Senior Advisor: Government Liaison & Executive Coordination-National-Damasc at SCI Career Site

Jordanów, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

21 Mar, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

21 Dec, 25

Experience

10 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Government Liaison, Executive Coordination, Contextual Analysis, Stakeholder Relationship Building, Political Analysis, Communication Skills, Analytical Skills, Presentation Skills, Networking, Data Protection, Team Collaboration, Strategic Planning, Risk Mitigation, Bilingual Communication, Microsoft Office Proficiency, Child Safeguarding

Industry

IT Services and IT Consulting

Description

TITLE: Senior Advisor: Government Liaison & Executive Coordination, Syria TEAM/PROGRAMME: Syria Response Office LOCATION: Damascus GRADE: 2 CONTRACT LENGTH: 1 year CHILD SAFEGUARDING: Level 3: the post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff. ROLE PURPOSE: The Senior Advisor: Government Liaison & Executive Coordination provides high-quality, strategic, political, and administrative support to the Syria Country Director and Senior Management Team (SMT). The role strengthens SCI’s engagement with Government authorities at national and sub-national levels, ensures SCI maintains strong acceptance and principled operational space, and ensures the effective functioning of the Country Director’s office through executive coordination, action tracking, and internal communication management. The role ensures SCI is informed of contextual and policy developments, maintains strong relationships with Government stakeholders, and supports internal decision-making and strategic follow-up. The post holder must demonstrate discretion, professionalism, and the ability to operate in a fast‑paced, complex humanitarian setting. SCOPE OF ROLE: Reports to: Country Director Syria Budget Responsibilities: (TBC) Role Dimensions: This role will liaise regularly with SMT members, operations, project and thematic leads. KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: Contextual Analysis • Ensure that Syria policy-making and context is understood, applied and embedded across all of SC’s operations and partners. • Drive Syria’s acquaintance for SC staff and partner organizations. • Lead on the Contextual Analysis for Syria and monitor any developments in the process. • Improve SC Syria understanding of the Governmental structures Governmental and External Stakeholder Relationship Building • Strengthen SCI’s acceptance and engagement with national and local Government authorities. • Support the Country Director in high-level representation and formal engagements. • Map and track key Government and external stakeholders, identifying cooperation opportunities. • Monitor and analyse political, policy, and regulatory developments impacting SCI operations. • Maintain updated contextual analysis and briefing notes for senior leadership. • Ensure SCI is informed of relevant legislation, administrative changes, or Government requirements. • Coordinate reporting and information-sharing channels with Government bodies. • Prepare presentations, talking points, and briefing notes for external engagements. • Support programme and operations teams on Government-related risk mitigation. Executive Support to the Country Director • Provide proactive executive support to the Country Director, including complex calendar and travel management. • Ensure the Country Director is fully briefed and prepared ahead of meetings and external engagements. • Draft, edit, and prepare letters, reports, talking points, and official correspondence. • Coordinate communication on behalf of the Country Director with internal and external stakeholders. • Support strategic planning and prioritisation of the Director’s workload and engagements. SMT Coordination & Follow-Up • Coordinate SMT meetings, all staff meetings, annual reviews, strategic planning sessions, and emergency meetings. • Maintain and update SMT action trackers, ensuring timely follow-up with responsible leads. • Facilitate cross-departmental coordination to support effective leadership decision-making. • Organize and document key management processes, ensuring information is accessible and well‑stored. Internal & External Communication • Draft communication materials for the Country Director, including speeches and social media content. • Liaise with internal departments and external partners during visits, missions, and senior delegations. • Ensure the Country Director’s office maintains timely and professional communication with all stakeholders. Information Management & Confidentiality • Maintain well-organised digital and physical filing systems for the Country Director’s office. • Ensure strict confidentiality of sensitive information related to personnel, safeguarding, or operations. • Uphold SCI’s standards for data protection and responsible information handling. Additional Responsibilities • Support emergency response duties as required, including extended hours during crises. • Undertake any other tasks assigned by the Country Director that align with the role’s purpose. Collaboration & Networking • Strengthen coordination with local and national associations, and other organizations providing government support. • Support mitigation of potential reputational risk and escalate if SC risks are not being managed or addressed. BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice) Accountability: • holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children valuesn the field when collecting proposal • holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved. Ambition: • sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same • widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others • future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale. Collaboration: • builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters • values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength • approachable, good listener builds trust and confidence in others. Creativity: • develops and encourages new and innovative solutions • willing to take disciplined risks. Integrity: • honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity QUALIFICATIONS • Diploma level, Undergraduate or Masters in Social work Gender, Child Protection, Child Rights, Human Rights, Humanitarian Action, Anthropology, Development, Deplmacy and Public Administratin, Political Science, Conflict or related degree SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE Essential • 10+ years of experience of work in local/central government, or experience in a similar field. • Knowledge and Experience in Syria Government systems and framework • Knowledge/familiarity in data protection and confidentiality measures • Excellent presentation and collaborative skills • Good analytical skills • Previous experience in networking and external representation. • Strong verbal and written communication skills and command of Arabic and English. • Proficiency in using Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint Desirable • Previous experience in Government sector • Previous experience in external relations • Strong verbal and written communication skills and command of one additional language, Kurdish, French, Spanish. Additional job responsibilities The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience. Equal Opportunities The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures. Safeguarding: We need to keep children and adults safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children and adults from any form of abuse, exploitation, harassment and harm. Safeguarding our Staff: The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI anti-harassment policy Health and Safety The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

The Senior Advisor provides strategic, political, and administrative support to the Syria Country Director and Senior Management Team, ensuring effective engagement with government authorities. The role includes contextual analysis, stakeholder relationship building, executive support, and internal communication management.