Hiring Organization: Chemonics
How to apply
To apply please fill out this form: SEP II Job Application Form by September 28, 2025. If you are unable to access the link directly due to local internet restrictions, please consider using a VPN connection to access and complete the application form.
We will review the applications on a rolling basis. No telephone inquiries, please. Chemonics will contact finalists.
Job Location: Syria
Closing date: 28 Sep 2025
Chemonics UK is currently leading the Syria Education Programme II (Manahel), a UK government-supported programme that provides access to safe, inclusive, and quality learning opportunities for children in conflict-affected areas of Syria and delivers the support that educational actors need to manage education effectively Manahel focuses on pedagogy, curriculum and planning, inclusion and child protection. It promotes the importance of education for girls and delivers interventions in psycho-social care, child safeguarding and protection, fixed and mobile library support, teacher training and coaching, monthly teacher learning circles, accommodation for children with mild or moderate disability, and improved literacy and numeracy instruction. Chemonics UK is also pursuing additional programming opportunities in Syria.
The Senior Security and Risk Advisor is responsible for the day-to-day management of safety and security for all Chemonics UK project staff, and partner staff in Syria, as well as for managing duty of care responsibilities for downstream partners. Key tasks include monitoring risks and reporting incidents, raising security awareness levels, and developing, maintaining and implementing a project security plan that ensures safety and security best practices are at the forefront of project activity.
Working closely with the London-based Chemonics UK Head of Security and the Project Team Leader(s), the Senior Security and Risk Adviser will develop, update, maintain, and implement the project’s security management plan, ensuring adherence to Chemonics' security policies and best practices, including those related to transportation, medical and fire safety, journey management, and office and residence safety. The Senior Security and Risk Adviser will support assessments of new project activities and the resumption of paused activities in the current context of Syria.
The Senior Security and Risk Adviser will provide continuous training, support, and mentoring to project staff on Chemonics' safety and security best practices, standards, and requirements for all field office operations. They must follow the client's (FCDO) and local government policies, procedures, and regulations.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Chemonics UK is currently leading the Syria Education Programme II (Manahel), a UK government-supported programme that provides access to safe, inclusive, and quality learning opportunities for children in conflict-affected areas of Syria and delivers the support that educational actors need to manage education effectively Manahel focuses on pedagogy, curriculum and planning, inclusion and child protection. It promotes the importance of education for girls and delivers interventions in psycho-social care, child safeguarding and protection, fixed and mobile library support, teacher training and coaching, monthly teacher learning circles, accommodation for children with mild or moderate disability, and improved literacy and numeracy instruction. Chemonics UK is also pursuing additional programming opportunities in Syria.
The Senior Security and Risk Advisor is responsible for the day-to-day management of safety and security for all Chemonics UK project staff, and partner staff in Syria, as well as for managing duty of care responsibilities for downstream partners. Key tasks include monitoring risks and reporting incidents, raising security awareness levels, and developing, maintaining and implementing a project security plan that ensures safety and security best practices are at the forefront of project activity.
Working closely with the London-based Chemonics UK Head of Security and the Project Team Leader(s), the Senior Security and Risk Adviser will develop, update, maintain, and implement the project’s security management plan, ensuring adherence to Chemonics' security policies and best practices, including those related to transportation, medical and fire safety, journey management, and office and residence safety. The Senior Security and Risk Adviser will support assessments of new project activities and the resumption of paused activities in the current context of Syria.
The Senior Security and Risk Adviser will provide continuous training, support, and mentoring to project staff on Chemonics' safety and security best practices, standards, and requirements for all field office operations. They must follow the client's (FCDO) and local government policies, procedures, and regulations.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Conduct personnel, facility (offices and residences) and operational threat and risk assessments for the project. Make recommendations for security enhancements and modifications and ensure that approved recommendations are implemented.
Help in identifying a location for an office in Damascus and conduct a site security assessment, then help identifying and implementing necessary safety and security improvements and standard operating procedures.
Identify suitable lodging locations for short-term international personnel, maintaining up-to-date site/venue assessments of appropriate hotels for both local national and international travellers traveling to Damascus and elsewhere across Syria.
Advise the Team Lead(s) on the creation, update, and implementation of Chemonics' security policies and standard operating procedures, including those related to transportation, fire safety, journey management, and office and residence safety.
Engage with project staff regularly to answer and address questions and concerns relating to safety and security, liaising with the Head of Security, Team Leader(s), and project leaders.
Provide regular assessments and real-time updates of the on-the-ground situation in Syria to project staff, corporate-office staff, and other stakeholders.
Develop security assessments for all office and project locations and advise the Team Leader(s), Deputy Team Leader and project staff as needed. Assist the Head of Security in security assessment data collection through periodic context analyses, threat assessments, and vulnerability assessments. Conduct research and outreach by visiting programme activity locations, analysing the security environment and identifying local security contacts in programmatic areas.
Monitor project staff members' implementation of safety and security procedures and report all breaches in compliance.
Identify transportation options and coordinate transportation support for staff in Syria. As part of transportation requirements, monitor staff status and locations in transit in Syria as needed.
Coordinate implementation of security requirements, including all logistical and supply chain security requirements.
Support and lead, if required, emergency response for the project and ensure all incidents are reported to the UK-based Head of Security.
Monitor field staff emergency and security preparedness and work closely with them to ensure compliance with internal security policies and standard operating procedures.
Lead the implementation of the risk assessment mitigation measures provided in concert with the Head of Security.
Lead emergency preparedness and ensure field staff receive necessary training, including on hostile environments and the use of satellite phones.
Network with other security organisations in Syria in coordination with the Security Manager, including the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), UNOCHA, and other implementing partners as needed to understand the security situation and be able to make relevant recommendations.
Perform any other tasks assigned by the Team Leader(s) or their designee that are consistent with the overall nature of the project.
Continuously build corporate capability to operate in conflict zones. Implement appropriate security philosophies and skill sets from approved corporate standards into the local project capacity that enable safer and more effective development operations in Syria.
Requirements
Help in identifying a location for an office in Damascus and conduct a site security assessment, then help identifying and implementing necessary safety and security improvements and standard operating procedures.
Identify suitable lodging locations for short-term international personnel, maintaining up-to-date site/venue assessments of appropriate hotels for both local national and international travellers traveling to Damascus and elsewhere across Syria.
Advise the Team Lead(s) on the creation, update, and implementation of Chemonics' security policies and standard operating procedures, including those related to transportation, fire safety, journey management, and office and residence safety.
Engage with project staff regularly to answer and address questions and concerns relating to safety and security, liaising with the Head of Security, Team Leader(s), and project leaders.
Provide regular assessments and real-time updates of the on-the-ground situation in Syria to project staff, corporate-office staff, and other stakeholders.
Develop security assessments for all office and project locations and advise the Team Leader(s), Deputy Team Leader and project staff as needed. Assist the Head of Security in security assessment data collection through periodic context analyses, threat assessments, and vulnerability assessments. Conduct research and outreach by visiting programme activity locations, analysing the security environment and identifying local security contacts in programmatic areas.
Monitor project staff members' implementation of safety and security procedures and report all breaches in compliance.
Identify transportation options and coordinate transportation support for staff in Syria. As part of transportation requirements, monitor staff status and locations in transit in Syria as needed.
Coordinate implementation of security requirements, including all logistical and supply chain security requirements.
Support and lead, if required, emergency response for the project and ensure all incidents are reported to the UK-based Head of Security.
Monitor field staff emergency and security preparedness and work closely with them to ensure compliance with internal security policies and standard operating procedures.
Lead the implementation of the risk assessment mitigation measures provided in concert with the Head of Security.
Lead emergency preparedness and ensure field staff receive necessary training, including on hostile environments and the use of satellite phones.
Network with other security organisations in Syria in coordination with the Security Manager, including the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), UNOCHA, and other implementing partners as needed to understand the security situation and be able to make relevant recommendations.
Perform any other tasks assigned by the Team Leader(s) or their designee that are consistent with the overall nature of the project.
Continuously build corporate capability to operate in conflict zones. Implement appropriate security philosophies and skill sets from approved corporate standards into the local project capacity that enable safer and more effective development operations in Syria.
Requirements
A minimum of five years’ experience, eight years preferred, in security management and oversight roles in high-risk environments.
Three or more years’ experience working in Middle Eastern Countries; Syria-specific experience highly preferred.
Experience working with FCDO and other international development donor programming in a multi-cultural environment is strongly preferred.
Proven effectiveness in designing, updating, and implementing security platforms for civilian operations in conflict zones, including successful crisis management experience and management of private security providers.
Previous experience advising senior leadership on crisis management; ability to organise programme leadership in the field and liaison with head office leadership.
Proven effectiveness in establishing relevant relationships in complex and high-risk environments.
Proven problem solver in high-risk environments.
Strong ability to communicate effectively with various stakeholders, both internally and externally.
Familiarity with journey management and personnel tracking systems.
Demonstrated proficiency in acceptance-based risk mitigation strategies.
Able to develop pragmatic risk assessments, support operational plans for safe travel and project implementation, and support venue risk management requirements.
Fluent in Arabic and English.
University degree in a relevant field or discipline.
The Senior Security and Risk Adviser will adhere to and act in accordance with Chemonics’ professional code of ethics, “Living Our Values,” and will make the principles of the code a part of the programme’s culture and operating procedures. They will uphold Chemonics’ programmes’ safeguarding standards at all times and will promote a safeguarding culture among partners, beneficiaries, and staff. They will also foster and maintain good relationships with potential and actual project stakeholders, will disclose any affiliations that could be perceived as a conflict of interest, and will maintain confidentiality regarding program activities.
Reporting
The security advisor reports to and is directly supervised by the DTL – Operations and Risk.
Location
This is a full-time position based in Damascus, Syria.
We will review the applications on a rolling basis. No telephone inquiries, please. Chemonics will contact finalists.
Three or more years’ experience working in Middle Eastern Countries; Syria-specific experience highly preferred.
Experience working with FCDO and other international development donor programming in a multi-cultural environment is strongly preferred.
Proven effectiveness in designing, updating, and implementing security platforms for civilian operations in conflict zones, including successful crisis management experience and management of private security providers.
Previous experience advising senior leadership on crisis management; ability to organise programme leadership in the field and liaison with head office leadership.
Proven effectiveness in establishing relevant relationships in complex and high-risk environments.
Proven problem solver in high-risk environments.
Strong ability to communicate effectively with various stakeholders, both internally and externally.
Familiarity with journey management and personnel tracking systems.
Demonstrated proficiency in acceptance-based risk mitigation strategies.
Able to develop pragmatic risk assessments, support operational plans for safe travel and project implementation, and support venue risk management requirements.
Fluent in Arabic and English.
University degree in a relevant field or discipline.
The Senior Security and Risk Adviser will adhere to and act in accordance with Chemonics’ professional code of ethics, “Living Our Values,” and will make the principles of the code a part of the programme’s culture and operating procedures. They will uphold Chemonics’ programmes’ safeguarding standards at all times and will promote a safeguarding culture among partners, beneficiaries, and staff. They will also foster and maintain good relationships with potential and actual project stakeholders, will disclose any affiliations that could be perceived as a conflict of interest, and will maintain confidentiality regarding program activities.
Reporting
The security advisor reports to and is directly supervised by the DTL – Operations and Risk.
Location
This is a full-time position based in Damascus, Syria.
We will review the applications on a rolling basis. No telephone inquiries, please. Chemonics will contact finalists.
How to apply
To apply please fill out this form: SEP II Job Application Form by September 28, 2025. If you are unable to access the link directly due to local internet restrictions, please consider using a VPN connection to access and complete the application form.
We will review the applications on a rolling basis. No telephone inquiries, please. Chemonics will contact finalists.