Chief of Operations - Syria

Description

• Place: Raqqa, Syria

• Starting date: August 1st 2026

• Duration of contract: 12 months

• Closing date for applications: July 19th 2026

Humanity & Inclusion is an independent and impartial aid organisation working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. The organisation works alongside people with disabilities and vulnerable populations, taking action and bearing witness in order to respond to their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights.

Since its creation in 1982, HI has run development programmes in more than 60 countries and responded to numerous emergencies. Today, we have a budget of approximately 255 million euros, with 4794 employees worldwide.

At Handicap International-Humanity & Inclusion, we truly believe in the importance of inclusion and diversity within our organisation. This is why we are engaged to a disability policy to encourage the inclusion and integration of people with disabilities.

Please indicate if you require any special accommodation, even at the first interview. For more information about the organisation: www.hi.org

HI in Syria

According to the latest UN figures, about 15 million people remains still in need of humanitarian assistance, including about 6.5 million IDPs, while over 5 million Syrians refugees in neighbouring countries or in Europe. Threats from explosive remnants of war, lack of recovery in both the health and education sectors make Syria still a fragile context, as these issues hinder the ability of displaced populations to rebuild lives and access essential services.

In such a context, while remaining a protracted crisis, Syria is transitioning to a new phase where pure humanitarian operations will be replaced by early recovery and recovery interventions. HI is managing a humanitarian program covering most of Syria’s governorates, particularly, in north and center Syria:

• Support to health partners (mainly hospitals) for the provision of multi-disciplinary rehabilitation services (physiotherapy, assistive devices, prosthetics and orthotics and PSS).

• Education to the risks and effects caused by conventional weapons (including mines, explosive remnants of war and small arms light weapons) and urgent marking of hazardous areas; and non-technical surveys of potential contaminated areas and clearance activities.

• Community based protection for safe returns and support for the inclusion of persons with disabilities and other vulnerable people in the humanitarian assistance.

• Preparedness activities against manmade and non-manmade related disasters 4. Inclusive Education in partnership with education actors.

Your mission:

Reporting to the Country Director, with functional links with the HQ Armed Violence Reduction (AVR) Specialist, the Chief of Operations (CoOps) also called Land Release Project Manager (LRPM) at HI - leads the implementation of Humanity & Inclusion’s Mine Action operational strategy in the Syria in the implementing areas of Hama, Raqqa and Deir ez-Zour governorates, with potential extensions to other areas upon funding obtention.

As the CoO, you will plan your activities closely with the Technical Field Managers (TFM) - also called Land Release Project Officers (LRPO) – and the AVR Project Manager and Officer at HI.

The Chief of Operations will have 6 main responsabities:

1. Oversee EO-related safety and awareness aspects across the Syria Program

• Support all relevant HI and partners field activities, including humanitarian access and security (HAS), in the distribution of effective and relevant EO related awareness and safe practices;

• Provide direct advice to HASM on EO related security matters and threat assessments;

• With direct liaison and support to Local Mine Action Authorities, ensure all activities are safely executed and are within HI’s mandate, insurance requirements and SOPs;

• Training: Identify training needs and skill gaps of HI staff in relation to EO awareness; Provide or facilitate EO relevant training where applicable.

2. Contributes to AVR and land release strategy development:

• Assess needs, feasibility, opportunities, and risks of potential land release activities in Syria;

• Contribute to the development and monitor implementation of HI’s AVR strategy in Syria

• Stays abreast of EO related trends in Syria and their impact on conflict-affected populations.

3. Provides guidance and technical support to Land Release components of AVR projects:

• Develop and update of SOPs for NTS and clearance activities, under the technical supervision of HI’s EOD Specialists in HQ;

• Provide appropriate technical guidance (including tools) on land release;

• Develop documents for accreditation (certification) of land release activities;

• Contribute to the integration of land release with other AVR and non-AVR activities;

• Advise the Technical Unit on technical EO and land release aspects relevant for HI’s EORE and VA interventions, including for the design and update of training packages;

• Provide EO expertise to support Global HQ EORE Specialists and National EORE PMs and agents with EORE/CPP messaging and materials;

• Provide support for data analysis, together with the MEAL team.

4. Develops future NTS and clearance capacities:

• Develop the implementation plan for phases of land release interventions (staff recruitment plan, training plan, supply plan, financial plan) with the support and guidance of HR, finance, and logistics department;

• Lead the recruitment, inception and management of any future clearance capacities;

• Support AVR Project Manager in the recruitment and onboarding of NTS field staff, and supports Technical Head Of Program in integration of NTS capacity in EORE teams when relevant;

• Design training packages on land release (including NTS), and oversees the organisation and delivery of the training;

• Contribute to the drafting of new proposals for new opportunities under their technical scope.

5. Ensures external coordination and compliance:

• Liaise and coordinate relevant stakeholders, mine action authorities and other mine action actors on LR topics, in close collaboration with the Technical Unit and AVR Project Manager;

• Support HI’s representation in and, when necessary and/or topically relevant, represent HI in the mine action sub-working group, Mine Action Area of Responsibility, Protection Sector meetings and other external forums or events in support to the AVR Specialist;

• Ensure that all relevant national, regional, and local permissions are in place for HI’s land release activities;

• Oversee accreditation (certification) processes for land release activities, in conjunction with other departments (HR, Finance, Logistics…)

6. Implementation and Monitoring

• Ensure project implementation, in collaboration with the relevant services and in line with general standards and procedures. Ensure the planning of activities and establishe action plans. Ensure that activities are implemented in line with the project proposal and the allocated budget.

• Ensure project data management; Ensure that the appropriate data collection and management tools are in place on the project, in line with global standards and MEAL Unit.

• Ensure project reporting; Monitor the achievement of results and indicators, as per the logical framework in collaboration with Operational Officer and PM. Produce the appropriate reporting tools. Write reports for the funding agencies when relevant and monitor donor deadlines (grants, reporting, audits) concerning the project.

• Prepare and steer project evaluation and capitalisation. Plan and monitor project evaluations. Produce project capitalisation and learning from experience material

Requirements

Qualifications

• IMAS Level 3+ from accredited school or organisation;

• IEDD from accredited school or organisation;

Experiences

• Minimum 4 years’ experience in Humanitarian Mine Action in planning, managing and supervisingt survey and clearance operations.

Skills

• Demonstrated capacities to formulate strategic thinking in the humanitarian mine action sector

• A thorough understanding of international mine action standards;

• Languages: Advanced writing capacities in English, Arabic will be an asset

• IT: Advance knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Power Point, Access).

Cross-cutting skills

• Excellent organizational and time management skills.

• Adapting communication and messages to various intercultural environment.

• Proactive, shows initiative/entrepreneurial.

• Working as part of a team/network, cooperating.

Benefits

At HI, the conditions offered are up to your commitment and adapted to the context of your mission:

• 12 months International contract starting from 1st August 2026 based in Raqqa - Syria

• The international contract provides social cover adapted to your situation:

• Unemployment insurance benefits for EU nationals;

• Pension scheme;

• Medical coverage with 50% of employee contribution;

• Repatriation insurance paid by HI;

• Salary upon experience;

• Per diem: 533 € net/month - paid in the field

• Hardship: 500 € net/month paid with your salary;

• Paid leaves: 25 days per year;

• R&R: 5 days every 8 weeks

• Position: Unaccompanied

• Housing: Collective taken in charge by HI

How to apply

We will be happy to receive your CV and motivation letter https://apply.workable.com/j/37203AFE6A