DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
12 April 2026-23:59-GMT+03:00 Eastern European Time (Damascus)WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.
ABOUT WFP
The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.
To learn more about WFP, visit our website: https://www.wfp.org and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok.
WHY JOIN WFP?
WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.
WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.
A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.
We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).
CONTRACT DETAILS:
Contract Type: Service Contract
Grade: SC5
Unit: Human Resources
Duration: 12 months
Duty Station: Damascus, Syria
Service Contract positions are locally recruited. Only candidates who are nationals of the duty station country or who already hold valid work authorization are eligible for consideration.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
As Syria navigates a new chapter marked by historic opportunities and enduring challenges, the scale of humanitarian needs remains overwhelming. Today, more than 70 percent of Syria’s population continues to depend on some form of humanitarian assistance. Over half of the population is grappling with food insecurity, with nearly 3 million people facing severe food insecurity. Around 7 million people remain displaced internally, while more than 4 million are refugees in neighbouring countries. Since December 2024, hundreds of thousands of refugees and internally displaced Syrians have begun returning to their areas of origin. Many more plan to return and will require vital support as they reintegrate.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the largest humanitarian agency operating in Syria since 1964 and is uniquely positioned to support Syrian communities in their recovery through its expansive reach and scale. WFP’s interventions prioritize emergency relief and resilience-building efforts focused on the most severely food insecure populations. Additionally, WFP is a key actor in the country’s social protection sector also plays a vital role in strengthening Syria’s social safety-net systems.
Operating under its 2022-2026 Interim Country Strategic Plan (iCSP), WFP addresses the growing food and nutrition needs livelihood, resilience and early recovery, and reviving food systems, in close collaboration with the Syrian government, humanitarian and development stakeholders.
JOB PURPOSE:
The HR Assistant provides a range of human resources support services requiring interpretation of standard practices, strong attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities. Operating with some independence, the position contributes to the efficient delivery of HR services within the Country Office.
The incumbent will work within the Talent Acquisition Team and report to the Talent Acquisition Team Lead.
ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Provide support throughout the recruitment process, including creating job requisitions, screening applications, preparing written assessments, scheduling and attending interviews, drafting selection reports, and conducting candidate background checks.
- Prepare, organize, and update recruitment files and documentation, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and compliance with established HR standards.
- Support HR data extraction, cleaning, and consolidation related to recruitment, staffing, contracts, and other HR areas to facilitate reporting and analysis needs.
- Assist in preparing basic dashboards, charts, and periodic HR reports by organizing and presenting data in user‑friendly formats.
- Provide timely responses to routine HR queries from staff and candidates, ensuring clear communication and appropriate follow‑up.
- Utilize HR systems (e.g., Workday) to enter and update HR information, monitor deadlines, and support the accuracy and timeliness of HR transactions.
- Provide administrative support in HR processes if needed such as contract actions, onboarding, deployment support, and other assigned areas.
- Liaise with internal units and follow up on pending HR actions to support timely and effective HR service delivery.
- Perform any other duties as required.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education:
- Completion of secondary school education. A university degree in Human Resources or other relevant fields is desirable.
Experience:
- At least five (5) years of relevant experience in human resources or administrative support.
- Experience in recruitment or talent acquisition is an advantage.
- Experience working with data, spreadsheets, or dashboards is considered an asset.
Knowledge & Skills:
- Relevant experience in different areas of Human Resources (i.e., talent acquisition, payroll, learning and development, HR data analysis, benefits and entitlements, attendance, etc.).
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.
- Good analytical skills and ability to compile, organize and present data clearly. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel is required, and familiarity with data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) is an asset.
- Strong communication and organizational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities.
- Experience working in a multicultural environment and delivering client‑focused HR services.
Languages:
- Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic.
WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK
WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.
Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact: global.inclusion@wfp.org
NO FEE DISCLAIMER
The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.
REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION
All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruiting system. We do not consider CVs or applications sent by email, LinkedIn, or any other channel.
We strongly recommend that your Workday profile is accurate and complete, and that all sections are filled in, including your employment history, academic qualifications, language skills, and UN grade (if applicable). Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.
If you experience technical issues while submitting your application, you may contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org. Please note that this email is only for technical issues with an application - unsolicited applications or documents sent to this inbox will not receive a reply.
At the application stage, the only required documents are your CV and Cover Letter. Additional documents (passport, certificates, recommendation letters, etc.) may be requested later in the process.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process.
All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.