Liaison Senior Officer - Syria Damascus

Established in 1977, GOAL is an international humanitarian and development agency, committed to working with communities to achieve sustainable and innovative early response in crises, and lasting solutions to poverty and vulnerability. GOAL has worked in over 60 countries and has responded to almost every major humanitarian disaster. We are currently operational in 18 countries.

GOAL began operations in Syria in 2013 responding to the acute needs of conflict-affected communities. GOAL's areas of operations include but not limited to Aleppo, Idleb and Lattakia Governorates, and is expanding to new governorates in Syria. Programmes focus on Food and Nutrition Security, WASH, Shelter, Livelihoods/ERMS and Emergency Response with an emphasis on cash and voucher modalities. GOAL Syria implements its programmes directly, with over 500 staff based in Syria, and through Syrian NGO partners. GOAL's programme works at the household and community levels to improve community resilience and household coping strategies.

The Senior Liaison Officer is responsible for managing liaison-related issues in Damascus and southern Syria, including coordination and communication with relevant government parties and official institutions. The role includes attending, organizing, documenting, and systematically archiving related meetings. The Senior Liaison Officer also provides technical and coordination support to S&A team in other areas. In addition, works with the Safety and Access Coordinator to develop liaison strategies and design plans related to liaison operations, ensuring their effective implementation.

• Lead government liaison– You'll be GOAL's primary point of contact with Syrian ministries (MOFA, MOSAL, Relief Offices, Governor's offices), building and nurturing trusted relationships that make programs possible.
• Drive humanitarian access – In close coordination with the Safety & Access Coordinator, you won't just attend meetings – you'll actively shape stakeholder positioning and remove access barriers.
• Turn insights into action – Provide regular analytical briefings and weekly reports on access challenges, political shifts, and strategic solutions. Your analysis will directly influence program continuity.
• Master stakeholder intelligence – Engage in developing the stakeholder mapping and maintain a dynamic database that keeps GOAL ahead of the curve.
• Ensure compliance & documentation – Track all official communications, No Objection Letters (NOLs), approvals, and work permits. You'll be the guardian of GOAL's official records with the government.
• Lead Liaison Team – As line manager for liaison staff in Idlib, Aleppo, and Northeast Syria, you'll coach, guide, and empower your team to deliver results.
• Anticipate risks before they happen – Work proactively with the Safety & Access Coordinator to foresee access challenges and engage in risk analysis.
• Shape acceptance strategies – Contribute to designing community engagement and stakeholder communication strategies that build trust and long-term presence.
• Be a versatile player – Support safety management when needed and take on dynamic responsibilities in a fast-paced humanitarian environment.

• BA degree. Arabic – Law - business administration – or any related field.
• Work experience in INGOs\NGOs for 2 years at least.
• Proven experience in reports writing.
• Work experience in Access negotiation, or security management or governmental liaison position. (team leader, field officer… and above)
• Attendance at training related to humanitarian negotiation is an advantage.
• Good spoken and written Arabic.
• Good Written and Spoken English.
• Computer skills – (Word and Excel…)
• Technical skills, including setup, and social media…
• Clear communication skills.
• The ability to record, keep, and pass accurate messages is essential.
• Ability to work under pressure and react to emergencies calmly and logically.
• Sensitivity to gender and diversity issues in work practices.
• Good knowledge for GOAL working areas context.

• Lives in Damascus.
• Good in English Language.

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.

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 behaviour 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 behaviour 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.