Country Director (National Position)

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    "city": "Damascus",
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    "location": {
      "city": "Damascus",
      "state": "Syria",
      "postalCode": "222222",
      "addressCountry": "Syria"
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    "datePosted": "2026-05-10",
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    "description": "<p><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Near East Foundation</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Job Description</span></p>\n<p><br><br></p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Position:</span> Country Director <br><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Reports to:</span> Chief Operating Officer (COO)<br><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Location:</span> Syria<br><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Type:</span> Full-time<br><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Travel:</span> Regular travel within Syria (as feasible) and periodic regional/international travel<br><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Start Date:</span> As soon as possible</p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Open to:</span> Nationals only</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Position Overview</span></span></p>\n<p><br></p>\n<p>The Country Director (CD) is NEF’s most senior representative in Syria and is responsible for the overall leadership, performance, and strategic direction of NEF’s work in the country. The CD provides leadership across programs, operations, partnerships, finances, risk management, safeguarding, and external representation, ensuring alignment with NEF’s mission, values, and global strategy.</p>\n<p>The CD leads NEF’s country portfolio in close partnership with Headquarters (HQ), operating within an agreed governance framework that sets out decision-rights, escalation pathways, and shared accountability between country leadership and HQ.</p>\n<p>This role comes at a critical moment, as NEF transitions from a remote management approach to in country management. The CD will play a central role in shaping this transition, while ensuring continuity, compliance, and operational stability in a complex and evolving environment.</p>\n<p>The position requires strong leadership, sound judgment, and the ability to operate effectively across fragmented governance structures, shifting regulatory frameworks, and high-risk contexts.</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Key Responsibilities</span></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"> </span></p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Program Leadership &amp; Quality</span></span></p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Provide overall leadership of NEF’s program portfolio in Syria, ensuring relevance, quality, and impact</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Ensure programs are responsive to evolving needs and grounded in local realities</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Oversee program design, implementation, and adaptive management</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Promote learning, innovation, and practical problem-solving across teams</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Strategy &amp; Syria Transition</span></span></p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Lead the transition toward ensuring alignment between different operational areas</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Conduct ongoing context and scenario analysis to inform strategic decisions</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Adapt NEF’s presence and engagement model as the political and operational landscape evolves</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Ensure coherence between programmatic ambitions and operational realities</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Governance, Compliance &amp; Sanctions</span></span></p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Ensure strict adherence to all applicable <span style=\"font-weight: bold\">sanctions frameworks, donor requirements, and NEF policies</span></span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Oversee vetting, re-vetting, and due diligence processes for staff, partners, and service providers</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Manage compliance risks linked to engagement with different authorities and stakeholders</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Ensure that all operations are legally and reputationally sound</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Stakeholder &amp; External Engagement</span></span></p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Navigate relationships with <span style=\"font-weight: bold\">multiple authorities and governance structures</span> across Syria</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Represent NEF with government counterparts, donors, UN agencies, and partners</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Ensure that all external engagement remains aligned with NEF’s principles of neutrality and independence</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Manage sensitive engagements in coordination with HQ when required</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Operations, Finance &amp; Risk Management</span></span></p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Oversee all country operations (HR, finance, procurement, logistics, IT)</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Ensure strong financial management, internal controls, and audit readiness</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Maintain and regularly update risk registers, including operational, financial, and reputational risks</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Ensure that operations are adapted to context constraints (access, security, regulatory environment)</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Safety, Security &amp; Duty of Care</span></span></p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Ensure implementation of NEF’s safety and security framework across all areas of operation</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Lead risk-informed decision-making related to access, staff movement, and program continuity</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Ensure staff well-being and duty-of-care obligations are consistently met</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Coordinate closely with HQ on high-risk decisions and incidents</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">People Leadership &amp; Team Management</span></span></p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Lead a <span style=\"font-weight: bold\">distributed and multi-layered team</span>, often operating across different locations and contexts</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Set clear expectations and maintain accountability across program and operations teams</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Support team cohesion and communication despite geographic and structural complexity</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Oversee recruitment, restructuring, and workforce planning </span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Partnerships &amp; Localization</span></span></p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Lead NEF’s partnership approach, including engagement with local actors and implementing partners</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Ensure strong due diligence, monitoring, and compliance of all partner agreements</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Promote practical and balanced localization, aligned with NEF’s standards and risk appetite</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Business Development &amp; Positioning</span></span></p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Identify and shape funding opportunities aligned with NEF’s strategy in Syria</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Support proposal development in close coordination with HQ</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Ensure all opportunities go through appropriate internal review (go/no-go)</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Contribute to building a sustainable and diversified funding base</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Safeguarding, Data Protection &amp; Accountability</span></span></p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Ensure full implementation of safeguarding policies and reporting mechanisms</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Oversee data protection and sensitive information management</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Promote accountability to affected populations, including complaint and feedback systems</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><br></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Qualifications &amp; Requirements</span></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"> </span></p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Education</span></span></p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (Master’s preferred)</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Experience</span></span></p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Minimum 8–12 years of experience in international development or humanitarian work</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Significant experience in senior leadership roles</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Proven experience working in complex, high-risk, or conflict-affected environments</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Strong experience managing donor-funded programs</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Skills &amp; Competencies</span></span></p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Strong leadership and decision-making skills in complex environments</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Ability to manage ambiguity and operate with limited clarity</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Strong understanding of compliance, risk, and governance</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">High level of integrity and sound judgment</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Additional Assets</span></span></p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Experience in Syria or similar contexts strongly preferred</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Arabic language skills strongly preferred</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Experience working with institutional donors</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold\">About the Near East Foundation (NEF):</span></p>\n<p><br>For over a century, the Near East Foundation has been dedicated to building sustainable futures for communities in need across the Middle East, Africa, and Armenia. As an NGO driven by compassion and long-term impact, our team thrives on the challenges of delivering meaningful change in some of the most complex regions of the world.  People are at the heart of what we do. Our work empowering individuals and communities, fostering economic growth, and promoting peace and stability depends on the passionate, diverse, and committed team that makes it possible.</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">To apply:</span></p>\n<p><br><br></p>\n<p>NEF will accept a rolling application until the position is filled. Review of applications will begin on <span style=\"font-weight: bold\">May 25, 2026</span>. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Only Syrian Nationals will be considered for this position.</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>Please apply by submitting the following documents in English to the Near East Foundation’s careers page at:</p>\n<p> </p>\n<ol>\n<li>Cover letter outlining all relevant experience, explaining how you meet the essential criteria.</li>\n<li>Curriculum Vitae.</li>\n<li>List of three references (including one from current, or most recent, employer). You will be given further notice prior to us contacting references.</li>\n</ol>\n<p> </p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Please note only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.</span></p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>Applicants are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Near East Foundation by visiting the NEF website at <span><a href=\"http://www.neareast.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">www.neareast.org</a></span></p>",
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