Country Director

Who we are?

IDA is an international independent non-governmental organization providing medical and humanitarian assistance to people affected by conflicts, natural disasters and epidemics regardless of race, religion, gender or political affiliation.
IDA was founded in 2012 by Syrian doctors from Aleppo in response to the healthcare and humanitarian crisis in Syria.

IDA Syria is the main healthcare provider in the Northern Aleppo/Syria area, working closely with 500,000 IDPs and 700,000 host community through 20 healthcare facility and other health and nutrition projects

During last year, IDA has provided 1.2 million services in Heath, Nutrition, WaSH and Camp Management

Location: Syria - Damascus City 40 % and Aleppo City 60 %

IDA operates from within Syria in coordination with the Ministry of Health and other national authorities, and works in partnership with UN agencies, the Health Cluster, international non-governmental organizations, and institutional and philanthropic donors.

Scope of the role: Provide strategic oversight and HR leadership for a complex operational portfolio, supporting a diverse workforce and geographically dispersed operations across multiple governorates and health facilities.

2. Context
Syria is in a period of profound transition. Humanitarian funding is contracting sharply at the same time as national institutions are taking on greater responsibility for service delivery, creating a transition gap in which health facilities lose support before national systems are able to absorb them. Health needs remain acute: a large share of hospitals and primary health care centres are only partially functional, large-scale returns are placing new pressure on services, and the regulatory environment for humanitarian organizations continues to evolve.

In this environment, IDA is seeking a Country Director able to protect the continuity of essential health services, diversify and grow the organization’s funding base, strengthen compliance and internal control, and position IDA as a credible and trusted partner to national authorities, donors and the wider health sector.

3. Role purpose
The Country Director leads and directs IDA’s operations in Syria and is accountable for the delivery, quality, integrity and safety of the country programme. Working under the General Director and closely with the Programmes, Operations and Compliance & Transparency departments, the Country Director translates IDA’s vision, mission and strategy into a coherent, well-resourced and well-governed country programme, and represents IDA to authorities, donors, UN agencies, clusters and partners.

4. Key areas of accountability

Strategic leadership and organizational development
• Provide visionary leadership for IDA’s operations in Syria and implement, and further develop, IDA’s vision, mission and guiding principles in line with agreed organizational strategy and priorities.
• Lead the development, rollout and periodic review of the Syria country strategy, ensuring it responds to evolving needs, the transition from humanitarian response towards early recovery, and IDA’s institutional priorities.
• Analyse the political, security, socio-economic and health-sector context on a continuous basis and adapt organizational direction accordingly.
• Ensure the senior management team functions effectively as a leadership body, with clear decision-making, delegation of authority and accountability.
• Contribute to IDA’s wider organizational development, including participation in task forces, working groups, training courses and conferences.

Programme quality, delivery and learning
• Lead and direct IDA’s programmes in accordance with sound management practice, humanitarian principles, IDA’s policies and its accountability systems.
• Oversee the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all projects to ensure technical quality, timeliness, cost-effectiveness and measurable impact.
• Ensure programmes are aligned with community needs, national health priorities, donor requirements and recognized humanitarian and health standards (Sphere, the Core Humanitarian Standard, WHO and Ministry of Health protocols).
• Ensure IDA maintains a well-balanced, well-documented and cost-effective portfolio, and strengthen the organization’s capacity to document, disseminate and learn from its work.
• Ensure all reporting — internal, donor and government — is accurate, evidence-based and delivered to a high standard and on time.
• Ensure programmes remain sensitive and responsive to changes in the operating environment, including conflict sensitivity and do-no-harm analysis.
• Ensure functioning accountability to affected populations, including community engagement and complaints and feedback mechanisms.

Resource mobilization, donor and partnership management
• Lead the development and implementation of a country funding strategy that secures the continuity of services and diversifies IDA’s donor base.
• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with institutional donors, UN agencies, pooled funds, and philanthropic and regional donors, and develop appropriate domestic and non-traditional funding sources.
• Lead and oversee the development of high-quality concept notes and proposals in collaboration with technical, finance and operations teams.
• Ensure a regular flow of accurate information to donors and to IDA’s funding functions, in line with the requirements of each funding mechanism.
• Develop and manage partnerships and consortia with national and international organizations, ensuring joint initiatives are properly governed and conform to programme objectives.

Financial management and stewardship
• Ensure that the control of expenditure and the disbursement of resources takes place in accordance with established procedures, and safeguard the financial and legal integrity of the organization.
• Oversee budgeting, budget-holder discipline, forecasting, grant and pipeline management, and the efficient use of financial resources in compliance with IDA and donor policies.
• Ensure timely and accurate financial reporting to donors, authorities and IDA’s governance bodies.
• Monitor internal control systems, cash and banking arrangements and financial risk mitigation, and ensure prompt follow-up of audit findings.

Operations, supply chain and logistics
• Ensure operations, procurement, logistics, fleet, assets and information technology effectively enable programme delivery.
• Improve cost-effectiveness through framework agreements, consolidated planning, and improved coordination between programmes, procurement and transport.
• Ensure logistics and procurement comply with IDA’s manuals, donor rules and applicable Syrian law, including asset management and registration.
• Ensure a close and effective working relationship between programme and support functions.

People management and organizational culture
• Ensure effective and appropriate recruitment, induction, performance management, remuneration and staff development practices at all levels.
• Attract, retain and develop a high-calibre workforce, and build the capacity and progression of national staff into senior positions.
• Foster an inclusive, respectful and high-performing organizational culture, with zero tolerance of harassment, bullying, discrimination and abuse of power.
• Ensure duty of care, staff wellbeing and psychosocial support arrangements are in place, particularly for staff working in high-stress environments.
• Ensure human resources practice complies with IDA policies and procedures and with Syrian labour law, including the proper registration of staff with the relevant authorities.

Compliance, risk management and integrity
• Ensure all operations adhere strictly to IDA’s policies, donor regulations, anti-corruption measures and Syrian law.
• Maintain and strengthen internal control systems across finance, procurement and human resources to enhance transparency and reduce risk.
• Maintain the country risk register and ensure risk mitigation measures are implemented and monitored.
• Promote and uphold IDA’s code of conduct and its anti-fraud, anti-bribery, anti-trafficking and anti-diversion policies at all levels.
• Ensure compliance with counter-terrorism, sanctions and donor screening requirements applicable to operations in Syria.
• Ensure timely internal audits, compliance reviews and follow-up actions, and maintain a robust complaints and feedback mechanism with whistleblower protection and confidentiality.

Safeguarding and protection from sexual exploitation and abuse
• Hold overall accountability for safeguarding within the country programme, including the protection of patients, communities, children, at-risk adults and staff.
• Ensure safeguarding and PSEA policies, reporting channels, survivor-centred response and safe recruitment practices are in place, understood and applied.
• Model and enforce IDA’s zero-tolerance stance on sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment, and ensure all allegations are handled promptly, confidentially and appropriately.

Relations with authorities and legal standing
• Ensure IDA operates within the terms and conditions of all legal agreements, registrations and authorizations with the authorities in Syria.
• Establish, develop and maintain constructive working relationships with the Ministry of Health, relevant ministries and local authorities at national and governorate level, while protecting IDA’s independence, neutrality and impartiality.
• Maintain regular communication with the authorities and support senior managers in their engagement with officials.
• Anticipate and respond to changes in the regulatory framework governing humanitarian organizations, ensuring IDA’s registration, agreements and reporting obligations remain current.

Representation, advocacy and communications
• Represent IDA to donors, UN agencies, the Health Cluster and coordination platforms, national and international NGOs, academic institutions and other stakeholders.
• Strengthen and expand IDA’s network, visibility and partnerships in Syria and regionally.
• Encourage research and evidence generation that improves the quality of field work and informs policy affecting the health of people in need, and maintain sound relations with policy, research and advocacy specialists regionally and internationally.
• Develop and manage IDA’s relationship with the media, ensuring published material accurately reflects the organization’s positions, and establish a public image consistent with IDA’s values and culture.

Safety, security and emergency preparedness
• Hold overall accountability for the safety and security of IDA staff, patients on IDA premises, assets and operations.
• Ensure security policy, standard operating procedures, access strategy and contingency plans are current, understood and applied, and lead the crisis management team in the event of an incident.
• Continuously assess the security environment and adjust operations and contingency plans accordingly.
• Develop and maintain emergency preparedness and response plans for the range of plausible emergencies, and ensure IDA is able to scale up rapidly when needed.

5. Qualifications and experience

Essential
• Master’s degree in medicine, public health, health management, business administration, international development or a related field; a first degree with substantial additional relevant experience will be considered.
• A minimum of 10 years’ progressively senior experience in the humanitarian, health or development sector, including at least 5 years in a senior management position with country-level or equivalent responsibility.
• Demonstrated experience leading multi-sectoral, multi-site operations in a complex emergency or fragile setting.
• Proven track record in resource mobilization, with success in securing and managing funding from institutional donors (for example UN agencies and pooled funds, ECHO, BHA/US Government, FCDO, GIZ/BMZ, SIDA, and regional and philanthropic donors).
• Strong financial, grant and operational management skills, including budget oversight of a multi-million-dollar portfolio.
• Demonstrated expertise in donor compliance, internal control, risk management and anti-fraud practice.
• Experience managing safety and security in insecure and rapidly changing environments.
• Proven ability to represent an organization credibly with government authorities, donors, UN agencies and coordination bodies, and to influence at senior level.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic planning, organizational development, change management and building high-performing teams.
• Familiarity with the Syrian context and with working through and alongside local partners.
• Fluency in Arabic and English, written and spoken.
• Demonstrable commitment to IDA’s mission and values, humanitarian principles, safeguarding and PSEA.

Desirable
• Experience in health programming, health system strengthening, or the management of hospitals and primary health care networks.
• Experience of the transition from humanitarian response to early recovery and government-led service delivery.
• Experience of consortium leadership and of partnership with national organizations.
• Experience in conducting assessments, monitoring, evaluation and organizational learning.
• Experience engaging with media, advocacy and public communications at senior level.

6. Behavioural competencies
• Strategic thinking and sound judgement
• Planning and delivering results
• Empowering, developing and motivating people
• Communicating with impact and respect
• Handling insecure and rapidly changing environments
• Integrity, ethical judgement and accountability

7. Safeguarding and code of conduct
IDA is committed to the protection of the people it serves and of its own staff. All staff share the responsibility and obligation to safeguard and protect the communities with whom IDA works, including children and at-risk adults, and to prevent sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. The successful candidate will be required to sign and abide by IDA’s Code of Conduct, Safeguarding and PSEA policies. Recruitment is subject to satisfactory references, background and vetting checks, including the misconduct disclosure scheme where applicable.

8. Equal opportunity
IDA is an equal opportunity employer. Applications are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, and qualified Syrian candidates and women are strongly encouraged to apply. Recruitment decisions are made on merit, without discrimination.

Independent Doctors Association does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, and committed to acting professionally and ethically.
Independent Doctors Association is zero tolerable with any SEA case, IDA is creating the best environment to make sure that all staff have understood SEA and how to report in case there is any suspected case

How to apply

https://form.jotform.com/262481630158457

Interested candidates should submit a curriculum vitae and a cover letter of no more than one page, setting out their suitability for the role, to [email address / application link], quoting “Country Director – Syria” in the subject line, no later than 30-09-2026.