Director, Country Office, Damascus, Syria

## Director, Country Office, Damascus, Syria - Organization:UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services - Office:UNOPS Damascus, Syria Position Title:Director, Country Office Job Category:Leadership Duty Station(s):Damascus Seniority Level:Executive Level 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 Drive strategic leadership and operational excellence to deliver sustainable results and strengthen partnerships in-country. 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. 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. 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. 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 - 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 subject to any limits or conditions that may be imposed as per delegated authority. - Manage overall HSSE performance across the entire CO while holding accountability for the implementation of all HSSE requirements. - Oversee, monitor and direct appropriate measures to maintain the safety and security of UNOPS personnel and their eligible dependents, assets, property and information within the respective area of responsibility. - Consult - as the most senior UNOPS person in-country - with the UNOPS Chief of Security act as the UNOPS Security Focal Point (SFP) within the country of operation, including participating actively in the Security Management Team (SMT) and performing duties on security as outlined in the Framework of Accountability in the UN Security Management System Policy Manual. Alliance Building, Networking and Advocacy for Business Development - Keep abreast and assess the needs of national governments and other UNOPS partners operating in the geographical coverage area, to identify and plan with them areas for leveraging UNOPS services/competencies in project service delivery and management that will facilitate their achievement of sustainable results. - Build and strengthen strategic p