About this role
Humanitarian Response Program Manager
Position Description
Location: Damascus
Position Status Full-time
About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.
Program / Department Summary
Mercy Corps seeks to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression around the world. We recognize that instances of sudden change within a country or region are rare moments to enact significant, lasting change. Mercy Corps, with its global experience working in countries undergoing major transitions, brings knowledge, expertise, and strong management skills to position the agency as a partner of choice for progressive change in Syria. Mercy Corps has been operational in Syria since 2012 as a leading agency implementing triple nexus programming in one of the world's most complex humanitarian crises. Millions of Syrians remain displaced, essential services are degraded, and communities struggle with economic collapse, food insecurity, and limited access to healthcare, water, and protection services. At the same time, localized stability in some areas has created opportunities for early recovery and transition.
Mercy Corps humanitarian and development bridges emergency response with resilience‑oriented approaches, ensuring that lifesaving assistance continues while communities begin to rebuild systems, livelihoods, and social cohesion. Mercy corps is expandings its scope off programming to accelerate a shift by fast‑tracking critical support and strengthening local capacities for a sustainable humanitarian transition. Mercy Corps' focus is to rapidly deliver lifesaving assistance to crisis‑affected populations in Syria while enabling a strategic humanitarian reset that strengthens local systems, enhances resilience, and supports a transition toward early recovery and stabilization.
General Position Summary
The Humanitarian Response Program Manager (HRPM) is responsible for leading coordinated fast-tracking lifesaving assistance in support of humanitarian reset and transition in As-Weida, Idleb, Aleppo, and Al-Hasakah governorates in Syria. Position includes daily management of program activities in collaboration with thematic Humanitarian clusters coordinators and program staff, ensuring appropriate systems and support mechanisms are in place to track, analyze and report on results as well as engagement with senior management on the strategic direction on the overall response.
The HRPM is a strong team leader, able to develop and mentor field team members; s/he is an effective communicator, s/he is highly motivated, self‐driven and able to move forward complex projects with limited daily support and direction; s/he can work remotely with internal and external stakeholders to achieve common objectives. S/he is responsible for managing relationships with implementing partners, beneficiaries, local authorities, cluster coordinators and donor representatives, thus contributing to achievement of agency goals through innovation, program development and displaying expertise in humanitarian programming. This role requires astute skills in relationship building and coordination to facilitate program expansion.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategy & Vision
• Identify new strategic opportunities and position Mercy Corps as one of the leading agencies for high‐impact humanitarian response in Syria.
• Set program direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to country and regional‐wide strategy development.
• Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and engage with stakeholders to provide support.
• Lead programmatic expansion of humanitarian response activities in Syria including seeking and recognizing needs, identifying funding opportunities and participating in proposal design and development.
• Works within the Whole of Syria structure to harmonize vision, strategy, and approaches.
Program Management
• Oversee program start‐up and ongoing program management and administration of the teams across the various field locations.
• Develop program implementation strategies, including partnership frameworks when needed, beneficiary targeting, distribution process with special focus on emergency WASH, Cash Transfer Programs and Food Security interventions.
• Ensure that program implementation is conducted with the respect to the security protocols, responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps' relevant program guidelines and SOPs, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan;
• Maintain relevant SOPs to ensure they are relevant and applicable to changing contexts
• Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget.
• Ensure monitoring systems are in place, including gathering data for case studies.
• This will include both direct and remote monitoring where access is limited or restricted.
• Ensure close cooperation with the PaQ team in gathering evidence and establishing appropriate modalities for delivering emergency assistance.
• Ensure timely production of Post Distribution Monitoring reports by the PaQ department and using the findings to adapt and improve program design and implementation.
• Establish and maintain effective program reporting, monitoring and evaluation systems for both internal and external use.
• Ensure program filing system is in place, adheres to internal and donor's regulation and filing is regularly maintained
• Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget.
• Adhere to all MC procurement, logistics and administrative regulations related to programming.
Team Management
• Identify key capacity gaps within the Humanitarian Response team and develop structured trainings and workshops to fill these gaps – building capacity building into program planning.
• Mentor HRPM team to build capacity for sustainable leadership pipeline
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
• Supervise, hire and orient new team members as necessary.
• Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
• Contribute to country team‐building efforts, help team members identify problem solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision‐making processes.
Finance & Compliance Management
• Manage financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
• Oversee the program budgets, monitor project cash flow and expenditures.
• Ensure that all policies and procedures regarding the documentation of HRPM activities are followed.
Influence & Representation
• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with implementing partners, Humanitarian Clusters Working Groups, donors, local authorities and other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.
Security
• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
Supervisory Responsibility: Humanitarian Response Coordinator.
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Country Program Manager
Works Directly With: Regional TRaQ team, Grants manager, PaQ Manager, Security Team, CARM team, operations, HR and Finance teams.
Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Knowledge and Experience
• BA/BS or equivalent in international studies, Water Engineer, Development Studies, economics or other relevant field; MA/S preferred.
• 5‐7 years of working with international relief and development program management experience.
• Minimum of 4-5 years of work experience in the e implementation of Humanitarian Response (planning, WASH infrastructure rehabilitations, CVA, Food security, distributions, community mobilization, etc) preferably with an international organization.
• Previous experience in operating and managing teams in conflict and insecure environments required.
• Combination of direct and remote management experience is essential.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles.
• Experience in capacity building and mentoring national staff is essential.
• Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving.
• Proven ability to learn quickly, lead a program to achieve stated results and objectives.
• Experience with Humanitarian donors such as OCHA & and ECHO funded programs, with an adept understanding of Humanitarian principles.
• Ability to effectively represent Mercy Corps and its interests to key stakeholders.
• Demonstrated understanding of operating context (As-Sweida, Aleppo, Idleb and Al-Hasakah) and experience working with local authorities, national and international NGOs.
• Effective verbal and written communication, multi‐tasking, organizational and prioritization skills.
• Excellent oral and written English and Arabic skills required.
• Ability to work effectively with culturally diverse team in a sensitive environment.
• Internationally recognized qualification in project or program management or a commitment to obtain the qualification in the early months of work.
Success Factors
The successful HRPM will combine exceptional management skills and experience in maintaining donor and partner relationships. S/he will have an outstanding ability to develop, implement and manage a range of complex programs within the current and future program structure of Mercy Corps in the region. S/he will also have proven experience with cross‐cultural team and capacity building, individual staff development and strong mentoring skills. S/he will possess high level of adaptability and be able to adjust to the constantly changing working environment. S/he will have previous experience in implementing emergency programs in an insecure and conflict context. Prioritizing, problem solving, ability to seize opportunities, attention to detail and strategic vision are essential. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication is a priority in all situations. The successful candidate will understand the heavy workload required to thrive on the position and will have a strong work ethic.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
This position will be based in Damascus and will manage a geographically diverse portfolio and team, with frequent travel between relevant field offices across Syria as dictated by the workload. Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
Ongoing Learning
In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development
Team Efficiency and Effectiveness
Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.
We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.
Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.
As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([email protected]).
الصون و الأخلاق
ميرسي كور تلتزم بضمان المعاملة اللائقة واحترام جميع الأفراد اللذين نتواصل معهم من خلال عملنا, سواء كانوا أعضاء
الفريق أو أعضاء المجتمع أو المشاركين في البرامج أو غيرهم. نحن ملتزمون بالمبادئ الرئيسية المتعلقة بمنع الاستغلال
والإساءة الجنسية التي وضعها الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة واللجنة الدائمة للتنسيق بين الوكالات الإنسانية (IASC)، وقد وقعنا
على ف ي الفاعلة الجهات بين المتبادل الإفصاح نظام حالة السلوك الغير اللائق. عند التقديم لهذا الدور، يؤكد المتقدم أنه لم
ينتهك في السابق سياسة السلوك الجنسي، والاستغلال والإساءة جنسية، صون الأطفال، أو الاتجار بالبشر لأي جهة عمل.
ميرسي كور لن تتسامح مع إساءة معاملة الأطفال أو الاستغلال الجنسي أو الإساءة أو التحرش من قبل أو بسبب أعضاء
فريقنا. كجزء من التزامنا تجاه توفير بيئة عمل آمنة وشاملة, من المتوقع أن يتصرف أعضاء الفريق بطريقة مهنية, تحترم
القوانين والعادات المحلية. والالتزام كور ميرسي بمنظمة الخاصة السلوك قواعد مدونة وقيم بسياسات في جميع الأوقات. كما
يتطلب من جميع أعضاء الفريق إكمال دورات التعليم الإلكتروني الإلزامية لقواعد السلوك عند التوظيف وذلك بشكل سنوي .
كمتقدم للوظيفة، إذا كنت قد شهدت أو تعرضت لأي نوع من أنواع السلوك الجنسي الغير لائق خلال عملية التوظيف،
يرجى الإبلاغ عن ذلك إلى خط النزاهة في منظمة ميرسي كور ([email protected]).
RECRUITMENT SCAMS & FRAUD WARNING
Mercy Corps has become aware of scams involving false job offers. Please be advised:
Recruiters will never ask for a fee during any stage of the recruitment process. All active jobs are advertised directly on Akhtaboot.
Official Mercy Corps emails will always arrive from a @mercycorps.org email address.
Please report any suspicious communications to (([email protected]))
Personal Consent:
The organization collects your personal data for the purposes of managing the organization's recruitment related activities as well as for organizational planning purposes globally. Consequently, the organization may use your personal data in relation to the evaluation and selection of applicants including, for example, setting up and conducting interviews and tests, evaluating and assessing the results thereto and as is otherwise needed in the recruitment processes including the final recruitment.
The organization is an international organization consisting of multiple affiliated companies in various countries. The organization has international sites and uses resources located throughout the world. Your data may be held on secure platforms globally, including outside of the EU. All personal data whether relating to recruitment or employment, is held on a secure platform and system which is subject to regular testing and audit. Unless stated in the job description that the post involves other organizations with which the information will be shared as part of the recruitment process, your personal data will only be shared with third parties where consent is given.
The organization participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (the “Scheme”) (www.schr.info/the-misconduct-disclosure-scheme). Accordingly, we request information from a job applicant's previous employer(s) about any investigations which found that the applicant committed sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents of misconduct under investigation when the applicant left employment. By applying, you confirm your consent to the organization collecting your prior employment history under the Scheme as part of the application process. Your data will be stored for up to four years.
Important Notice: Mercy Corps never charges candidates any fees at any stage of the recruitment process. If you are asked to make a payment for a job opportunity claiming to be from Mercy Corps, it is a scam.
All official communication from Mercy Corps will come from an @mercycorps.org email address. We do not contact candidates via Gmail, Yahoo, WhatsApp, or other unofficial channels.
If you receive a suspicious job offer, please report it to us immediately