Manager: Programmes Implementation, Syria (National Role)

Position description

Job Title: Manager: Programmes Implementation, Syria (National Role).

Job Family: General Management

Department : Programme Operations

Unit/Team: CD Unit

Grade and Salary: E: Manager

Contract Type: Fixed Term :1 Year

Location: Damascus

Budget Holder: No

Reports to: (incl matrix reporting) Director – ActionAid Arab Regional Office

Direct Reports : 2-3 persons

Functional and Technical Reporting: None but collaborates with SMT

DBS (CRB) / Police Check: Required

This role require travel : Yes – Within Syria and occasionally to Jordan

Role Overview:

The Role is responsible for leading the day-to-day implementation and operational management of ActionAid’s programme portfolio in Syria. The role ensures effective programme delivery through strong partnership management, coordination with regional functional teams, compliance with organizational and donor requirements, and timely reporting to Donor and AAI Regional Office. As a Senior Management Team member, the role contributes to operational planning, programme quality, organizational learning, and continuous improvement.

The Position will engage significantly with ActionAid Partners in Syria to ensure that the programme delivery is in line with agreed projects and is complying to ActionAid’s Standard Operating Procedure.

The Role will significantly Engage with the Resource Mobilization Team in the ActionAid Arab Regional Office and is expected to represent ActionAid in all working groups and Donor meetings as recommended from time to time.

Areas of Responsibilities

Key Activities

1. Programme Delivery and Monitoring

• Support in identification of potential National Partners and Due Diligence processes for upcoming projects sharing ActionAid Values and thematic areas for phasing them into ActionAid.
• Lead day-to-day implementation of the country programme and monitor progress against approved workplans and grant milestones.
• Coordinate programme implementation in the country in collaboration with partners and the relevant SMT members.
• Identify implementation bottlenecks and develop corrective action plans.
• Contributes to the Regional Strategy of ActionAid’s Arab Regional Office
• Coordinate with the HOP on partner capacity strengthening to enhance programme implementation, compliance, and organisational performance.
• Coordinate with relevant SMT members on their related themes to comply with Priorities in line with ActionAid Regional Strategy.
• Develop Monthly Project Delivery Plans to ensure that projects are completed within the timeline.
• Coordinate with partners for effective and timely delivery of the programmes.
• Build ActionAid’s profile in Syria for Resource Mobilisation in the country including representing AAI for all meetings of working groups as delegated by the Director from time to time.

People Management

• Manage and Coach Direct Reports through preparation of Work Plan, Performance Management and Staff Development. Identify appropriate training opportunities for Staff.
• Promote Teamwork, Well-being, and ActionAid’s Feminist Leadership Principles.

Operations, Finance Compliance and Risk

• Ensure compliance with donor, organisational and national legal and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate with relevant government ministries and local authorities to facilitate project approvals, implementation and compliance with national regulations.
• Support in monitoring programme budgets in collaboration with HOP and HOF, supporting forecasting and financial performance.
• Support in the operational cost periodic forecast for Syria office incurred expenses to consider it in AAAR annual planning and inform the HOF for any expected variance or deviation.
• Oversee local procurement within delegated authority in accordance with ActionAid procurement policies.
• Coordinate banking and fund transfer arrangements and transfers gov approvals if needed, ensuring compliance with local regulations and international financial standards, including FATF requirements.
• Monitor programme risks, maintain the risk register, and escalate significant operational or compliance risks to the relevant SMT members.
• Ensure statutory obligations, including tax and social security registrations and payments, are met.
• Support financial oversight by verifying partner cash transactions beneficiary list and attending cash distributions, where required, managing petty/imprestcash closing and submitting the settlement to the regional finance team with the full supporting documents, including obtaining pre-approval on spending from the relevant SMT members, and coordinating country financial Audits with AAAR HOF and the Regional Finance Team.
• Reporting & Representation
• Ensure quality reporting on achievements through Monthly Briefing to the Director, Prepare Monthly Programme Plans reporting quantitative and qualitative information for informed decision making.
• Prepare ad hoc progress reporting to ensure that the reporting timelines to the Donors are Reported on time.
• Ensure timely, high-quality internal and donor reporting.
• Represent ActionAid in clusters, coordination forums and donor meetings as delegated.
• Holds final responsibility for all support documents (means of verification) and general project documents.

Other delivery on strategic/ functional priorities (Directorate-specific - maximum 5 KPIs) To be agreed during performance Objective Settings.

Qualifications

Education and Qualifications : Graduate Degree

Essential Experience

• Minimum of 5 years' progressively responsible experience in Managing Teams and Programmes in Syria.
• Proven Experience in Programme Management especially in the areas of (Women’s Right, Climate change adaptation, Youth Leadership, Humanitarian response)
• Must be a Syrian National and agree to comply with all Syrian Laws and regulations.

Essential Knowledge

Sound knowledge of the regional Context including country specific issues that links to ActionAid’s Arab Regional Office.

• Significant knowledge on Humanitarian and Partnership Landscape of Syria.
• Knowledge of Country’ NGO Regulations
• Proven experience working in an interconnected organisation like ActionAid that values sharing.
• Knowledge of due diligence requirements, partner risk assessments and compliance obligations associated with managing grants in high-risk and fragile contexts.
• Past experience representing organisation in.

Essential skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences.
• Representational Skills.
• Experience in Matrix Management with teams located in Regional and Global Offices
• Team Management

Language requirements

• Strong Communication Skills in English and Arabic

KPIs

• 90–95% programme milestones delivered on time.
• 100% donor reports submitted on schedule.
• No major audit or compliance findings.
• Partner performance reviews completed annually.
• Programme budget utilization within agreed Variance Tolerance.

Typical People Management Responsibility

Approximate number of people managed in total : 2-3

Matrix Manager – (projects/dotted line) No

Team Leader No

Manager of Team Leaders/Managers No

What is the global remit? Operates in: Own country

• Collaborate with SMT and Functional Members in the regional and Global Offices.

Geographic Region Yes

Multiple Geographic Regions No

Remit covers all ActionAid countries All States / and Governorates in Syria

Financial (limits/mandates) Within the Budget in concurrence with the Line Manager.

Direct departmental budget: Yes

This Job Description covers the main tasks and conveys the spirit of the sort of tasks that are anticipated proactively from staff. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary according to organizational needs.

It is part of every staff member's responsibility to contribute to ActionAid International culture and comply with organisation’s values and code of conduct. Staff are also committed to:

• Leading Innovation and Change Establish a culture of excellence in the Country Team that values experimentation and continuous improvement
• Feminist Leadership: Championing feminist leadership principles and values including commitment to diversity and inclusion (race, gender, power)
• AAI Values Practice: Ensure personal and team culture that demonstrates all of AAI values including: Mutual Respect, Equity and Justice, Integrity, Solidarity with People Living in Poverty and Exclusion, Courage of Conviction, Independence and Humility
• Promoting a healthy and safe working environment: ActionAid is committed to promoting SHEA and Safeguarding policies and values and has a zero-tolerance policy for any form of sexual exploitation and abuse to create a safe working environment for the staff.

Application instructions