Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

  • Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
  • Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
  • Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
  • Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

The Assad regime has ended with extraordinary speed and having endured seemingly perpetual suffering loss and oppression, the Syrian people now face the prospect of a new future. Over the last 14 years Syrians have suffered catastrophic losses; the displacement of 14 million citizens from their homes; a collective grief for the half a million lives lost in conflict; despair for those who were detained or imprisoned for their political opposition. Syrians have lived through the severity of protracted crisis with no real signs of a political process or solution, existing within a complete lack of accountability for the suffering endured.

For the first time in more than a decade the prospect of peace exists, albeit a precarious possibility that is complicated by the tolls and divisions endemic to protected crisis conditions. The end of the Assad regime now presents the opportunity for a new Syria that Syrians themselves must be supported to determine.
It is paramount that UNDP together with the wider UN family, supports the Syrian people on a path towards peace and stability. The gains made to counter risks of further dissolution and to safeguard basic services and civil space in the transitional period, will determine much for the prospects of a peaceful transition to a new government of the Syrian people’s own choosing. The actions of UNDP to identify and respond to these immediate and critical needs of the Syrian people, appropriate to the conditions on the ground, will offer a vital channel of support to the collective efforts of the UN to protect and uphold a route towards peace.


The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end poverty, reduce inequalities, and build resilience to crises and disasters. Working with our vast network of experts and partners in over 170 countries, we help nations to create integrated and lasting solutions for people and the planet. UNDP Syria operates in a highly complex and challenging environment, shaped by over a decade of conflict, widespread displacement, economic instability, and recurrent natural disasters. The Syria Country Programme focuses on three critical areas: 1) Promoting socio-economic recovery and social cohesion; 2) Strengthening local governance and basic social services; and 3) Supporting climate change adaptation and natural resource management. The programme emphasizes an area-based approach to tailor interventions to the specific needs of local communities and supports the vision of sustainable peace and recovery for all Syrians.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and the UNDP Country Programme Document (CPD) 2027-2030 are fully aligned with the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. They prioritize resilience-building efforts while addressing the pressing humanitarian-development nexus. UNDP Syria aims to bridge immediate recovery needs with long-term development goals, focusing on inclusive governance, equitable access to basic services, sustainable livelihoods, and climate action.

The Project Team is responsible for the design, oversight, and quality assurance of all projects and programmes, ensuring full alignment with the priorities set out in the Country Programme Document (CPD) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). The team plays a central role in advancing UNDP Syria’s three programmatic pillars: socio-economic recovery and social cohesion; local governance and social basic services; and energy, environment, and disaster risk reduction. By providing technical expertise and high-level advice, the team ensures that all programme outcomes contribute to the strategic objectives of UNDP and the broader UN system. 

Project personnel actively engage with diverse stakeholders, including government entities, development partners, civil society, private sector actors, and UNDP’s regional and headquarters offices, to foster partnerships, share knowledge, and catalyze innovative solutions. The team leads resource mobilization efforts, develops strategic partnerships, and identifies opportunities for new initiatives, including joint programming. Throughout the programme cycle, the team adheres to UNDP’s quality standards and policies, ensuring the effective implementation of activities that align with the strategic direction of the Country Office and the broader UN cooperation framework. By maintaining strong partnerships with governments, development institutions, UN agencies, and donors, the Programme Team plays a pivotal role in addressing Syria’s recovery and resilience needs. 

Within the Syria Country Office (CO), the Operations Team provides essential backbone support services, including finance, programme finance management, procurement, human resources, digital services, logistics. The team also ensures compliance with corporate policies and provides demand-driven common services to other UN agencies in Syria. Administrative support, including protocol, visa facilitation, and travel, is provided to UNDP staff and project personnel. 

The Management Support Unit supports corporate alignment, and quality assurance. It collaborates with teams on results monitoring and reporting while providing strategic guidance to ensure high standards of delivery.

The Security Unit advise on the protection of, and minimizing the risk to, UNDP personnel  eligible dependents, property and operations in all locations and at the same time enabling UNDP programme delivery throughout the country.

The Strategic Communications Team supports all programme interventions by managing public outreach, knowledge sharing, and advocacy efforts to highlight UNDP Syria’s impact and mobilize support for its mission. 

The Partnerships & Reporting unit spearheads resource mobilization, manages donor relations, and develops strategic partnerships while ensuring transparent reporting and communication on programme outcomes to donors and stakeholders.

The Strategic Policy unit provides high-level guidance and ensures alignment of UNDP Syria’s programmes with corporate priorities, international frameworks, and the evolving needs of the Syrian context, focusing on resilience, recovery, and sustainable development. 

The Area-Based Programme unit tailors interventions to local needs through decentralized planning and implementation, prioritizing community-driven recovery, resilience-building, and sustainable development across Syria’s diverse and complex regions. 

The Risk Management Unit identifies, assesses, and mitigates risks associated with programme implementation, particularly in Syria’s complex operating environment, to safeguard resources, maintain compliance, and uphold UNDP’s integrity and accountability.

The Joint Programme Unit coordinates collaborative initiatives with UN agencies and partners, ensuring alignment with the broader UN strategic framework and maximizing the impact of multi-agency programmes in Syria.

To support the effective implementation of continued and ongoing and  programming and the initiation of UNDP’s Immediate and Mid-Term Response Offer to the political transition , UNDP Syria is recruiting a the Head of Project Management Unit (PMU) to be based in Damascus, Syria to provide Strategic direction to the project teams for efficient implementation of activities, ensure the implementation of the projects in line with corporate standards and guidance, contribute to further enhancing partnership building and resource mobilization and provide high level policy advice on early recovery and stabilization interventions. The Head of Project Management Unit (PMU) will report to UNDP Deputy Resident Representative. He/She will directly manage and ensure implementation of all UNDP projects interventions through:


1) Providing strategic direction to project managers and personnel for efficient implementation of activities, including in-depth early recovery and stabilization needs assessments, strategic area planning, activity design and oversight, regularized monitoring practices etc. 
2) Leading and supervising project managers and ensuring successful implementation of UNDP’s strategic priorities and planned activities; relationship building/partnership at the local level; stakeholder engagement and the management of transparent participatory processes with local communities and conflict affected populations.
3) Supports the development of strategic partnership building and resource mobilization for UNDP, represents UNDP in donor fora as may be required, supports oversight of strategic partnership plans, strategies and the maintenance of key donor relationships. 
4) Leading knowledge management and capacity building of project personnel, ensuring project personnel are supported to comply with best practices of project delivery, corporate UNDP standards and guidelines as applicable to context, social and environmental safeguarding responsibilities, human rights-based approaches and all other measures required to ensure the highest standards of activity delivery in field locations.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. This is a recognition of the interconnected nature of development risks & crises that the world is facing and that calls for assembling multidisciplinary teams for an integrated & systemic response.

Duties and Responsibilities

1) Provide strategic directions to project managers and personnel for efficient implementation of activities:

  • Advise and support UNDP senior management in relation to the development of plans and strategies guiding UNDP’s priority activities through period of political transition and beyond. 
  • Advise and support UNDP senior management in relation to UNDP corporate guidance and supports vis-à-vis complex crises contexts, working with de-facto powers and all other relevant in-agency knowledge and services as relevant to the evolving Syrian context. 
  • Undertake thorough analysis of relevant political/social and economic developments of consequence to UNDP programming, including regional and proxy power dynamics of import; provide recommendations as may be relevant to senior management, donor relations, Team Leads and others as necessary. 
  • Provide specialized technical advice to UNDP senior management on the development of systems, processes and mechanisms to support effective area-based project planning, implementation, monitoring and timely reporting. 
  • Ensure the full and consistent integration of cross-cutting issues, including gender equality and women’s empowerment, youth empowerment, disability inclusion and climate adaptation and mitigation into early recovery and stabilization interventions. 
  • Undertake regular field visits, project monitoring missions and on-site workshops with field-based colleagues as required; participate in project board meetings and other strategic dialogues as may be relevant to supporting key decision, course corrections, complaints management etc. Project Board meetings and/or Steering Committee meetings. 
  • Ensure the integrity of financial and administrative operations as well as the consistent and transparent application of UNDP rules and procedures for programme and operations issues related to the projects.

2) Provide leadership to project managers to ensure the effective and timely implementation of Early Recovery and Stabilization activities.

  • Work closely with the UNDP Programme and Field Management units to ensure that the projects under early recovery and stabilization respond to the UNDP country programme strategy and related Offer documents.
  • Supervise and support all project managers, ensuring appropriate capacity building is available to support project colleagues and a high level of support provided to enable a high standard of project delivery. 
  • Develop, oversee and monitor implementation of work plans and budgets for all activities in the early recovery and stabilization portfolios. 
  • Ensure timely and adequate reporting against plans and proposals, including timely and articulate progress reports.
  • Work closely with the Risk Management Unit to identify risks and challenges to the implementation of all activities, provide advice to senior management on new or evolving risks together with appropriate mitigation measures.
  • Ensure strict and consistent application of UNDP rules and regulations ensuring the implementation of clear accountability mechanisms.
  • Participate in internal control mechanisms for adherence to UNDP rules and regulations in contracts, assets, procurement, recruitment, etc., as required.
  • Oversee strategic administrative matters for all activities with support from national project managers and projects personnel, consultants, specialists, and advisers.

3) Lead partnership building and resource mobilization for UNDP for the Early Recovery and Stabilization Offer

  • Work closely with the Partnership and Communications units to ensure sufficient resource mobilization for all activities in close consultation with senior management. 
  • Support finalization and quality control of project proposals, donor reports and related communications.  
  • Liaise regularly with and forge close working relationships with other UN programmes/projects, agencies and entities operational in Syria, advising on logical partnerships and collaborations as necessary. 
  • Ensure high-quality and timely reporting to donors, facilitation of donor site visits, ad-hoc communications and strategic meetings as may be required.
  • Support oversight of the development of strategic partnership plans, strategies and key donor dialogues. 
  • Contribute to competitive selection of partners for implementation of UNDP projects.


4) Lead knowledge management and capacity and knowledge building of projects personnel

  • Promote the incorporation of best practices, corporate guidance and lessons learned into UNDP project delivery practices. Encourage in-agency knowledge sharing across different programmes, projects and priorities.   
  • Actively participate in UNDP knowledge networks and help adapt/incorporate best practices and lessons learned that are available in the region and globally and encourage project staff to do so by creating a culture of knowledge sharing and learning.
  • Support and monitor capacity building of project personnel as a function of compliance towards corporate requirements and personal professional development.

The incumbent may be additionally required to perform other duties within her/his functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization. 

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Lead, guide and manage the UNDP Project Managers:

  • Daily management of project team including identification of human resource capacity needs and provision of capacity building where necessary. 
  • Provide supervisory mentorship and guidance for team members to facilitate their learning and career growth as may be required.  
  • Ensure team coherence by guiding the team members to come up with individual annual performance goals and development plans and follow up with the plan through mentoring.

Competencies

Core: Full list of UNDP Core Competencies can be found here.   

  • Achieve Results: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.
  • Think Innovatively: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.
  • Learn Continuously: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences. 
  • Adapt with Agility: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands. 
  • Act with Determination: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.
  • Engage and Partner: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
  • Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

People Management: UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site. 

1) 2030 Agenda: 

  • Engagement & Effectiveness: Crisis management / Country Management Support: Crisis Coordination; Crisis Project Management/Programming

2) Business Development: 

  • Integration within the UN: Ability to identify and integrate capacity and asset of the UN system, and engage in joint work; knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply this knowledge to strategic and/or practical situation

3) Business Management: 

  • Partnerships Management: Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
  • Risk Management: Identify and organize action around reducing, mitigating and proactively managing risks.
  • Portfolio Management:  Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management.

4) Business Direction & Strategy:

  • System thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Sciences or related field is required; or
  • A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

  • Minimum of 10 years (with master’s degree s) or 12 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in project management, development, and/or recovery and resilience projects. 
  • Experience in project management and design, project implementation, financial oversight, monitoring and evaluation of development projects is required.
  • Strong understanding of and proven experience with UNDP and/or the UN system is an asset
  • Experience with UN Joint programming initiatives is an asset.
  • Experience working with EU funded or large projects is an advantage.
  • Experience in financial risk management is desired.
  • Working experience in crisis context, such as Syria and/or neighboring countries is desired.
  • Experience in resource mobilization is an asset. 
  • Experience in managing and supervising large project teams is an advantage.

Language:

  • Fluency in English is required.
  • Working knowledge of Arabic is desired. 
  • Working knowledge of another UN language is an asset.
     

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

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