Humanitarian Access and Safety Manager Syria

Background

As the Syrian crisis has entered its 14th year, a record-level 16.7 million people, over 71% of the population, is in need of humanitarian assistance. Almost half are children. The fall of the former government, in December 2024, has sparked hope for the country’s future and those in need of aid. However, ongoing conflict, economic collapse and record-high humanitarian needs persist throughout the country, coinciding with unprecedented cuts to humanitarian aid globally at a time where aid resources for Syria were already stretched thin.

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has been a leading humanitarian actor in the response to the Syria crisis, in Syria and across the region, since 2012. Against a backdrop of conflict, socioeconomic and environmental deterioration, climate change and natural disasters, we provide emergency, transitional, early recovery and resilience programmes to people in need. We lead advocacy to promote unimpeded and sustained access to assistance for people across Syria and we call for increased humanitarian funding, resilience and early recovery support to alleviate the hardships of the Syrian people.

What we are looking for

We are looking for a Humanitarian Access and Safety (HAS) Manager.This role is crucial for managing safety and security risks, building capacity, implementing Duty of Care (in direct coordination with People and Organisation), developing humanitarian access strategies, and facilitating principled humanitarian programming. The HAS Manager reports directly to the Country Director and is technically overseen by the Regional Head of HAS. This position is a core member of both the Country Management Group and Crisis Management Team.

What you will do

The role will have some of the following responsibilities:

• Implement the NRC Global HAS Management System at country level, prepare reports as required, and execute the country HAS Operational Plan in line with country-level strategic priorities, regional and global HAS initiatives. 
• Foster a culture of enabling a safe and principled humanitarian response, adhering to the Humanitarian Principles, in alignment with Programme Criticality.
• Line management responsibility for direct reporting staff. This includes: 
  • Performance management process: setting clear goals aligned to strategic priorities and follow up and support staff’s achievement. 
  • Workforce planning, recruitment, staff induction and development, and support for Duty of Care.
• In coordination with Area Managers responsible for key processes as workforce planning, recruitment, staff induction and development and support for Duty of Care for area-level HAS staff. 
• Maintain an up-to-date comprehensive understanding of the country’s humanitarian context, including analysis and forecasting, to regularly brief country management on key security developments, NRC exposure, access challenges, and emerging threats, in order to inform decision-making. 
• Develop and maintain country HAS documents, procedures, guidance, and tools, including strategy and budgets, ensuring consistency across the country programme and in line with organisational standards.
• Oversee and/or conduct Security Risk Assessments (SRAs) and access assessments, collaborating with management to implement relevant mitigation measures.
• Ensure compliance with the key standards of NRC’s HAS Management System, encompassing the HAS Policy and risk management procedures, Minimum Operating Standards (MOS), the Humanitarian Access framework, and crisis management procedure. 
• Train and develop NRC staff and partners’ capacity in access, safety, and security.
• Communicate and coordinate with relevant external actors and coordination structures and build relationships with various stakeholders to inform operations and security management as well as increase humanitarian access and protect humanitarian space.
• Ensure adherence to NRC policies, guidance and procedures, and a specific responsibility for HAS policies and procedures.

Please download the detailed job description to learn more about the position.

What you will bring

• Minimum of 4 years of experience within the humanitarian field, of which 3 years should be a senior role with managerial responsibility.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field required.
• Strong understanding of the Humanitarian Principles and their application in programmatic and advocacy responses, NGO safety and risk management, humanitarian access, and civil-military coordination.
• Previous experience working in complex contexts and participating in access negotiations with an NGO and/or UN agencies. 
• Previous experience within the Syria context/crisis is preferable.
• Previous experience as an international HAS Manager, or similar, in a humanitarian NGO is required.
• Experience in working with civilian and military interlocutors and CIVMIL coordination
• Experience in risk management with implementing partners is an advantage.
• Demonstrated understanding of humanitarian project cycle management and proven experience in supporting safe delivery of humanitarian operations.
• Qualifications in humanitarian access negotiations is an added value. 
• Prior experience as a trainer.
• Working proficiency in English, both written and verbal.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Working proficiency in Arabic, both written and verbal, is an advantage.

What we offer:

• Duty station: Damascus, Syria.
• Contract:12 months.
• Travel: 20-30 % within areas of operation
• Salary/benefits: Grade 9
• NRC is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability.
• We think outside the box, encourage ideas, and give responsibility to all employees at all levels. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative.

Find out more about the benefits of working for NRC

Important information about the application process

• Internal candidates: To apply as an internal candidate, log in with your official email or click on Opportunity Marketplace.
• For current nrc staff, use your official nrc email address when applying.
• Submit your application and CV in English, taking care to attach your latest CV.
• We receive many applications for each vacant position and so only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• Applications that do not meet the minimum standards in terms of experience or qualifications will generally not be considered. Unsolicited applications not related to this specific job advertisement will not be considered.
• If you have any questions about this role, please email mero.recruitment@nrc.no with the job title as the subject line.

Why NRC?

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. Our 15,000 staff work in crises across 40 countries, providing life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of people every year.

NRC currently has over 3,000 staff across the Middle East dedicated to assisting people affected by conflict in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Libya and Palestine. Its humanitarian interventions are based upon its programming expertise in the Core Competencies of Shelter, Education, WASH, Livelihoods and Food Security, and Information Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) to vulnerable displaced people that were forced to flee.

Watch this short video to see NRC in action.

We are looking for people who are passionate about helping refugees and people forced to flee. Are you one of those people? If you are, NRC offers you the opportunity to:

• do demanding and professional work, often in challenging contexts.
• join a work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility.
• be part of a welcoming and supportive community committed to human dignity.

Learn more about NRC’s operations in Syria here.