WASH & Shelter Coordinator – Idleb Syria At GOAL

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General Description of the Programme:

GOAL has been working in Syria since 2013, responding to the acute needs of conflict-affected communities. GOAL is working in Idleb, Aleppo, Hama, Homs and Latakia Governate, and expanding to other governorates both through direct implementation and through partners, delivering food, non-food programming to highly vulnerable populations, Nutrition, ERMS, Shelter, and WASH through support to Water units and working closely with the General Water Directorate and the line ministry (Ministry of Energy).

Job purpose:

Reporting to the Director of Programmes, the WASH and Shelter Coordinator provides strategic leadership, technical oversight, and operational management for GOAL Syria’s integrated WASH and Shelter portfolio. The Coordinator is responsible for ensuring the high-quality, complementary, and timely implementation of all WASH and shelter/infrastructure rehabilitation activities.

The incumbent will directly manage the WASH Manager and the Shelter Manager, driving programme integration, harmonizing approaches, and ensuring strategic growth. A key requirement for this role is proven, hands-on experience in implementing both WASH and Shelter projects in humanitarian contexts. The Coordinator will ensure all programmes are evidence-based, contextually appropriate, and implemented in accordance with GOAL and global sector standards, ultimately contributing to immediate humanitarian needs and longer-term resilience.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership & Integrated Programme Development (25%)

  • Develop, update, and roll out an integrated WASH and Shelter strategy for Syria, ensuring the two sectors complement and reinforce each other.
  • Provide dynamic programmatic leadership and strategic direction to ensure the technical and financial integrity of the entire WASH and Shelter portfolio.
  • Lead the design and development of high-quality, innovative concept notes and proposals for a diverse range of donors, ensuring a fully integrated approach between WASH and Shelter components.
  • Conduct ongoing analysis of needs and opportunities to enhance programme impact, scale, and integration.
  • Ensure the WASH and Shelter strategy is informed by robust assessments and learning from programme data.

2. Programme Management & Quality Assurance (30%)

  • Oversee the implementation of all WASH and Shelter projects, ensuring activities are delivered on time, within scope and budget, and to the highest quality standards.
  • Ensure detailed implementation plans (DIPs), procurement plans, and budget monitoring tools are in place and actively managed.
  • Ensure harmonized and robust Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), technical guidelines, and tools are developed and adhered to across the portfolio.
  • Promote the use of agency and industry standards across all WASH and Shelter programming.
  • Work closely with the Programme Quality and MEAL teams to establish and maintain a rigorous M&E framework, ensuring that learning is captured and used to adapt programmes.
  • Ensure timely and high-quality donor reporting, consolidating inputs from the respective Managers.

3. Technical Oversight & Integration (25%)

  • WASH Programme: Provide technical oversight on all WASH activities. Ensure technical standards for infrastructure (e.g., water networks, sanitation facilities) are met.
  • Shelter Programme: Provide technical oversight on all shelter and infrastructure rehabilitation activities, including repairs, and rehabilitations. Ensure technical documentation (drawings, BoQs, specifications) is of high quality and adheres to safety and sustainability principles.
  • Integration: Actively foster and mandate synergies between WASH and Shelter—for example, ensuring WASH infrastructure is included in shelter rehabilitations and that hygiene promotion is targeted in shelter sites.
  • Stay abreast of the latest innovations, practices, and technologies in both sectors to provide cutting-edge technical recommendations.
  • Ensure commitment to cross-cutting themes, including gender, protection, safeguarding, accountability, and environmental sustainability, is mainstreamed across all projects.

4. Team Management & Capacity Building (15%)

  • Directly line manage the WASH Manager and the Shelter Manager.
  • Oversee the recruitment, performance management, and professional development of the WASH and Shelter teams.
  • Identify capacity building needs across both teams and facilitate relevant technical and managerial training.
  • Promote a positive, collaborative, and learning-oriented team culture that embodies GOAL’s core values.

5. Representation, Coordination & Advocacy (5%)

  • Serve as GOAL’s principal representative for the WASH and Shelter sectors in external coordination forums, including the WASH Cluster and Shelter/NFI Cluster meetings and SAG.
  • Engage proactively with donors, UN agencies, and NGO partners to position GOAL as a leader in integrated WASH and Shelter programming in Syria.
  • Advocate for evidence-based responses and funding based on GOAL’s field experience and identified needs.

Requirements (Essential)

  • Relevant Technical Degree of A Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (Water/Sanitation/Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Architecture, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, or other relevant engineering) with minimum 7 years hands-on experience in WASH and preferable WASH and Shelter (Experience with water supply systems, sanitation infrastructure, hygiene promotion programs. Indicator for Shelter: Experience with shelter repair, rehabilitation, construction, infrastructure projects.) and in a team management role (e.g., Coordinator, Manager) within the Syria humanitarian and development sector
  • Strong strategic, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the capacity to see the big picture and make sound judgments.
  • Demonstrated experience in strategic planning, programme design, proposal development, and budgeting for major donors (e.g., DoS, USG, ECHO, FCDO, UN etc).
  • Strong experience in line-managing senior staff and building the capacity of multi-disciplinary teams.
  • Fluency in written and spoken English.
  • Excellent communication, interpersonal, and representation skills.
  • Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office; proficiency in AutoCAD or other engineering software is highly desirable.

Requirements (Desired)

  • Previous work experience in the Syrian context.
  • Professional proficiency in Arabic.
  • In-depth understanding of gender, protection, and safeguarding principles in programming.
  • Knowledge of Housing, Land, and Property (HLP) principles.

How to apply

Interested? Then apply for this position via clicking on the “apply now” button and fill out the application form. All applicants must send a Cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in English.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

The application deadline is 02 December 2025 however, you are encouraged to apply immediately as we will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis, therefore we may withdraw the position before the advertisement’s closing date if a suitable candidate/s is identified.