Head of Systems and Operations, North East Syria

Head of Systems and Operations, North East Syria

Starting date: December 2024/January 2025, or upon agreement
Contract duration: 12 months with possibility of extension
Country Program: Syrian Response
Base: Raqqa, NE with regular travel across NE Syria
Line Manager: Country Director, Northeast Syria

About the mission:

PIN has been working in Northern Syria since 2012, providing emergency relief and early recovery support to conflict-affected communities and internally displaced persons. PIN’s contribution to the overall Syria humanitarian response is amongst the largest of PIN country programs worldwide. The program in NE Syria currently has three operational offices with the main one located in Raqqa and employs around 300 staff members.

General position summary:

Under the leadership of the Country Director, the Head of Systems and Operations (HoSO henceforth) will supervise and provide leadership to the operational teams in the North East Syrian country program. The HoSO is responsible for ensuring high quality operational support to a wide range of programing across emergency to early recovery contexts. The HoSO reports to the Country Director for North East Syria and is part of the Country Management Team in NES. He/she has delegated management responsibility for Human Resources, Finance and Logistics and Procurement ensuring programs are fully supported and compliant with local as well as donor guidelines. The NES Systems Director is supported technically by the Regional Head of Systems and Operations based in the PIN HQ.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Line manage, direct and support NES Finance, HR and Logistics and Procurement Managers.
  • Ensure operational support programs ensuring effective, efficient and timely responses to needs in NES.
  • Ensure that recommendations for improvements (e.g. from audits, donor checks) are implemented in a timely manner;
  • Ensure that the key policies in operational area are continuously updated as required and appropriate to the context;
  • Oversee the NES hub economy together with the NES Finance Manager including identification of gaps, financial and procedural risks, and provision of appropriate solutions;
  • Provide technical support and guidance to the finance team to ensure effective operations of and coordination between budgeting, drawing, and accounting;
  • Oversee the HR department ensuring the implementation of relevant national and international staff policies including training for new staff, managing leaves, allowances and evaluations;
  • Ensure adequate staffing of all supervised departments to achieve efficient delivery of the NES PIN strategy;
  • Ensure that recruitment of new staff is transparent and corresponds to PIN standards;
  • Provide technical support and guidance to the logistics and procurement team to ensure effective operations and coordination between the office management, fleet management, procurement, stock and assets management;
  • Ensure effective communication between support (finance, HR, log) and program departments;
  • And other operational tasks as per the instructions of the Country Director.

Suitable candidate:

  • Must have proven previous experience with financial management of humanitarian or development projects;
  • Must have proven previous professional experience from the Middle East;
  • Must have proven experience with team management, supervision and building capacity of both expatriate and national staff;
  • Should have prior experience working with systems which are compliant to DG Intpa, DG ECHO, BHA, UN and similar international agencies‘ procedures.
  • Has excellent communication skills, including fluent spoken and written English
  • Has strong coordination, organizational, critical analysis and problem solving skills, resilience to stress;
  • Has experience of working in complex and volatile contexts and ability to comply with strict security protocols;
  • Has previous working experience with an accounting, economic, procurement or HR software.

People in Need offers:

  • Salary as per PIN salary scale: 3,050 – 3,400 EUR gross, depending on previous experience, plus 1350 EUR subsistance allowance and 400 EUR hardship allowance
  • Comprehensive R&R package granted for every 8 weeks spent inside NES including 12 days of R&R leave days annually in addition to the 5 weeks of regular leave granted annually. This can be complemented by remote work up to additional one month annually.
  • Reimbursement of travel expenses to the country of residence twice in a year of completed work and in addition to that, an R&R flight provided twice a year. In effect, there is a flight covered by PIN every quarter.
  • Housing in PIN guesthouses covered by PIN, each staff is assigned an individual room;
  • Opportunities for further learning, trainings, professional growth and capacity development;
  • Reimbursement of costs of visas and vaccinations; assistance with visa application procedure if relevant; post-deployment checkup cost covered.
  • Free medical helpdesk and psychological consultation available online;
  • Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT)
  • Travel health insurance.

This is an unaccompanied position.

How to Apply?

Are you interested in this position? Great. Send us your CV and short cover letter in English via our application form. 

Please note only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted on rolling basis and the vacancy will be closed when filled. 

People in Need is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct and committed to promoting the welfare of children and adults with whom People in Need involves. People in Need expects all staff to perform job duties and responsibilities in accordance with People in Need code of conduct and key policies (available at: https://www.peopleinneed.net/key-policies-4142gp). People in Need Staff will undertake the appropriate level of training. 

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. 

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.