Location: Damascus, Syria
Status: Non-family posting
Duration of contract: two years’ contract (with possible extension) 
Start date: April 2026

Please note that applicants must obtain an endorsement from a Christian church to which they belong.

Lutheran World Federation (LWF) World Service
LWF World Service is the humanitarian and development arm of the Lutheran World Federation. We are a widely recognized, international, faith-based organization working in over 20 countries. We seek to bring people of all backgrounds together in the common quest for justice, peace, and reconciliation in an increasingly complex and fragmented world. A commitment to the human rights of every individual, regardless of their status, guides our work, actions, and operations. We are particularly known for our timely, compassionate, and professional humanitarian work, and for our field presence in hard-to-reach areas. Our work is people-centered and community-based. Above all, we work with the most vulnerable, and in order to claim and uphold their rights, we engage proactively with local government and community structures. For additional information, please see https://worldservice.lutheranworld.org/.   

Purpose
This newly established position is designed to provide strong leadership for LWF’s Country Programs in Jordan, Syria, and Iraq. The role will ensure continuity of LWF’s presence in Jordan and Iraq while driving the further development of programming in Syria. LWF works with local partners across the three countries and is currently advancing efforts to localize part of its engagement in Jordan, which will require close collaboration and capacity strengthening.
The position-holder will oversee the implementation of the Jordan, Syria and Iraq Strategies 2025–2031, which set out a vision for addressing both emergency and long-term development needs through a nexus approach. This includes humanitarian response, resilience-building, and inclusive community development, alongside cross-cutting priorities such as gender equality, climate and conflict sensitivity, and accountability to affected populations.
The role includes representing LWF externally, building networks with donors and stakeholders, and securing funding to sustain and expand programming. The position-holder is accountable for effective implementation of projects and compliance with LWF’s global policies and strategies, ensuring impact and alignment with organizational goals.

Major challenges 
This role comes with operational and strategic challenges. Managing teams remotely in Jordan and Iraq requires strong communication systems and oversight to ensure program quality and staff support. The ongoing localization process in Jordan adds complexity, as it involves balancing organizational standards with partner capacity development. Financial sustainability is another critical concern, demanding proactive efforts to secure diversified funding and maintain program viability in all three countries. Additionally, the position will need to navigate adjustments to the organizational structure and operational model to respond effectively to evolving regional needs.

Position Environment and Dimensions 
The position will be based in Damascus, Syria, with frequent travel to Jordan and Iraq, and it will oversee activities in various governorates all three countries. Travel to locations where LWF is operational is also required. The position reports to the Regional Program Coordinator for the Middle East, based in Geneva.

Required qualifications
University degree in a relevant subject with strong expertise on issues related to human rights, sustainable development, and/or humanitarian response.

Knowledge and Experience
Further training and expertise in the above issues and/or other relevant areas (e.g. strategic leadership, management, organizational change and people management, advocacy, climate justice, finance, monitoring and evaluation).
Minimum 5 years of successful experience in a senior leadership/management position in the field of human rights, sustainable development, and/or humanitarian response.
Proven ability to enable teams, to coach, nurture and motivate colleagues, creating a conducive working environment.
Proven track record in enabling teams to deliver rigorous planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of programmatic work.
Proven capacity to model organizational values and champion innovation, resilience, and adaptability in the face of change.
Demonstrated success in expanding organizational funding through effective donor engagement, consistent resource mobilization strategies, and the implementation of robust financial management and compliance practices.
Proven capacity to navigate strategic processes of collaboration between international agencies and actors.

Language Skills
English: advanced verbal and writing skills 
Arabic: would be an asset

LWF Core Skills
Analytical thinking - Level advanced* 
Initiative - Level advanced 
Leadership - Level resource 
Achieving results - Level advanced 
Accountability - Level resource
Working effectively with others - Level resource

LWF Functional Skills
Project Management - Level advanced
Organizational Change Management – Level advanced Innovation - Level advanced
Communication / Networking - Level advanced Facilitation / Negotiation - Level resource
Resources management / fundraising - Level resource Enabling management - Level resource

*LWF 3 skills levels are: basis - advanced – resource

Main duties

People and Change Management Skills
Proven ability to manage teams as a team builder, enabling, coaching and motivating staff members to fulfil their mission, and ensuring a conducive working environment.
Oversee and manage the process of implementing organizational changes, including implementing the country strategies, operational shifts, and organizational cultural initiatives, to ensure smooth transitions and minimize disruption.

Leadership and Strategic Contribution
Provides overall leadership to the LWF World Service program and its management team. 
Ensures strong and positive relationships with relevant Related Agencies to ensure the on-going health of the LWF Jordan, Syria and Iraq programs, playing a leading role in the strategic development and evolution of the program.
Acts as LWF representative for engaging with government authorities, ministries, donors, UN agencies, NGOs, and other stakeholders relevant.
Represent the organization in official forums, promote program visibility, and advocate for organizational priorities.

Finance, resource mobilization, donor engagement and grant management
Identify and secure funding opportunities, lead proposal development, and negotiate contracts with donors.
Build and maintain strong relationships with institutional donors, government agencies, and implementing partners.
Develops strategies and operational plans and actively engages in negotiations with key stakeholders to uphold and develop a viable portfolio of projects and programs.
Oversees the elaboration of high-quality project proposals and ensure funding from a diversified pool of donors.
Engages closely and successfully with finance mechanisms, enabling colleagues to deliver and strengthen the financial management and compliance of the program in line with donor, related agency and LWF World Service expectations and internal control systems. 
Mitigate financial risks and ensure all activities adhere to internal and external compliance standards.

Programmatic work
Ensure that programmatic work is aligned with the Jordan, Syria and Iraq Strategies 2025 - 2031 and other LWF policies and guidelines.
Ensure a consistent ‘local to global’ approach in programming, linking local rights-based programming to national, regional and international advocacy and action for change.
Oversee the planning, implementation, and evaluation of projects and programs, ensuring objectives are met on time and in compliance with donor and organizational standards.
Supervise staff, ensuring effective delivery and reporting in line with donor requirements and internal policies.
Enable the team to deliver rigorous planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting (PMER) of programmatic work to the satisfaction of donors, related agencies and LWF Geneva / Global Coordination.
Ensure good management of resources, operations and partnerships with special emphasis on capacity building and continued improvement.
Undertake monitoring of program/projects in the region.

Operational representation, advocacy, networking
Takes a leading role in overall advocacy-related work to address issues relevant to LWF and our programming, acting as spokesperson on behalf of the LWF World Service Jordan, Syria and Iraq program.
Maintains close communication and cooperation with LWF´s Related Agencies and their local and regional offices, LWF Member Church, other LWF World Service Programs in the region, and appropriate ecumenical and/or faith-based partners through frequent informal coordination and collaboration.
Fosters and maintains close coordination and collaboration with international and bilateral cooperating and co-financing partners, particularly with UN, governments and their agencies, diplomatic representations, and other international and national NGOs.

Team leadership and people management
Oversee key operational functions, including human resources, facilities, health and safety, security, and local legal compliance.
Lead, manage, and develop the team, fostering capacity building and high performance in the region.
Enable the team through coaching, nurturing and motivating colleagues, creating a conducive working environment.
Ensure that management values, systems and roles are strengthened to enable the smooth implementation of LWF programmatic work.
Ensure effective mechanisms for individual and team capacity building, continuous learning and employee life cycle management.
Ensure that recruitment is gender-sensitive and inclusive.

Accountability
Ensures all interventions are undertaken in accordance with the LWF/WS policies and guidelines, specifically concerning the LWF Staff Code of Conduct, the Sphere Project and the Core Humanitarian Standard, as well as rights-based, gender responsive and climate sensitive programming.

Security management
Responsible for security related to the LWF Jordan, Syria and Iraq program, ensuring that security matters are monitored and addressed. 
Ensures that a security plan is developed and employed for all levels of field staff and visitors to the program.