Area Program Manager (NWS)

National candidates only. Please reference job code VA-KRI-2026-21 in the email subject.

Position Overview

The Area Program Manager (NWS) oversees the strategic direction and high-quality implementation of all AFH programmes in Northwest Syria. Reporting to the Director of Programmes and Partnerships, the role provides technical, managerial, and operational leadership to programme teams, ensuring projects are delivered effectively, meet donor and internal standards, and integrate cross-cutting priorities. The manager supports programme design and fundraising, supervises Area and Field Office staff, and ensures strong coordination with partners, authorities, and donors. The position requires experience working in fragile contexts, strong knowledge of the Syrian environment, and a proven ability to enhance programme quality, accountability, and evidence-based advocacy.

Main Responsibilities

Programme Design and Quality Implementation

• Monitor key developments, trends, and changes across the NWS context to ensure AFH's programming remains relevant, adaptive, and responsive to community needs
• Lead the development and periodic updating of the Area Programme Strategy and sector-specific plans for NWS, ensuring they are evidence-based, aligned with AFH's country strategy, and informed by MEAL findings, assessments, and stakeholder consultation
• Ensure AFH regional and global frameworks, standards, and policies are contextualized for NWS and consistently understood and applied across programme teams
• Oversee quality implementation of all projects in the Area, ensuring activities are delivered on time, on scope, and on budget, in line with internal standards, donor requirements, and humanitarian principles
• Promote integration and complementarity across sectors and locations, facilitating harmonized approaches between Area and Field Offices
• Strengthen quality assurance mechanisms by ensuring regular monitoring, evidence-based adjustments, lessons-learned integration, and adherence to cross-cutting priorities including protection, age, gender, and diversity
• Ensure Area-level emergency preparedness and response mechanisms are maintained, updated, and operational, and lead assessments and rapid response actions as agreed with Senior Management
• Engage actively with Early Recovery coordination structures and other technical fora in NWS
• Coordinate and support donor, partner, HQ, and internal delegations during field visits to NWS project sites
• Provide overarching management and coordination of all AFH programmes implemented in Northwest Syria

Donor Liaison, Partnerships, and Representation

• Represent AFH to donors, partners, local authorities, and coordination fora in NWS
• Build and maintain strategic relationships that strengthen AFH's visibility, credibility, and positioning as a preferred partner in NWS
• Identify potential partnerships with local and international actors and contribute to the development and management of formal partnership arrangements
• Participate in and ensure consistent representation in NWS-level coordination structures (e.g., clusters, working groups, task forces)

Staff Management

• Ensure all programme teams including coordinators and technical staff have clear workplans, objectives, and performance indicators
• Provide regular coaching, mentoring, and technical guidance to programme teams
• Develop or review terms of reference for consultants, ensure technical oversight of their work, and monitor delivery in line with contractual and budgetary requirements

Required Academic Qualification

University degree in International Development, Social Sciences, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Minimum 5–7 years of experience in humanitarian or development programmes within Syria, including at least 3 years in a supervisory or managerial role
• Experience working with international NGOs or local NGOs in leadership or senior programme roles
• Strong understanding of the NWS humanitarian and early recovery context, including local governance structures, community dynamics, and operational challenges
• Experience in programme cycle management, ensuring quality implementation, monitoring, and integration of cross-cutting issues such as protection, gender, age, and diversity
• Demonstrated experience supporting proposal writing, contributing to programme design, and supporting donor reporting
• Practical experience with grant management, budgeting, and compliance with donor and organisational policies
• Proven ability to lead, manage, and mentor programme teams in field and remote-management settings
• Familiarity with the humanitarian coordination architecture in NWS, including Clusters, Working Groups, and sectoral platforms
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills
• Fluency in Arabic (spoken and written) and good proficiency in English

Core Competencies

• Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to build effective and inclusive working relationships
• Ability to work under pressure and adapt to changing priorities in a complex operational environment
• Commitment to Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) and adherence to the Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS)
• High integrity and full commitment to AFH's Safeguarding and PSEA standards
• Problem-solving capacity and strong organisational skills