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General Information

Publication for
Partner
Partner Name
UN-HABITAT United Nations Human Settlements Programme
Position Title
Project Manager
Job Category
Project
Duty Station(s)
Damascus
Seniority Level
Mid Level
ICS Level
ICS 10
Contract Type
ICA - LICA - Specialist - Regular
Contract Level
LICA 10
Posting Start Date
18-May-2026
Posting End Date
01-Jun-2026
Duration
12 months

Job Highlight

The HLP Projects Manager will be responsible for ensuring that UN-Habitat Syria’s Housing, Land and Property (HLP) projects are efficiently managed, effectively implemented, and fully compliant with donor and UN requirements.
The effective performance of the HLP Projects Manager will ensure that UN-Habitat Syria delivers a coherent, high-performing, and accountable HLP portfolio that meets donor expectations and strengthens organizational credibility.

About the Region

The UNOPS Middle East Region (MR) provides strategic leadership, performance oversight, and support to UNOPS operations across Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and the State of Palestine. MR is responsible for positioning UNOPS as a key development partner in the region through high-level engagement with regional bodies, UN coordination mechanisms, development banks, donors, and intergovernmental organisations. By fostering strategic partnerships and promoting operational excellence, the region supports country teams in delivering sustainable solutions to complex development, peace, and humanitarian challenges

About the Country/Multi-Country Office

Established in 2004, the UNOPS Amman Multi-Country Office (MCO) provides strategic and operational support to partners across Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and the Gulf countries. The MCO delivers solutions that address development, peace, and humanitarian challenges through infrastructure, procurement, project management, and human resources services. Working in close collaboration with national governments, UN agencies, and donors, the office supports efforts to advance the Sustainable Development Goals. Its portfolio includes large-scale operations focused on improving essential services, strengthening national systems, and enhancing resilience in complex and fragile settings.

Job Specific Context

Key to this support is the EU-funded “Joint Programme on Housing, Land and Property Issues – Phase II” (JP HLP II), developed with the overall objective to “contribute to the creation of an enabling environment where crisis-affected women, men, and communities can exercise their HLP rights.” The programme has been implemented jointly with UNDP and NRC since December 2022 and was recently extended to end-2026, with additional top-up funding and the inclusion of new partners (IOM and UNHCR).

UN-Habitat has also recently developed a Joint Programme with UNHCR on “Supporting Sustainable Returns and Reintegration in Syrian Cities”, funded by the Government of the Netherlands, as well as the “Informal Settlements Upgrading Project” in Homs and Aleppo, funded by the Government of Japan, among others.

Role Purpose

Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Head of UN-Habitat Syria Programme, daily supervision of the HLP Head of Unit, and daily collaboration with the Senior HLP Advisor. The HLP Projects Manger role should focuses on operational excellence, coordination, and results-based delivery.

Functions / Key Results Expected

  1. Project Planning and Delivery

    • Lead the preparation, implementation, and periodic updating of detailed workplans, procurement plans, and activity schedules for all HLP projects/activities.

    • Ensure project activities are delivered within agreed timelines, budgets, and quality standards, and in accordance with donor-approved logical frameworks and targets.

    • Identify implementation bottlenecks and coordinate timely corrective actions in collaboration with technical and field teams.

    • Facilitate regular internal coordination meetings to ensure consistent progress and early resolution of operational issues.


  1. Inter-Agency and Internal Coordination

    • Ensure strategic alignment and complementarity with UN-Habitat activities through regular engagement with the Urban Advisory Unit and other Project Managers in the office, as well as Regional Office and HQ.


  1. Financial and Administrative Oversight

  • Oversee budget planning, expenditure tracking, and financial reporting, ensuring full alignment with project workplans and donor conditions.

  • Coordinate with the operations and finance teams to ensure compliance with UN-Habitat’s financial and procurement procedures.

  • Support preparation and review of implementing partner agreements, subcontracts, and other financial commitments.


  1. Strengthened Project Management Systems and Donor Compliance

  • Establish and maintain robust project management systems to track delivery, outputs, expenditures, and results across all HLP projects.

  • Ensure all donor reporting (narrative and financial) is accurate, evidence-based, and submitted within agreed deadlines.

  • Maintain up-to-date records, performance indicators, and monitoring frameworks in compliance with donor visibility, audit, and communication requirements.

  • Coordinate input from field teams, operations, and partners to ensure consistency and quality of all donor deliverables.

  • Support unit and office-wise review of and improvements to project and information management systems. 


  1. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Quality Assurance

  • Ensure systematic monitoring of project performance through results frameworks, indicators, and progress trackers.

  • Coordinate field monitoring visits, verification of outputs, and preparation of monitoring reports.

  • Ensure adherence to UN-Habitat’s quality assurance standards, environmental and social safeguards, and gender equality principles.

  • Support project evaluations, audits, and donor reviews by ensuring timely provision of documentation and follow-up on recommendations.


  1. Support Partner and Stakeholder Coordination

  • Support the HLP lead and team to coordinate with implementing partners, donors, and UN joint programme partners (UNDP, NRC, IOM, UNHCR, etc.).

  • Support alignment of UN-Habitat’s activities with joint programme frameworks, ensuring integration with partner workplans and monitoring systems.

  • Together with the HLP Lead and team, establish regular communication with government counterparts, donors, and others.

Skills

Project Coordination, Project Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Urban Planning, Recovery and Resolution Planning
Strategic Perspective
Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organisation. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organisation.
Respect
Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organisational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.
Collaboration
Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.
Partnerships
Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).
Excellence
Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.
Adaptability
Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.
Decision-making
Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.
Communication
Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education Requirements

Required:


Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in engineering, architecture, urban planning, project management, business administration or any other field relevant to the UN-Habitat programmes. 

A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience Requirements

Required:

  • Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management.

  • Experience managing donor-funded programmes, preferably including work-planning, budgeting, procurement oversight, and donor reporting.


Desired:

  • Experience in financial management, monitoring, and evaluation, and maintaining compliance.

  • Experience with UN and/or NGO system.

  • Familiarity with HLP or urban recovery or similar programming.

Language Requirements

LanguageProficiency LevelRequirement
ArabicFluentRequired
EnglishFluentRequired

Additional Information

  • UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
  • UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
  • Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
  • Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
  • UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
  • UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
  • We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
  • UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
 
Terms and Conditions
 
  • For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
  • For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
  • For more details about the contract types, please click here.
  • All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
  • It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.