Position Start Date : September 15^th, 2025

Duration : 12 months

Location : Damascus, Syria

Status : non-accompanied

Terre des hommes does not set closing dates for this position; recruitment is on-going until the position is filled

Tdh :

Terre des hommes Foundation (Tdh), with headquarters in Lausanne and an office in Zurich, is the leading Swiss organisation for children’s aid. In 2021, we supported two million children and members of their communities around the world. We trained people who in turn supported a further 3.1 million children and members of their communities.

Responsibilities :

As representative of the organisation, the Country Director coordinates and manages all activities linked to Terre des hommes in the country: external representation and networking, fundraising, staff management, safety and security, finance, and administration, and over sees operations at country level. S/he supports Terre des hommes advocacy at national level and when possible, at the regional level and builds and manages partnerships. S/he manages and develops the organisation’s country and strategy jointly with the Operations Unit in HQ.

• Under the supervision of the Deputy Regional Director, s/he ensures the proper functioning of operations at the national level; as such s/he represents the Foundation in Syria
• In collaboration with her/his line manager, the Deputy Regional Director, implement and review the short/medium and longer-term country strategy for Terre des hommes
• Monitors the world security context relevant to the mission
• Identifies the main stakeholders for access to Tdh
• Maintains an information network enabling the follow-up of the evolution of risks and threats
• Manages and documents the context and the risk analysis
• Designs, defines, and manages the implementation of all needed responses to risks (regulations, training, networking, communications, coordination, etc.)
• Designs and manages/coordinates the mission’s access strategy
• Compiles the security plans (rules, procedures, standards, emergency plans) and sees to sharing and following up the implementation

The full JD will be shared with the shortlisted candidates.

Profile :

Education : Relevant University degree

Experience, Skills & Competencies :

• Minimum 7-10 years’ experience in a similar position (country director or senior manager).
• Experience in strategic planning and inspiring leadership in emergency/development context.
• Experience in networking and fundraising: developing partnerships, identifying new opportunities and mobilizing resources.
• Experience representing an organization to donors and authorities.
• Excellent interpersonal qualities: integrity, capacity to judge and diplomacy.

Languages : Fluency in English, Arabic an asset

IT know-how : Usual MS Office tools

Salary :

Expatriate contract under Swiss regulations between CHF 5’500.- and CHF 6’000.- net /month according to experience x 13 times, Vacancy: 25 days annual leaves local accommodation and transportation, Health insurance, accident and medical repatriation insurance, return flight.

Tdh Global Code of Conduct and Risk Management Policies :

• Fully complies with Tdh’s Global Code of Conduct and systematically reports any breach to the Code through the whistleblowing procedure: raises awareness within the Foundation on abuse and violence and the rights deriving therefrom, respecting the rights and dignity of children, members of the communities and our own Staff
• Commits to respecting Risk Management Policies including: Safeguarding Policies (Child Safeguarding Policy, Policy on the Protection against Sexual Exploitation and the Directive on Staff Misconduct at the Workplace), Safety and Security Policy and Anti-Fraud/Corruption and Prevention of the Financing of Criminal Activities Policies
• Commits to reducing the risk of abuse and harm by developing a culture of open and informed leadership within the organization and in our work with children and the communities in which we intervene in.