Business Specialist At Syria Development Centre

About SyriaDev

SyriaDev is a Syrian led institution dedicated to fostering local, ethical, and effective development within Syria. Founded by Syrians residing in leading academic institutions and corporations worldwide, our centre is committed to driving positive change in our homeland. Established in Oxford, UK, in 2021, our shared passion for Syria’s development fuels our collective efforts.

In a challenging environment characterized by limited access to reliable data and resources, SyriaDev serves as a beacon of hope. We empower local communities, non-governmental actors, public decision-makers, and business leaders with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate complex development challenges. Our focus on ethical practices ensures that interventions are not only well-informed but also sensitive to the needs and aspirations of Syria’s diverse population.

At SyriaDev, we believe in the power of local solutions. Through our suite of services, including knowledge management, institutional entrepreneurship, and data management and GIS solutions, we empower local institutions to drive sustainable development initiatives tailored to Syria’s unique context.

Together, we are forging a path towards a brighter future for Syria—one built on principles of inclusivity, sustainability, and ethical practice. Join us in our mission to build a more resilient and prosperous Syria for generations to come.

General Information about the Vacancy:

The Business Specialist will focus on enhancing the financial sustainability and operational efficiency of healthcare institutions contributing to better healthcare outcomes in northwest Syria. And he/she will play a pivotal role in empowering healthcare leaders and institutions through strategic planning, capacity building, and innovative project management.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Strengthen the Business Capacity of HRH Actors
• Conduct financial and business assessments through direct engagement with healthcare institutions, leveraging field visits and stakeholder interviews to gain a comprehensive understanding of their financial standing, business needs, and contextual challenges.
• Develop and implement strategic business action plans tailored to the specific conditions and opportunities identified within the healthcare sector.
• Facilitate business training programs in Project Management, Financial Management, Business Development, Fundraising, Leadership, and Communication, ensuring alignment with the real-world needs of healthcare leaders and stakeholders.
• Implement a digital transformation strategy to address operational inefficiencies, integrating tools like online training and telemedicine that are responsive to the field context and support fundraising and outreach efforts.

  Supervision of Income Generation Unit for Healthcare Institutions

• Conduct studies and field assessments to explore private sector engagement, focusing on practical and contextually relevant collaboration opportunities in HRH development activities.
• Guide and monitor the development of pilot income-generating projects such as community hospitals, private health centres, paid online courses, and community pharmacies, ensuring their design and execution are informed by field realities.
• Oversee seed fund allocation, integrating feedback from field observations to ensure effective implementation, compliance with objectives, and adaptability to the operational environment.
• Follow up on the implementation of income-generating projects by healthcare sector entities through on-site visits and regular field-based reviews, providing tailored technical support to address challenges and promote sustainability.

  Sustainability Building

• Develop a long-term strategy for fundraising and income generation that incorporates insights from field observations, ensuring proposed solutions are viable and sensitive to local challenges and opportunities.
• Lead training programs for healthcare staff, involving on-the-ground experts and consultants, to equip them with practical financial and business development skills that can be applied in their specific operational contexts.
• Explore innovative funding models informed by local realities to gradually reduce reliance on external or humanitarian support.

  Capacity Building

• Design and deliver capacity-building programs for HRH actors, integrating field findings to address identified gaps and promote context-specific learning in areas such as Project Management, Investment Basics, Seed Funding, and Business Plan Development.
• Supervise the assessment of training needs through direct engagement with healthcare institutions and stakeholders, ensuring alignment with field dynamics.
• Create platforms for cross-learning among HRH actors, fostering the exchange of practical experiences and best practices in business and income generation that are rooted in the local context.

  Monitoring and Evaluation

• Support the development of Terms of Reference (TOR) and selection criteria for consultants and trainers, ensuring that field insights shape their roles and deliverables.
• Coordinate resource mobilisation and fundraising efforts based on an understanding of field needs and opportunities, ensuring proposed initiatives address actual gaps.
• Monitor and evaluate project outcomes by conducting regular field visits and engaging with stakeholders to collect data, analyse progress, and prepare actionable reports that guide decision-making.
• Conduct field visits and interviews to gather qualitative and quantitative data directly from healthcare institutions and actors, ensuring recommendations and interventions are well-informed and contextually relevant.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum 4 years of previous work experience working in Syrian development contexts, ideally related to healthcare sector in North/West Syria.
• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Economics, or a related field, with a strong understanding of financial management, business development, and organizational capacity building.
• Understanding the concept of Social Enterprise and its applications and practical implementation on the ground is a plus.
• Experience in designing and delivering capacity-building programs.
• Understanding the context in North/West Syria is a must.
• Fluency in Arabic and English is essential.
• Proven expertise in conducting financial and business assessments, developing capacity-building strategies, and facilitating training programs.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify challenges and propose effective solutions.
• Prior experience working in the Syrian healthcare sector or non-profit organizations and understanding of the context in northwest Syria is a must.
• Familiarity with fundraising and revenue-generating approaches in the healthcare sector.
• Demonstrated experience in managing and monitoring grants and seed funds is preferred.
• Travel to participate in stakeholder meetings and workshops in Türkiye/Gaziantep and in northwest Syria is preferred.