Administration Senior Associate

UNOPS; Damascus (MD); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

UNOPS is seeking an Administration Senior Associate to support the Syria Programme in Damascus. The role ensures compliant delivery of administrative and protocol services, managing government liaison, immigration processing, and daily office coordination.

Required is a Secondary or Bachelor’s degree with relevant experience; English and Arabic are expected. Strong MS Office/G‑Suite skills and document management能力 are essential for smooth cross‑agency operations.

Qualifications

• Secondary school diploma or Bachelor’s degree with relevant experience in administrative services.
• Experience with liaison/protocol services and government relations is highly desirable.
• Proficiency in MS Office or G‑Suite and strong document management skills are required.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate administrative and protocol services in UNMAS Syria Programme.
• Maintain relationships with government ministries and local authorities for official correspondence and meetings.
• Process residency permits and VAT exemptions; assist with interpretation and translation as needed.
• Brief international staff on administrative matters and coordinate travel arrangements.
• Support events and knowledge sharing through meetings and briefings.

Skills

Communication

Document Management

General Administration

Government Relations

Visas

Education

Secondary school diploma

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

MS Office / G-Suite

Job description

Organizational context: The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) Syria Programme, based in Damascus, is a critical component of UNOPS' Global Portfolios Office. UNMAS coordinates humanitarian mine action across Syria, enabling safe access for humanitarian and development operations. It actively supports the UN Country Team and collaborates with the Syrian Government to establish a national mine action authority, contributing to the broader humanitarian framework and SDGs.

Job purpose: The Administration Senior Associate plays a crucial role in ensuring the efficient and compliant delivery of protocol and administrative services within the UNMAS Syria Programme. This position is vital for facilitating smooth government liaison, managing immigration and official documentation processes, and overseeing day-to-day office coordination. By ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and adherence to UNOPS policies, the role directly supports the operational effectiveness of UNMAS in Syria, enabling humanitarian mine action activities and contributing to the safety and security of the population affected by explosive ordnance contamination.

Responsibilities: The Administration Senior Associate is responsible for coordinating administrative and protocol services, ensuring full compliance with UNOPS rules and regulations. Key duties include maintaining relationships with government ministries and local authorities to facilitate official correspondence and meetings, providing guidance on protocol matters, and processing residency permits and VAT exemptions. The role involves coordinating with various government departments, establishing and maintaining filing systems, and assisting with interpretation and translation. Additionally, the Associate will brief international personnel on administrative matters, coordinate administrative workflows, review travel arrangements, and provide administrative support for key events. Knowledge sharing through briefings and participation in meetings is also a core responsibility.

Education: A Secondary school diploma (or equivalent) with 7 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 3 years of relevant experience is required.

Work experience: Requires relevant experience in administrative services, liaison/protocol services, and government relations, along with proficiency in collaboration tools like MS Office/G-Suite. Experience with government ministries, immigration, local authorities, and customs for document processing is highly desired, as is experience within UN system organizations or international NGOs in humanitarian or development contexts.

Skills: Communication, Document Management, General Administration, Government Relations, Visas

Required languages: English, Arabic