Support Services Director
Location Damascus – Syria Country Office
Reporting to : Country Director
Travel 30%
Context
Relief International (RI) is an international non-profit organization that partners with communities impacted by conflict, climate change and disaster to save lives, build greater resilience and promote long-term health and wellbeing.
Our team of more than 4,000 staff and local volunteers work in 14 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, providing Health and Nutrition, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), Education and Livelihoods programming that creates the foundation for community resilience.
We do this by working with local actors to develop safe and inclusive local programming that is evidence based, conflict sensitive, climate smart, and reaches those in need.
Relief International is an alliance of four organizations with one shared mission, comprised of Relief International, Inc., Relief International-France, Relief International-UK and Relief International-Europe, which operate under a one-team concept under a single senior leadership team.
Job Profile
The Support Services Director (SSD) is a member of the Country Senior Management Team and serves as the Country Director’s principal strategic advisor on support services, operational performance, compliance, and organizational risk.
Your role will be to provide strategic leadership, oversight, and direction across Finance, Human Resources, Supply Chain and Logistics, Administration, Information Technology, and Operational Risk Management. You will ensure that effective systems, resources, and internal controls are in place to enable quality program implementation, ensure donor and organizational compliance, manage operational risks, and support the country program’s strategic priorities and sustainable growth.
You will ensure that support services operate as strategic enablers of humanitarian and development programming while promoting accountability, service excellence, innovation, continuous improvement, safeguarding, and adherence to Relief International’s values and ethical standards.
Information Technology and Systems
Ensure effective management of IT infrastructure, systems security, connectivity, and digital services.
Promote the use of organizational systems and digital solutions to improve efficiency and accountability.
Support digital transformation initiatives and data-driven decision-making.
Ensure adequate business continuity and data protection measures are implemented across all locations.
Risk Management, Governance and Compliance
Lead the development and implementation of country-level operational risk management frameworks.
Maintain and regularly review organizational risk registers and mitigation plans.
Ensure effective internal controls across all support functions.
Support compliance reviews, investigations, donor verifications, and audits.
Ensure adherence to RI safeguarding, anti-fraud, anti-corruption, ethics, and compliance standards.
Advise SMT on emerging operational, financial, legal, and reputational risks.
Behavior and Conduct
Demonstrate the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and ethical conduct.
Champion RI’s values, Code of Conduct, safeguarding principles, and accountability commitments.
Promote a culture of transparency, respect, inclusion, and responsibility.
Foster collaboration and knowledge sharing across departments and field locations.
Promote a culture of service excellence and continuous improvement throughout support services.
Ensure all managed staff understand and comply with RI policies and procedures.
Report concerns and support organizational mechanisms related to safeguarding, fraud prevention, and risk management.
Skills, knowledge, and expertise are required for the role.
Master's degree in business administration, Finance, Accounting, Supply Chain Management, Human Resources, International Development, Economics, or another relevant field.
Professional certifications in finance, procurement, logistics, HR, risk management, or project management are desirable.
Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible management experience in humanitarian, development, or complex operational environments.
At least 5 years in a senior leadership role overseeing multiple support service functions.
Demonstrated experience managing Finance, Human Resources, Supply Chain, Administration, and operational support systems.
Strong experience managing institutional donor compliance (e.g. ECHO, BHA/USAID, FCDO, UN agencies and EU-funded awards).
Experience leading organizational growth, change management, and operational transformation initiatives.
Proven experience managing audits, compliance reviews, and organizational risk management processes.
Experience working in insecure, fragile, or emergency settings preferred.
Exceptional leadership, external representation, and team management skills.
Proven ability to solve complex problems and deliver innovative solutions.
Full professional proficiency in English (written and spoken).
Desirable criteria:
Knowledge of Syria humanitarian context or Middle East geopolitical dynamics.
Experience with Relief International programs and systems.
Proficiency in Arabic or other relevant languages.
RI Values
Guided by the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, as well as “Do No Harm,” Relief International Values:
Integrity
Adaptability
Collaboration
Inclusivity
Sustainability
نصيحة لحمايتك
ننصح بقراءة طريقة التقديم بعناية و التقيد بتعليمات التقدم للوظائف و المناقصات.