Vacancy Ref: HIHFAD-2026-39
Job Title: HR Planning and Development Specialist
Department: Human Resources and Safeguarding
Direct report to: HR Manager
Job Location: Damascus, with ability to travel as required
Job type: Full time
Closing date: 7/May/2026
About HiHFAD
Hand in Hand for Aid and Development (HiHFAD) is a Non-Profit, Non-Governmental, Charitable Incorporated Organization registered in the United Kingdom and in Türkiye (TR: İyilik İçin El Ele Derneği) that provides high standards in humanitarian and relief services to the most vulnerable wherever needed through local engagement and global support.
Established in 2011 by a group of British-Syrian diaspora, HiHFAD was born out of a desire to extend a helping hand to vulnerable groups and displaced families in Syria and beyond. Since then, HiHFAD remained at the forefront of humanitarian agencies, providing life-saving aid to Syrians in hard-to-reach areas. Our extensive Healthcare Program has enabled us to expand and reach even more communities and internally displaced people; providing a comprehensive, integrated multi-sectoral intervention in Health, Nutrition, WaSH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), Protection, Shelter, Non-Food Assistance, Food Security, Livelihoods, and Education.
HiHFAD mandate is to alleviate the suffering of those in need without any type of discrimination, protect the most vulnerable, promoting social justice and welfare, and fostering durable solutions through delivering community-based humanitarian and development interventions.
Job overview
To lead the development and implementation of HR planning, performance management, staff development, and career progression strategies, in alignment with the organization’s overall goals. The role promotes a culture of continuous learning, safeguarding, and inclusivity, while ensuring that HR development practices contribute to institutional excellence and staff well-being.
Main Tasks & Responsibilities
1. Strategic HR Planning and Workforce Analysis:
• Participate in the development and review of annual HR strategies and workforce plans.
• Analyze HR data, workforce trends, and turnover metrics to inform strategic planning and staffing decisions.
• Collaborate with departments to anticipate staffing needs and succession plans.
• Support the implementation of job classification, grading, and restructuring processes.
2. Performance Management:
• Oversee the design and continuous improvement of the performance management system (annual, project-based, probation, and 360-degree evaluations).
• Provide technical support to managers in setting objectives, conducting evaluations, and managing performance improvement plans.
• Monitor compliance with performance appraisal timelines and generate analysis reports.
• Promote a performance-based culture through capacity-building initiatives.
3. Learning and Development:
• Conduct annual Training Needs Assessments (TNAs) with relevant stakeholders.
• Design and oversee the implementation of the Annual Learning and Development Plan, aligned with job roles and strategic goals.
• Coordinate training programs (internal and external), monitor participation, and evaluate outcomes.
• Maintain a comprehensive training record and report on learning impact and ROI.
4. Career Pathing and Staff Development:
• Contribute to the design of career development frameworks and Individual Development Plans (IDPs).
• Facilitate mentorship and coaching programs in collaboration with managers.
• Identify high-potential staff and support talent development pipelines across departments.
5. Recruitment Oversight:
• Provide strategic input into recruitment planning, particularly for critical, senior, or emergency roles.
• Ensure recruitment practices are transparent, inclusive, and compliant with safeguarding and PSEA standards.
• Support the development and maintenance of talent pools and recruitment analytics.
6. Talent Acquisition and Recruitment
• Lead the end-to-end recruitment cycle, including preparing job descriptions, posting vacancies, screening applications, conducting interviews, and facilitating onboarding.
• Coordinate with hiring managers to understand staffing needs and recruitment priorities.
• Ensure transparency, equity, and safeguarding standards are applied throughout all recruitment processes.
• Maintain and regularly update the recruitment tracker and database of potential candidates.
• Develop and manage talent pipelines for critical and hard-to-fill roles.
• Participate in recruitment planning for emergency or surge staffing needs.
7. Safeguarding and Capacity Building
• Integrate safeguarding principles into learning and development activities.
• Support awareness-raising initiatives on PSEA, code of conduct, and reporting mechanisms.
• Collaborate with the Safeguarding focal points to ensure capacity building activities align with donor requirements and organizational policies.
8. Policy and System Development
• Contribute to the review and development of HR policies and SOPs related to planning, performance, and development.
• Ensure alignment with organizational strategy, labor laws, and donor standards.
9. Reporting and Documentation
• Maintain up-to-date records of training, performance appraisals, and development activities.
Provide periodic reports on HR development indicators, learning outcomes, and strategic recommendations
Background Knowledge & Experience
Education Level: Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
Work Experience: minimum 3 years in Human Resources
Languages: English: B2 Arabic: C2
Skills and Abilities
• Strong communication & facilitation skills
• High integrity, analytical thinking, and attention to detail
• Strategic workforce planning & forecasting
• Organizational development & structure design
• Performance management systems & KPIs
• HR data analysis & reporting (Excel/Power BI)
Disclaimer
Hand in Hand for Aid and Development is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse work environment where all qualified candidates receive consideration based solely on their experience and capabilities. As a humanitarian organization, we recognize the importance of diversity and are committed to ensuring that discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, age, ethnicity, religion, disability, or marital status does not occur.
We adhere to the Humanitarian Principles and believe that the rights of all individuals, including children, women, and adults at risk, must be safeguarded. We are accountable to the communities we serve, and it is our responsibility to ensure that we do not contribute to their further harm or expose them to additional risks.
Hand in Hand for Aid and Development has a zero-tolerance policy for any form of exploitation, abuse, harassment, or discrimination. To ensure the safety and protection of those we serve, we conduct a range of pre-employment screenings and checks in accordance with our Safeguarding Policy.
HiHFAD renounces all forms of terrorism and will never knowingly support, tolerate or encourage terrorism or the activities of those who embrace terrorism or money laundering. Consistent with numerous United Nations Security Council resolutions, including 1267 Committee list of terrorists and terrorist financiers, S/RES/1269(1999), S/RES 1368(2001) and S/RES1373(2001) and the European Union, HIHFAD is firmly committed to the international fight against terrorism and in particular against the financing of terrorism. It is the policy of HIHFAD to seek to ensure that none of its and its donor funds is used, directly or indirectly, to provide support to individuals or entities associated with terrorism or money laundering. Therefore, HIHFAD will match employees, volunteers and contracted persons against the Sanctions lists on a regular basis
This vacancy is contingent upon project confirmation from the donor.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview.
How to apply
In case you meet the requirements and that you are interested in the position, please fill the application via the following link:Â Alsama Project