Human Resources Manager (National) - Damascus

CONTRACT LENGTH:

One year 

CHILD SAFEGUARDING: (select only one)

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 the country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

ROLE PURPOSE: 

The HR Manager will provide generalist and operational HR support, ensuring the development of a highly effective recruitment function within the Syria Country Office. This role is responsible for ensuring that the organization attracts, retains, and develops the right talent to achieve program goals and effectively serve beneficiaries. The HR Manager will oversee the implementation of key HR services, policies, and infrastructure in alignment with the SCI Syria Country Office Well-being Action Plan.

Additionally, the HR Manager will lead efforts to enhance employee relations, manage safeguarding-related incidents, and support a positive and compliant work environment. This role will also track training initiatives, monitor HR scorecards, and drive performance management to optimize staffing, improve work efficiency, and mitigate institutional risks.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: HR Director 

Staff reporting to this post: HR Coordinators  

Role Dimensions: regular communication with Field office HR leads 

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: 

• Manages main office operations ensuring compliance with Save the Children HR rules and regulations.
• Leads the entire recruitment cycle, including vacancy advertisement, scheduling and conducting interviews, reference checks, vetting processes, and collecting new hire documents.
• Responsible for implementing the induction programme “Passport to Success” in the Syria Country Office.
• Ensures proper understanding and consistent implementation of the SCI performance management process across all staff.
• Stays up to date on local labor laws and ensures HR compliance within the project, managing any legal changes effectively.
• Supports and coordinates learning and development initiatives, maintaining attendance records for training sessions.
• Oversees and implements the staff well-being plan in coordination with the staff well-being committee, addressing key concerns affecting employees.
• Provides oversight on personnel files and HR documentation, including employment agreements, amendments, timesheets, holiday calendars, and leave records.
• Ensures compliant, competitive, and cost-effective salaries and benefits packages for main office staff.
• Monitors staff contractual status and ensures timely actions for contract renewals and new hires.
• Works closely with the SCI regional office to update scorecards and mandatory HR trackers.
• Collaborates with hiring/line managers to conduct job evaluations, grading, and job profile reviews as needed.
• Coordinates pay and benefits benchmarking exercises internally and externally with other INGOs.
• Ensures the accuracy of national payroll and coordinates international payroll processing with the regional office.
• Manages employee relations, including addressing workplace concerns, handling grievances, and supporting conflict resolution.
• Leads on staff safeguarding-related incidents, ensuring proper reporting, response, and support in alignment with SCI safeguarding policies.
• Participates in investigations and grievance cases upon management request.
• Provides generalist and operational HR support to line managers across a full range of people management issues.

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• 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, easy to talk to.

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 

• Bachelor of Degree in Human Resources/ Business Management/ Administration or equivalent
• Certification/accreditation in Human Resources is preferable. 

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EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• At least 5 -7 years of work experience in Human Resources; previous HR experience in INGOs is essential 
• At least 1-3 years of work experience in Human Resources as a manager is preferable.
• Strong communication (written and spoken), and interpersonal skills in English and Arabic is essential  
• Experience working in remote management set-up is preferable
• Ability to work independently, self-direct or at own initiative
• Good facilitation skills and ability to deliver training and induction
• Ability to work with tight deadlines, and a demanding workload 
• Proven skills in handling and advising on complex people management issues
• Experience in working with and supporting multicultural teams
• Ability to travel to Field offices for the Syria Country office 
• Experience in staff capacity building

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.

Child Safeguarding:

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

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.