WASH & Shelter Coordinator - Idleb Syria - SYNAT

 

General Description of the Programme:

GOAL has been working in Syria since 2013, responding to the acute needs of conflict-affected communities. GOAL is working in Idleb, Aleppo, Hama, Homs and Latakia Governate, and expanding to other governorates both through direct implementation and through partners, delivering food, non-food programming to highly vulnerable populations, Nutrition, ERMS, Shelter, and WASH through support to Water units and working closely with the General Water Directorate and the line ministry (Ministry of Energy).

Job Purpose:

Reporting to the Director of Programmes, the WASH and Shelter Coordinator provides strategic leadership, technical oversight, and operational management for GOAL Syria's integrated WASH and Shelter portfolio. The Coordinator is responsible for ensuring the high-quality, complementary, and timely implementation of all WASH and shelter/infrastructure rehabilitation activities.

The incumbent will directly manage the WASH Manager and the Shelter Manager, driving programme integration, harmonizing approaches, and ensuring strategic growth. A key requirement for this role is proven, hands-on experience in implementing both WASH and Shelter projects in humanitarian contexts. The Coordinator will ensure all programmes are evidence-based, contextually appropriate, and implemented in accordance with GOAL and global sector standards, ultimately contributing to immediate humanitarian needs and longer-term resilience.

Key Duties:

1. Strategic Leadership & Integrated Programme Development (25%)

• Develop, update, and roll out an integrated WASH and Shelter strategy for Syria, ensuring the two sectors complement and reinforce each other.
• Provide dynamic programmatic leadership and strategic direction to ensure the technical and financial integrity of the entire WASH and Shelter portfolio.
• Lead the design and development of high-quality, innovative concept notes and proposals for a diverse range of donors, ensuring a fully integrated approach between WASH and Shelter components.
• Conduct ongoing analysis of needs and opportunities to enhance programme impact, scale, and integration.
• Ensure the WASH and Shelter strategy is informed by robust assessments and learning from programme data.

1. Programme Management & Quality Assurance (30%)

• Oversee the implementation of all WASH and Shelter projects, ensuring activities are delivered on time, within scope and budget, and to the highest quality standards.
• Ensure detailed implementation plans (DIPs), procurement plans, and budget monitoring tools are in place and actively managed.
• Ensure harmonized and robust Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), technical guidelines, and tools are developed and adhered to across the portfolio.
• Promote the use of agency and industry standards across all WASH and Shelter programming.
• Work closely with the Programme Quality and MEAL teams to establish and maintain a rigorous M&E framework, ensuring that learning is captured and used to adapt programmes.
• Ensure timely and high-quality donor reporting, consolidating inputs from the respective Managers.

1. Technical Oversight & Integration (25%)

• WASH Programme: Provide technical oversight on all WASH activities. Ensure technical standards for infrastructure (e.g., water networks, sanitation facilities) are met.
• Shelter Programme: Provide technical oversight on all shelter and infrastructure rehabilitation activities, including repairs, and rehabilitations. Ensure technical documentation (drawings, BoQs, specifications) is of high quality and adheres to safety and sustainability principles.
• Integration: Actively foster and mandate synergies between WASH and Shelter—for example, ensuring WASH infrastructure is included in shelter rehabilitations and that hygiene promotion is targeted in shelter sites.
• Stay abreast of the latest innovations, practices, and technologies in both sectors to provide cutting-edge technical recommendations.
• Ensure commitment to cross-cutting themes, including gender, protection, safeguarding, accountability, and environmental sustainability, is mainstreamed across all projects.

1. Team Management & Capacity Building (15%)

• Directly line manage the WASH Manager and the Shelter Manager.
• Oversee the recruitment, performance management, and professional development of the WASH and Shelter teams.
• Identify capacity building needs across both teams and facilitate relevant technical and managerial training.
• Promote a positive, collaborative, and learning-oriented team culture that embodies GOAL's core values.

1. Representation, Coordination & Advocacy (5%)

• Serve as GOAL's principal representative for the WASH and Shelter sectors in external coordination forums, including the WASH Cluster and Shelter/NFI Cluster meetings and SAG.
• Engage proactively with donors, UN agencies, and NGO partners to position GOAL as a leader in integrated WASH and Shelter programming in Syria.
• Advocate for evidence-based responses and funding based on GOAL's field experience and identified needs.

Requirements (Essential)                                                                                                                                                                                

• Relevant Technical Degree of A Master's or Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (Water/Sanitation/Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Architecture, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, or other relevant engineering) with minimum 7 years hands-on experience in WASH and preferable WASH and Shelter (Experience with water supply systems, sanitation infrastructure, hygiene promotion programs. Indicator for Shelter: Experience with shelter repair, rehabilitation, construction, infrastructure projects.) and in a team management role (e.g., Coordinator, Manager) within the Syria humanitarian and development sector, clearly stated on the CV.
• Proven, demonstrable hands-on experience in the technical design, implementation, and management of both WASH projects (e.g., water supply, sanitation systems) AND Shelter/Infrastructure projects (e.g., shelter repairs, rehabilitations, construction) in complex settings.
• Strong strategic, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the capacity to see the big picture and make sound judgments.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic planning, programme design, proposal development, and budgeting for major donors (e.g., DoS, USG, ECHO, FCDO, UN etc).
• Strong experience in line-managing senior staff and building the capacity of multi-disciplinary teams.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and representation skills.
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office; proficiency in AutoCAD or other engineering software is highly desirable.

Requirements (Desired)

• Previous work experience in the Syrian context.
• Professional proficiency in Arabic.
• In-depth understanding of gender, protection, and safeguarding principles in programming.
• Knowledge of Housing, Land, and Property (HLP) principles.

Interested? Then apply for this position via clicking on the "apply now" button and fill out the application form. All applicants must send a Cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in English.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

The application deadline is 02 December 2025 however, you are encouraged to apply immediately as we will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis, therefore we may withdraw the position before the advertisement’s closing date if a suitable candidate/s is identified.

Please note that GOAL does not charge a fee of any kind or any other financial obligation at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training, induction) or other fees, or request information on applicants’ bank accounts. GOAL does not work with intermediary institutions and individuals or employment agencies during the recruitment process. If any fee or payment is requested from you at the application or any stage of the recruitment process, please do not respond.  

GOAL does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy, errors or omissions of any of the information contained in translated advertisements by an independent party on other sites or through other channels.

General terms and conditions

Safeguarding

Children and vulnerable adults a must be safeguarded to the maximum possible extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury and any other harm. One of the ways that GOAL shows this on-going commitment to safeguarding is to include rigorous background and reference checks in the selection process for all candidates.

Accountability within GOAL

Alongside our safeguarding policy, GOAL is an equal opportunities employer and has a set of integrity policies. Any candidate offered a job with GOAL will be expected to adhere to the following key areas of accountability:

• Comply with GOAL’s policies and procedures with respect to safeguarding, Code of Conduct, health and safety, data protection and confidentiality, do no harm principles and unacceptable behavior protocols.
• Report any concerns about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult or any wrongdoings within our programming area.
• Report any concerns about inappropriate behavior of a GOAL staff or partner.

This Job Description only serves as a guide for the position available. GOAL reserves the right to change this document. Any published closing dates are estimated.  Due to the nature of GOAL’s work we aim to fill vacancies as quickly as possible.  This means that we will close adverts as soon as we have found the right candidate and this may be before the published closing date.  We would therefore advise interested applicants to submit an application as early as possible.

Thank you.