HR Manager

Job Description

Title: HR Manager

Location: Damascus, Syria

Travel: 60-70%

Job Family and Level: Professional Family P7

Pre hire checks :This role is classified as requiring standard pre-employment checks

1.         Scope Responsibility

Responsibility: Country Level

Department: Human Resources- Country Level

Reporting to: Country Director

Direct reports 

Budget responsibility: NA

Relationship management

2.        Context

Relief International (RI) is an international non-profit organization that partners with communities impacted by conflict, climate change and disaster to save lives, build greater resilience and promote long-term health and wellbeing.

Our team of more than 7,000 staff and local volunteers work in 15 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, providing Health and Nutrition, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), Education and Livelihoods programming that creates the foundation for community resilience.

We do this by working with local actors to develop safe and inclusive local programming that is evidence based, conflict sensitive, climate smart, and reaches those in need.

Relief International is an alliance of four organizations with one shared mission, comprised of Relief International, Inc., Relief International-France, Relief International-UK and Relief International-Europe, which operate under a one-team concept under a single senior leadership team.

3.        Job Profile

The Syria HR Manager is a key leadership role is responsible for guiding and implementing human resource strategies in compliance with RI policies and local labor laws. The HR Manager ensures the effective management of HR functions, including recruitment, employee relations, compensation and benefits, learning and development, and compliance.

Your role will provide high-quality HR support and oversight to ensure RI’s human resource management strategy and functions are effectively implemented across Syria. You will play a pivotal role in aligning HR policies and procedures with RI’s global framework while ensuring adaptability to local contexts. Your expertise will contribute to RI’s ability to attract, retain, and develop talent while maintaining a supportive and legally compliant work environment.

4.      Key Responsibilities Accountability and Complexity

·       Develop and implement a comprehensive HR strategy aligned with RI’s policies and local labor laws.

·       Ensure HR systems and procedures are standardized and harmonized across Syria operations.

·       Oversee and ensure compliance with labor laws, employment standards, and RI policies.

·       Support recruitment, compensation analysis, learning and development, performance management, and talent acquisition.

·       Provide expert HR guidance to senior leadership on key people management issues.

Talent Acquisition and Workforce Management

·       Lead transparent and efficient recruitment processes for Syria and regional hub positions.

·       Ensure salary offers and hiring decisions comply with RI policies and labor laws.

·       Oversee contracts, promotions, extensions, and status changes for staff.

·       Monitor workforce trends and provide strategic workforce planning guidance.

Compensation, Benefits, and Employee Relations

·       Coordinate payroll preparation and social security payments to ensure accuracy and timeliness.

·       Monitor leave tracking and support salary reviews to enhance employee well-being.

·       Lead employee relations initiatives, including conflict resolution, disciplinary processes, and grievance management.

·       Respond promptly to employee queries, ensuring a fair and respectful workplace.

Training, Development, and Culture

·       Collaborate with the Director of Training and Development to implement capacity-building initiatives.

·       Foster an inclusive and collaborative work culture that values diverse perspectives.

·       Provide guidance to managers and staff on navigating HR policies and responsibilities.

·       Promote a culture of ethical leadership, trust, and accountability.

·       Support initiatives related to staff well-being, work-life balance, and mental health.

Management and Leadership

·       Serve as a role model for high ethical standards and integrity.

·       Navigate HR-related challenges in a conflict-affected region with resilience and adaptability.

·       Ensure HR initiatives are aligned with organizational objectives and measure key HR performance indicators.

·       Support the Syria Incident Management Team in safeguarding, HR-related investigations, and follow-ups.

Management and Leadership

 ·       Oversee the recruitment, onboarding, and professional development of MEAL staff.

 ·       Ensure the MEAL system operates effectively with strong linkages between field and country-level teams.

 ·       Provide leadership and technical oversight to MEAL staff across RI hubs.

 ·       Represent RI in inter-agency coordination bodies and MEAL working groups.

 Behavior and Conduct

·  Will ensure the highest standards of behavior inside and outside of work promotes the values in RI’s code of conduct and safeguarding policies

·    Will be a model for ethical conduct standards for other team members

·    Will ensure own actions and the actions of the teams’ members they manage do not impact the safety of the RI team and the vulnerable communities we serve

·       Will ensure external stakeholders are aware of RI conduct and reporting mechanisms

·       Report any concerns

5.         Person Specification Skills, knowledge and expertise required for the role.  

Essential Criteria

• Previous HR strategic experience in the Middle East region.
• Minimum of 5 years of HR experience in the NGO sector.
• Proven experience developing and implementing HR strategies in compliance with local labor laws.
• Ability to navigate complex and challenging situations in conflict-affected regions.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and administrative skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong problem-solving skills and an innovative approach to HR challenges.
• Willingness to travel, sometimes on short notice, for HR-related duties.
• Excellent communication skills, including negotiation, presentation, and relationship management.
• Fluency in written and spoken English; proficiency in Arabic is an asset.

RI Values

Guided by the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, as well as “Do No Harm,” Relief International Values:

·       Integrity

·       Adaptability

·       Collaboration

·       Inclusivity

·       Sustainability