Director, Country Office

### General Information Position Title Director, Country Office Job Category Leadership Duty Station(s) Damascus Seniority Level Executive Level ICS Level ICS 13 Contract Type Staff - IP - FTA Contract Level IP D-1 Posting Start Date 28-Sep-2026 Posting End Date 08-Oct-2026 Duration One year with the possibility of extension ### Job Highlight Drive strategic leadership and operational excellence to deliver sustainable results and strengthen partnerships in-country. ### About the Region The UNOPS Middle East Region (MR) provides strategic leadership, performance oversight, and support to UNOPS operations across Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and the State of Palestine. MR is responsible for positioning UNOPS as a key development partner in the region through high-level engagement with regional bodies, UN coordination mechanisms, development banks, donors, and intergovernmental organisations. By fostering strategic partnerships and promoting operational excellence, the region supports country teams in delivering sustainable solutions to complex development, peace, and humanitarian challenges ### About the Country/Multi-Country Office Established in 2004, the UNOPS Amman Multi-Country Office (MCO) provides strategic and operational support to partners across Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and the Gulf countries. The MCO delivers solutions that address development, peace, and humanitarian challenges through infrastructure, procurement, project management, and human resources services. Working in close collaboration with national governments, UN agencies, and donors, the office supports efforts to advance the Sustainable Development Goals. Its portfolio includes large-scale operations focused on improving essential services, strengthening national systems, and enhancing resilience in complex and fragile settings. ### About the Project Office Syria is navigating an important political transition following more than a decade of conflict, alongside significant humanitarian and displacement needs. The evolving environment presents new opportunities for recovery, reconstruction, and sustainable development, while continuing to require the international community to operate in a complex and rapidly changing context. Against this backdrop, the Country Office Director leads UNOPS operations in Syria while also overseeing the organization’s portfolio in Lebanon. The Director is responsible for positioning UNOPS to respond to evolving humanitarian, recovery and reconstruction priorities. Building strategic partnerships through networking, advocacy and communication of UNOPS expertise to develop opportunities with new and existing partners will be a main focus area.. During the development of the Country Office, the Director will draw on key capacities from the Amman Multi-Country Office, as provided by the Head of Programme and Head of Support Services, to strengthen programme delivery and operational management while the office progressively develops its own capacity and structures ### About the Group UNOPS has been present in Syria since 2014, with an office in Damascus, sub-offices in Homs covering the Central and Coastal Areas, and in Aleppo covering the northern areas. UNOPS supports Syria’s recovery by providing infrastructure rehabilitation, procurement and project management services in partnership with government institutions, UN entities  and donors. UNOPS’ work includes rehabilitating health facilities and schools, restoring essential services, strengthening local infrastructure, and providing renewable energy solutions across the country. Increasingly, UNOPS is expanding support towards early recovery, livelihoods and local capacity-building, helping bridge immediate humanitarian needs with longer-term recovery and reconstruction. Through implementation expertise and operational capacity, UNOPS is helping to translate donor funding and recovery priorities into tangible projects and practical, sustainable results on the ground. ### Job Specific Context Syria is navigating an important political transition following more than a decade of conflict, alongside significant humanitarian and displacement needs. The evolving environment presents new opportunities for recovery, reconstruction, and sustainable development, while continuing to require the international community to operate in a complex and rapidly changing context. Against this backdrop, the Country Office Director leads UNOPS operations in Syria while also overseeing the organization’s portfolio in Lebanon. The Director is responsible for positioning UNOPS to respond to evolving humanitarian, recovery and reconstruction priorities. Building strategic partnerships through networking, advocacy and communication of UNOPS expertise to develop opportunities with new and existing partners will be a main focus area.. During the development of the Country Office, the Director will draw on key capacities from the Amman Multi-Country Office, as provided by the Head of Programme and Head of Support Services, to strengthen programme delivery and operational management while the office progressively develops its own capacity and structures. ### Role Purpose Reporting to and under the general guidance and oversight of the Regional Director, the Country Office (CO) Director directs and manages all delivery and operations under the CO’s scope - including liaison and engagement development activities and delivering timely and cost-effective services for sustainable results by partners and stakeholders. The CO Director also represents UNOPS on behalf of the Regional Director in the country covered by the CO. ### Functions / Key Results Expected People Leadership - Create, foster and role model a culture of trust, empowerment and accountability across the Country Office (CO) locations. - Build engagement and foster a diverse and inclusive work environment, respectful of all, and ensure that the highest standards of conduct are observed. - Create, foster and role model a culture of respect and zero tolerance for discrimination, abuse of authority, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual exploitation and abuse. Ensure accountability for actions and perform duties in accordance with protection mechanisms and action plans, as expected by UNOPS policies, standards and commitments. - Promote teamwork, collaboration and diversity by providing timely guidance and supervision to the team, to enable them to perform their duties responsibly, effectively and efficiently. - Plan, recruit, manage and develop a flexible and diverse workforce, with the skills and competencies needed to ensure optimum performance. Country Office Portfolio Management - Develop the strategy for the entire Country Office, establish priorities and oversee the implementation of the portfolio, managing the operational risks associated with the Country Office portfolio of engagements. - Lead the delivery of the UNOPS strategic plan through the CO annual plan. - In collaboration with the CO team and partners, establish annual objectives and targets, performance measurements, standards and results expected to ensure timely and partner oriented services. - Guide, endorse and oversee the proposals and project document agreements in connection with identified opportunities across the Country Office. - Set and endorse the objectives, performance measurements, standards and results expected to ensure timely and partner oriented services across the Country Office - Monitor implementation, oversee progress toward annual objectives and make decisions to ensure the delivery of results as planned. - Plan, propose to the Regional Director and allocate resources (human, financial and administrative) to achieve goals and ensure financial sustainability in accordance with UNOPS standards of ethics, integrity and accountability framework. - Operate within the defined limits of authority on matters of Finance, Procurement and Human Resources and subjec