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 Deir ez-Zor) 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.