Foreign Aid’s strategic priorities.
• Compliance: Ensure that all personnel and projects adhere to ASB’s internal strategies, policies and procedures, including SOPs, Code of Conduct, PSEAH and strategic objectives, and ensure compliance with donor regulations and applicable national rules and regulations.
• Partnerships & Representation: Represent ASB towards relevant authorities, UN agencies, the European Union, diplomatic missions, donor agencies, (I)NGO coordination mechanisms and other key stakeholders, while maintaining and strengthening existing partnerships and supporting the development of new strategic alliances.
• Financial Oversight: Oversee financial management at country level, including country and project budgets, ensuring full compliance with ASB and donor financial guidelines, procedures and policies.
• Personnel Management: Oversee recruitment and human resource management of all staff employed by the ASB Syria Country Office, hold direct line management responsibility for senior management staff, and ensure structured onboarding, handovers and role clarity during the transition phase.
• Safety & Security: Ensure the overall safety and security of personnel and assets through developing the ASB SYR Safety and Security policy.
• Communication & Reporting: Maintain regular and structured communication with ASB HQ in Cologne and provide timely updates on operational progress, risks, decision points and resource needs.

Key Requirements

• Relevant university degree (humanitarian studies, development studies or similar)
• Minimum eight years of relevant professional experience, including senior management roles
• Profound knowledge and understanding of project management tools (PDM, LogFrame, outcome-oriented M&E, etc.)
• Proven experience in country office start-up, transition or consolidation contexts
• Profound experience in key working areas such as humanitarian assistance, resilience building, livelihoods and socio-economic development, and social inclusion
• Strong experience with German institutional donors (BMZ, AA, GFFO, ADH) and other international donors (e.g. European Commission)
• Solid understanding of German NGO systems, compliance and reporting requirements
• Strong proposal development skills
• Proficient knowledge of budget development, budget management, administration and logistics
• Demonstrated ability to create structure, systems and clarity in complex environments
• Experience in liaison, coordination, lobbying and advocacy with key stakeholders
• Demonstrated understanding of global accountability frameworks, quality and inclusion standards, and humanitarian principles (e.g. CHS, Sphere)
• Experience working in fragile or newly accessible contexts, preferably Syria; experience in the Near and Middle East is a strong asset
• Experience leading complex or extensive portfolios / operations is an asset
• Excellent leadership, coordination and communication skills, with strong analytical, problem-solving and organizational abilities
• Ability to work independently and inspire teams
• People-Centered, Quality-Driven and Partnership-Based Approach: ASB is committed of being a two-way learning organization, fostering relationships with partners that are based on mutual respect, shared learning, and co-creation
  • Promote a partnership approach that recognizes and builds on the existing capacities, knowledge, and responses of local actors and affected communities, in line with humanitarian principles and IFRC Code of Conduct Principle 6.
• Accountability, Inclusion and Applied Quality Standards:
  • Ensure a strong organizational focus on quality, accountability, and people-centered programming, with particular emphasis on accountability towards affected people.
  • Demonstrate a solid understanding of Sphere standards and their practical application, and actively promote (disability)-inclusive, participatory approaches such as the People-First Impact Method, emphasizing meaningful engagement, listening to community voices, and two-way engagement beyond indicator-driven, donor-centric programming. Support a mindset that values capacities, synergies, and local ownership alongside needs-based analysis
• Excellent written and spoken English; knowledge of Arabic and/or Kurdish is a strong asset
• Willingness and ability to be based in and travel within Syria