Head of Programmes

Volunteering Opportunity: Head of Programmes

• Organization: Jesuit Refugee Service - Syria (JRS Syria / الرهبانية اليسوعية)
• Location: Damascus – Bab Touma
• Commitment Type: Full Time (08:30 AM - 04:30 PM)

The Purpose of the Position

The Head of Programmes (HoP) is a senior leadership role within the JRS Syria team (Part of Jesuit Fathers), responsible for providing strategic direction, effective oversight and coordination across programme functions. This position plays a critical role in advancing the mission of JRS to accompany, serve, and advocate people who are in need.

The HoP embodies the values and spirit of JRS and leads the development and implementation of a coherent, high-quality programme strategy for the Syria country office. The role ensures that all programmes are delivered with excellence, accountability, and in alignment with organizational priorities, while also strengthening JRS’s external representation and partnerships.

Main Responsibility

1. Define and communicate clear roles, responsibilities, and delegated decision-making authorities across the Programme team, ensuring that accountability frameworks are understood and consistently applied and aligned with JRS’s mission of accompaniment and service.
2. Lead the design and implementation of individual capacity-building plans for Programme staff, in close coordination with Human Resources, to strengthen technical, coordination, and communication competencies.
3. Provide strategic leadership for Programme team governance, including structured team meetings, joint planning processes, and cross-departmental coordination.
4. Lead the performance management cycle for all direct reports, including objective setting, ongoing performance feedback and formal appraisals.
5. Actively contribute to the recruitment of Programme staff and strategically shape the structure and composition of the Programme team to respond to evolving programmatic priorities and operational needs.
6. Lead the development, and annual review of JRS Syria's country programme strategy, ensuring alignment with JRS global framework, the Syria Humanitarian Response Plan, and the evolving needs of conflict-affected and displaced populations.
7. Maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date analysis of the humanitarian context in Syria, including the funding landscape and relevant sectoral trends.
8. Ensure all JRS Syria programmes are designed around robust theories of change, with clear linkages between activities, outputs, and strategic outcomes.
9. Lead on development of innovative, strategic, and competitively positioned funding proposals, ensuring alignment with JRS Syria's programme priorities and donor requirements.
10. Provide strategic leadership for programme implementation in close coordination with the Grants Management Lead.
11. Informed by the Grants Management Lead on donor opportunities and requirements, lead internal reflection on new programming and ensure coordinated development of proposal concepts, budgets, HR, and activity plans with relevant teams.
12. Co-lead regular Programme Implementation Review meetings with the Country Office team to monitor progress against targets and activities, assess the status of all active grants, and identify and resolve delays or operational constraints affecting delivery.
13. Proactively identify risks, bottlenecks, or inter-departmental challenges that may affect implementation timelines and lead the coordination of appropriate mitigation measures and solutions.
14. Develop and oversee a structured plan with SMART objectives to strengthen and improve reporting processes across programmes.
15. Ensure the timely provision of high-quality programme inputs to the Grants Management Lead for donor reporting, including narrative content, lessons learned, and indicator data.
16. Support the development and continuous improvement of Programme and MEAL tools, systems, and resources, including key instruments such as Indicator Tracking Tools, vulnerability assessments, and needs assessment tools.
17. Support the development of a structured learning agenda with the MEAL Officer, enabling regular, evidence-based discussions on programme outcomes and improvement opportunities.
18. In coordination with CD, represent JRS Syria in national humanitarian coordination mechanisms.
19. Support the CD in developing strategic partnerships with peer NGOs, Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) and local civil society organizations.
20. Maintain regular coordination with the Regional Office on all programme-related and strategic matter.

Minimum Qualifications

1. University degree in economics, social sciences, or another relevant field.
2. A minimum of 6 years of professional experience in humanitarian settings with donor-funded programmes, preferably within NGOs or FBOs, including at least 3 years in a senior programme management or programme leadership role within an NGO context.
3. Strong track record in proposal development and donor reporting, with demonstrated experience working with institutional donors.
4. Demonstrated experience in programme strategy development, theory of change design, and oversight of MEAL systems.
5. Proven experience managing programmes in complex, conflict-affected environments; experience in Syria or the broader Middle East is considered a strong advantage.
6. Demonstrated ability to lead and develop multi-disciplinary programme teams, including performance management, capacity building, and organizational change processes.
7. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify operational challenges and develop practical, context-appropriate solutions in complex and volatile environments.
8. Ability to work effectively under pressure, manage competing priorities, and maintain quality and integrity in a volatile operational context.
9. Fluency in English and Arabic (written and spoken).
10. Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word and Excel.
11. Willingness and ability to travel to JRS refugee sites and operational areas across different governorates, and to work in modest living and working conditions.

Core Values and Ethics

1. Commitment to JRS’s mission, vision, and values.
2. Ability to convey with enthusiasm JRS’s role in accompanying and serving forcibly displaced people and to advocate for their right to protection and a life in dignity.
3. High level of integrity, with consistent discretion and sound judgment in handling sensitive matters.
4. Respect for diversity and inclusion as core principles.
5. Working in accordance with the Code of conduct and child safeguarding policy.
6. Highly approachable, trustworthy, and confidential.
7. High degree of professionalism and ethical standards.

Policy and Procedures for Preventing and Responding to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Policy Child Safeguarding

• JRS has a policy of zero tolerance of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) by volunteers. All volunteers shall protect against and prevent sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA).
• JRS has a robust Child Safeguarding Policy and accompanying procedures, and all volunteers must adhere to a culture of child centered best practice and uphold the JRS Child Safeguarding Policy and follow the related procedures.

How to Apply

Kindly send your CV and cover letter to [email protected]. Please mention the position "Head of Programmes" in your email subject.

Recruitment shall be subject to open competition without regard to race, color, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, and beliefs, and to political affiliation, social status, mother tongue and ethnic. Talent’s acquisition shall be made taking into account the importance of recruiting and maintaining a geographically diverse and gender-balanced workforce.

Please note: That only application received by deadline will be considered and only the shortlisted candidate will be contacted