MENA AI JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY

GIZ is seeking a qualified professional to join its Human Resources Unit as the organization prepares to reopen its Country Office in Damascus, Syria. This is a full-time national contract position based on Syrian labor law, with an initial assignment period running from May 2026 through April 2027. The successful candidate will manage the full HR life cycle, which includes overseeing fair recruitment processes, negotiating employment conditions, and issuing contracts. Key responsibilities also involve coordinating onboarding events, managing personnel files, and handling payroll management for national staff. Additionally, the role serves as an advisor to managers and employees on topics such as the code of conduct, social contributions, and annual staff development talks. While the job description details extensive requirements—including eight years of professional experience and bilingual fluency in English and Arabic—it does not explicitly state a salary range. This position is central to supporting GIZ’s expanding project portfolio and its ongoing commitment to improving living conditions in the region.

Original Job Description

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Job Title: Human Resources (HR) Specialist

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Assignment period: 01.05.2026 – 30.04.2027
Location: Damascus
Type of contract: National contract based on Syrian labour law
Type of employment: Fulltime

GIZ has been operating in Syria since 1976. It has thus established valuable contacts in civil society and garnered experience that is now crucial for supporting the country. From 2013 onwards, it worked without government involvement with the assistance of local non-governmental organisations. Despite the difficult conditions, GIZ has consistently contributed to improving people’s living conditions.

In view of the developments since December 2024, which have led Syria into a decisive phase of transformation, GIZ plans to reopen its Country Office in Damascus in 2026. It is currently implementing ten projects on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Federal Foreign Office, with co-financing from the European Union and other donors. From 2026, the portfolio is planned to be expanded by several new projects.

Your tasks

The HR Unit of GIZ Country Office in Syria is ensuring the implementation of GIZ Policy for National Staff (NMA) for the full HR life cycle including professional HR processes in line with GIZ Syria Employment Handbook. This includes:

Fair and transparent recruiting processes in line with GIZ HR regulations
Negotiating employment conditions and issuance of employment contracts
Coordinating onboarding and induction events, trainings and HR development measures
Handling personnel files and payroll management
Annual coordination of staff assessment and development talks (MAG)
Advising managers and staff on all HR- and employment-related topics (such as probationary period, code of conduct, taxes and social contributions, health insurance etc.)
Conducting exchanges with the representatives of national staff (NMA)
Where appropriate and reasonable, additional tasks upon request of the management

Your profile (required qualifications, competencies and experience)

University degree in Human Resources (HR) Management, Labour Economics and Industrial Relations, Business Administration, Psychology, or relevant field
At least 8 years of professional experience including at least 5 years of experiences in HR processes (such as recruitment, employment contracts, remuneration, staff onboarding and HR development)
Experience with online recruitment platforms, HR databases, Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS) or Human Resource Management Systems (HRMS)
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, high confidentiality and strong team player
Independent decision-making, ability to prioritise and handle multiple tasks at once
Willingness to learn and ability to identify improvements
Proficiency in all MS Office applications
Professional fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic, knowledge of German is an asset

How to apply

The following minimum requirements for applications need to be fulfilled:

Only application documents in English will be accepted. Documents in Arabic cannot be considered during the selection process.
Mandatory documents are CV and application letter in English stating your qualifications and previous professional experiences.

The deadline for application is 04.01.2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

GIZ is committed to diversity and gender balance. It is encouraging persons with disabilities to apply for the position.

Please submit your application to [email protected] indicating in the subject line the respective title of the position.

Source: ReliefWeb