HAS Assistant

Background/Context:

The IRC has operated in Syria since 2012, providing protection, health, economic recovery, and early childhood development programs in Idleb, Aleppo, Ar-Raqqa, Hassakeh, and Deir ez-Zor, with new programs expanding into Hama, rural Damascus, and Homs. With a team of 350 members, the IRC has established trust and strong community relationships, ensuring access and effective service delivery. It plays a significant role in Syria’s NGO, donor, and coordination forums, holding key positions and adapting to the evolving context.

Our longstanding experience in the country to date provides a strong foundation for the IRC to further adapt and expand its programming across Syria, in order to respond to the new realities, with a greater focus on resilience and recovery initiatives. Alongside this, the IRC also plays a significant role in Syria’s NGO, donor, and coordination forums, holding key positions and actively engaging in advocacy efforts, adapting to the evolving context.

Job overview:

The Humanitarian Access and Security (HAS) Assistant will support the HAS team in maintaining and facilitating principled humanitarian access to conflict-affected populations in the assigned area of responsibility. The HAS Assistant will assist with day-to-day liaison activities, securing necessary approvals and permissions, supporting incident reporting, and ensuring compliance with safety and access procedures. The position will be based in Raqqa regular movement to operational areas as required.

Responsibilities:

Liaison and Humanitarian Access:

• Support the HAS Manager in liaising with relevant authorities to secure and maintain approvals and permissions.
• Assist in documenting, filing, and maintaining records of permits, clearances, and exemptions.
• Provide direct support to IRC teams at checkpoints, distribution sites, and facilities when access issues arise, in coordination with the HAS team.
• Represent the HAS team in operational areas as delegated.

Safety, Security, and Movement:

• Support the HAS team in daily, weekly, and monthly inspections of IRC facilities and vehicles.
• Assist with the coordination of international and national staff movements to camps and field locations.
• Support the HAS team in incident reporting, information collection, and follow-up.
• Report any violations of IRC security regulations or the IRC Code of Conduct to the line manager.

Administration and Reporting:

• Maintain accurate and organized records of access and security-related approvals and correspondence.
• Provide timely updates to the HAS Manager and Senior HAS Coordinator on access challenges, incidents, or operational delays.
• Assist in the preparation of regular reports on access and security issues as required.

Internal Coordination & Reporting:

• Collaborate with field, supply chain, security, and program teams to ensure that planned activities are legally cleared and aligned with government expectations.
• Provide regular updates to senior management and HQ on the status of registration, access, and legal compliance.
• Document all official correspondence and maintain a secure database of permits, approvals, and meeting notes.

Job Requirements:

• University/college degree or equivalent experience in relevant field.
• 0-1 years of work experience in humanitarian access, safety & security, or related fields with an INGO, LNGO, or relevant institution.
• Good knowledge and understanding of the context.
• Experience working with local authorities and community structures.
• Prior field experience supporting humanitarian programs is an advantage.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• A commitment to IRC’s mission, vision, values, and IRC Way – Professional Code of Conduct.
• Credible written, presentation, and verbal communication skills; ability to convey information effectively, and solid experience providing training and staff development
• Validated sense of professional discretion, integrity, and ability to handle complex situations diplomatically and to achieve effective resolution.
• Strong communication skills and ability to build trust with community stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications with strong attention to detail.
• Honest, hardworking, and committed to humanitarian principles.
• Excellent management and social skills and a proven ability to promote harmonious/cohesive teamwork in a cross-cultural context
• Validated ability to plan long-term, organize priorities, and work under administrative and programmatic pressures with detail orientation and professional perseverance.
• Highly collaborative and resourceful; ability to establish positive working relationships to improve collaboration and productivity.
• Curiosity, a desire to continually learn and develop.

Language/Travel:

• Fluency in Arabic and English required, written and spoken.
• Travel: 40% to field sites

Key Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to: HAS Manager
• Position directly supervises: Guards
• Indirect Reporting:
• Key Internal Contacts: All Staff
• Key External Contacts: Local authorities as required.