Team Leader

This position is based in Damascus and is an unaccompanied post. It is contingent upon donor funding. While on-the-ground operations are being finalized, the position will initially be remote.

The contract period is one year, renewable contingent upon funding and performance.

*Please note: Hiring for this position is contingent upon final funding approval. Contracting is subject to confirmation of project award and scope.

Search for Common Ground

In a world often divided, Search for Common Ground stands for the power of bringing diverse people together to find solutions. By meeting this moment with Search, you join a powerful global peace movement that believes in the profound impact of courageous multipartiality - that all voices should be heard and respected in shaping a better, more connected world, and a collaborative vision is essential for lasting peace.

Search for Common Ground takes a dynamic approach by developing solutions tailored to the needs of communities. We engage with leaders and elected officials to advance dialogue and collaboration. We are community leaders. We are youth activists. We are women. We are Peacebuilders. We have been doing this work for over 40 years, and we have developed a deep understanding of what peace looks like, enabling us to quantify our impact and design more effective programming. Peace moves at the speed of trust, so we invest for the long haul. When we’re no longer needed, we leave, leaving behind people and institutions with the ability to manage future conflicts.

Position Summary

We’re seeking a dynamic and experienced Team Leader with a strong track record in program oversight, stakeholder engagement, and team management. If you excel at leading diverse teams, building strategic partnerships, and ensuring donor compliance, this is a unique opportunity to drive impactful, locally led programming in Syria. S/he will ensure high-quality delivery, strong coordination, and full compliance with donor requirements, while working with the Country Director and HQ to manage risks, adapt to evolving dynamics, and contribute to program design and resource mobilisation.

Reporting to the Country Director and working closely with both existing and new partners, the Team Leader will provide overall strategic and technical leadership for a multi-year peacebuilding initiative. Building on Search for Common Ground’s long-established presence and trusted networks in Syria, the Team Leader will supervise the project management team, ensure program quality and effective implementation, and serve as the primary liaison with donors, local actors, and other stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Oversight

• Leading adaptive program design and implementation across governorates, aligned with the triple nexus approach.
• Ensuring integration of conflict sensitivity, gender equity, Do No Harm, and inclusion across all activities.
• Overseeing program quality through technical support, standardization, and capacity building.
• Driving collaboration with national partners and authorities to advance localization goals.
• Coordinating closely with field teams and partners to ensure timely, effective delivery.
• Engaging donors and stakeholders to position Search as a trusted partner in peacebuilding.
• Identifying and addressing operational risks and barriers to implementation and participation.

Internal Coordination & Partnership Management

• Facilitate effective collaboration with partners to maximize synergies and collective impact.
• Convene and lead regular partnership meetings, ensuring decisions are documented and followed up.
• Ensure fluid and open communication between partners at all levels (technical, operational, and strategic) and support the resolution of disagreements or misalignments in implementation or planning.

Team Leadership & Capacity Development

• Supervise and mentor a diverse team of national and international staff across locations.
• Support staff development and ensure a collaborative, safe, and productive work environment.
• Foster a culture of accountability, learning, and adaptive management within the team.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate Search’s core competencies:

• Inspires and supports team development while resolving challenges within a clear strategic vision.
• Builds strong, collaborative relationships with partners and key stakeholders.
• Balances routine operations with continuous improvement and innovation.
• Adapts to changing contexts with creative, solution-oriented approaches.
• Promotes consistent standards across functions, fostering global collaboration and teamwork.
• Models ethical behavior, reduces ambiguity, and sets a high standard for conduct.
• Navigates complexity with clear decision-making and adaptive leadership.
• Seeks creative, compliant solutions within complex, international frameworks.
• Coaches and mentors others, sharing knowledge to strengthen team capacity.
• Serves as a trusted expert, offering technical guidance and practical solutions.
• Leads collaborative problem-solving and innovation across the consortium.
• Engages teams in strategic discussions to support ongoing growth and development.
• Upholds and promotes safeguarding principles, demonstrating accountability and awareness in all actions.

Education and Experience

• BS/BA with a minimum of 13 years of progressive experience managing large-scale programs in conflict-affected or fragile contexts, including Syria.
• Strong background in project management, ideally in peacebuilding, international development, or political science.
• Exceptional interpersonal and collaboration skills, with the ability to effectively engage and communicate with partners, stakeholders, and counterparts at all levels.
• Fluency in English, with the ability to produce high-quality reports and presentations for diverse audiences.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Master's degree in Peacebuilding, International Development, Project Management, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• Prior experience in a senior leadership role, such as Program Director or Chief of Party on donor-funded contracts, is highly preferred.
• Fluency in Arabic is a strong asset.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

• This position is based in Syria, where security conditions are highly volatile and may pose significant risks, requiring strict adherence to safety protocols.
• Must be able to travel internationally at least 20%.

Supervisory and Budget Responsibility

• Expected to directly supervise 3–5 senior managers, provide strategic oversight to implementing partners and consultants, and lead multiple functional areas, including the management of associated budgets.

How to apply

Posting closing period: 15 July 2025

Submit cover letter and resume via the following link: Team Leader

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position may be filled before the closing date. Early applications are strongly encouraged.

Search is an equal employment employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information or any other status or characteristic protected under applicable law.