About Acted
We go the last mile. Founded in Afghanistan, against the backdrop of a forgotten crisis, Acted’s mission is to save lives and support people in meeting their needs in hard-to-reach areas. Millions of vulnerable people around the world need humanitarian assistance today, and hundreds of millions will need it tomorrow, in the face of the growing threat of climate change. We believe that our assistance must be conceptualised and delivered within the framework of people’s natural environments, and the territories on which they depend. Therefore, Acted pursues a triple mandate as a humanitarian, environmental and development aid actor, contributing to the relief, stabilisation, and recovery of crisis-affected people in fragile areas. This vision is guided by the motto “Think Local – Act Global” – reflecting the need to rely on a deep understanding of local territories and contexts to develop and implement actions based on local knowledge, structures and capacities. This local thinking contributes to a global response – running through all Acted programming and operations – as we work together towards the building of a 3ZERO world: a world with Zero Exclusion, Zero Carbon, and Zero Poverty.
Acted’s Greening Strategy
Acted’s greening strategy aims to tackle environmental degradation and climate change while meeting the needs of the most vulnerable who are often most affected by the deepening environmental crisis. Each Acted employee will adhere to these principles through key green programming responsibilities:
- Contribute towards the adherence and development of the greening strategy plan.
- Explore innovative green programming opportunities and/or solutions within your realm of responsibilities and roles
- Encouraging and promoting environmental safeguarding processes and environmental programming standards in accordance with SOPs and technical guideline notes
Acted’s PSEAH Policy:
The Country HR/Admin Manager (CHRM) is expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity and professionalism by actively preventing sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH). As a key leader, the CHRM must lead by example, demonstrating zero tolerance for any form of SEAH through actions and decisions. The CHRM is responsible for creating a safe and respectful work environment where staff feel supported to report concerns without fear of retaliation. They must ensure that training and awareness sessions are organized to inform employees about Acted’s PSEAH policy, reporting mechanisms, and their obligation to report. In the event of an alert, the CHRM must act promptly and effectively, immediately forwarding the information to the Country Director and the HQ Investigation Unit.
Location: Damascus
Start Date: 15 December 2025
Job Purpose
The Country HR/Admin Manager (CHRM) serves as the Head of Department for Human Resources and Administration within Acted’s Syria mission, overseeing six offices with approximately 350 national staff, 15 international staff, and 200–300 incentive laborers.
Based in Damascus, with regular travel to operational areas (Aleppo, Latakia, Idleb, Hasakeh, Raqqa, Hama, and Daraa), the CHRM provides strategic leadership and technical oversight for all HR and administrative functions across the mission.
The role ensures strategic workforce planning, policy compliance, talent development, and a positive, inclusive workplace that supports staff well-being and professional growth. The CHRM ensures HR and administrative objectives are fully aligned with Acted’s mission priorities and operational efficiency goals.
Chain of Command
Under the authority of:
Country Director
Line Management:
Capital-Based HR staff (HR Supervisor)
Technical Management:
Area-Based HR staff (HR Senior Officers)
Working Relations
Internal:
All Support and Program departments
External:
Ministry of Labor, Social Security, Income tax department, Lawyers, Landlords.
Key Responsibilities
Human Resources Management
- Provide strategic leadership and oversight to HR teams at the capital and area levels.
- Monitor HR analytics (turnover, recruitment timelines, training completion) and provide monthly reports to Senior Management.
- Conduct annual salary grid reviews and market benchmarking to ensure competitiveness.
- Develop, review, and implement HR policies and internal regulations in compliance with Acted standards and Syrian labor law.
- Standardize and continuously improve HR processes, templates, and tools across the mission.
- Lead the performance management process and ensure timely, constructive appraisals.
- Validate monthly payrolls for all bases, ensuring accuracy and compliance with internal controls.
- Ensure all staff have clear and updated Terms of Reference (ToRs).
- Ensure that all HR and administrative practices align with Acted’s PSEAH policy, Code of Conduct, and safeguarding standards.
- Oversee disciplinary procedures in full adherence to Acted’s HR Manual and local labor laws.
- Design and implement staff well-being and retention strategies, including staff care and mental health initiatives.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of the mission’s strategic HR plan, ensuring alignment with country and global priorities.
- Act as a trusted advisor to the Country Director and Senior Management Team on organizational structure, workforce planning, and staff relations.
- Ensure that staff grievance mechanisms are functional, accessible, and effectively managed.
- Coordinate with Compliance and Security departments on staff disciplinary actions, ensuring risk-sensitive and confidential handling of sensitive cases.
- Support the promotion of a positive organizational culture through regular communication, staff engagement, and recognition initiatives.
- Oversee onboarding, appraisal, and administrative processes for international staff in coordination with Area Coordinators and the Country Director.
- Act as focal point with HQ Paris for international staff matters, ensuring full compliance with visa and residency regulations.
Recruitment
- Develop and oversee recruitment strategies that attract and retain qualified staff.
- Validate recruitment budgets with Finance before launching any processes.
- Ensure all ToRs are approved prior to vacancy posting.
- Guarantee transparent, compliant, and merit-based recruitment procedures (shortlisting, interviews, reference checks).
- Oversee efficient onboarding and contract documentation for all new staff.
Capacity Building
- Maintain a comprehensive training and development database.
- Identify capacity gaps and organizational training needs through performance reviews and workforce analysis.
- Design and deliver internal training on HR policies, compliance, and the Code of Conduct.
- Coordinate external training opportunities aligned with strategic priorities and budget availability.
- Serve as budget holder for staff training and welfare lines, in close coordination with Finance and relevant coordination departments.
Administration Management
- Draft and validate official administrative correspondence, including letters, internal notes, regulations, and memos.
- Ensure timely submission of documentation to government authorities and relevant entities to meet operational requirements.
- Oversee legal compliance processes, including mission registration, professional licenses, work permits, and residency.
- Ensure adherence to national legal frameworks and Acted’s internal governance standards.
- Supervise the management of premises and guesthouses, ensuring efficiency and safety.
- Develop and update administrative policies and SOPs to strengthen compliance and efficiency.
- Lead initiatives for digitalization and secure archiving of HR and administrative records.
- Ensure readiness for internal and external audits through proactive compliance and corrective measures.
- Maintain a standardized filing system for HR and administrative records.
- Ensure personal folders for all staff (national and international) are complete and regularly updated.
- Perform any other duties or responsibilities delegated by the Country Director in line with the role’s objectives.
Key Deliverables / KPIs
- Annual review and update of HR and Admin policies, or as required by regulation.
- 100% compliance with Acted global standards and Syrian labor laws.
- Submit monthly HR analytics reports (turnover, recruitment timelines, training completion) to the Country Director.
- Achieve recruitment timelines for national staff within agreed benchmarks.
- Maintain an updated training database and track completion rates.
- Ensure readiness for internal and external audits with zero major findings.
- Implement risk mitigation measures for HR and administrative processes.
- Complete digitalization of HR and administrative records within agreed timelines.
- Maintain 100% accuracy in personal folders and filing systems.
- Conduct an annual salary grid review and submit recommendations
How to apply
Interested and qualified candidates can apply by filling the form in the link below.
Only applications in English will be considered.
Country HR Manager – Fill out form
Only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted