The Estonian Refugee Council (ERC) is expanding its humanitarian presence in Syria—and we’re looking for a motivated and experienced Operations Officer to help us lay the groundwork.
As our new Operations Officer, you’ll play a key role in ensuring smooth day-to-day operations for ERC in Damascus. Your work will span finance, administration, legal compliance, and programme support, helping us operate effectively, ethically, and in full alignment with both Syrian regulations and our international commitments.
This is a unique opportunity to take part in shaping the launch of ERC’s activities in Syria, working alongside a passionate team committed to humanitarian principles.
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Finance & budgeting: manage day-to-day financial operations, coordinate with accounting service, support budgeting and donor reporting, ensure proper cash flow and fund transfers, and maintain accurate financial records.
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Office & administration: support the setup and management of ERC’s Damascus office, oversee procurement, logistics, HR documentation, and asset management, and contribute to onboarding and office efficiency.
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Legal & compliance: act as ERC’s focal point with Syrian authorities, ensuring legal compliance, maintaining necessary approvals and registrations, advising on regulatory changes, and supporting risk management and staff safety.
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Programme operations: provide logistical, administrative, and operational support to the programme team, contribute to programme design and implementation, and assist with reporting and coordination of field activities.
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A Bachelor’s degree in Social Studies, Finance, Management, or something closely related.
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Solid professional experience in support roles within the humanitarian or NGO sector.
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Hands-on experience in at least two of these areas: finance, admin, legal compliance, government relations, or programme management.
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A good grip on the Syrian administrative and regulatory environment, especially what’s relevant for NGOs and humanitarian work.
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Familiarity with Syrian tax and labor laws—you’ll need this to keep things compliant and running smoothly.
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You’re fluent in Arabic and English (written and spoken). If you speak Turkish too, that’s a definite bonus.
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You know how to communicate and negotiate well with a wide range of people—from colleagues to local authorities.
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You’re comfortable using Microsoft Office tools, especially Excel. If you’ve worked with financial software, even better.
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You believe in and stand by humanitarian values and are happy to work within ERC’s Code of Conduct.
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If you have any experience with cash-based programming, that’s a nice extra to bring to the table.
- Opportunity to work partially remotely and with flexible hours.
- Innovative projects: Estonian Refugee Council is internationally known and recognised for its innovative humanitarian assistance initiatives.
- We support a collaborative and inclusive work environment where every team member is valued.
- Everyone is welcome—regardless of gender, religion, skin colour, national or ethnic origin, language, marital status, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic status, (dis)ability, political beliefs, or any other protected characteristic.