The Team Leader, based at the EF office in Damascus, will report hierarchically to the Head of Pharmacy and Health Population Unit at Expertise France headquarters in Paris. S/he will work closely with the Project Officer and Project Assistant at the headquarters and will directly manage the support team members based in Damascus (see below). The Team Leader will collaborate with other Project Managers from Expertise France in Damascus and maintain regular contact with the "France team" in Syria, including AFD and the French Embassy, while working in close coordination with Syrian authorities.

S/he will be responsible for the overall coordination and management of the project and  of the Damascus-based project support team, which includes roles dedicated to administration, finance, engineering, logistics and security. The Team Leader will contribute to a Project Coordination Committee with GIZ and the EU Delegation and ensure gender and environmental considerations are systematically integrated into planning, implementation and reporting.

The key responsibilities of the Team Leader include the following:

Strategic and Operational Project Management

·       Provide strategic leadership and direction for the project, ensuring alignment with contractual frameworks and consultation with all stakeholders (mainly the Syrian Ministry of Health and other relevant institutions), including Expertise France headquarters and a Project Coordination Committee with GIZ and EU Delegation.

·       Ensure the overall coherence and quality of technical interventions, in coordination with the Deputy Team Leader and technical experts, particularly in pharmaceutical regulation, medicine quality control and pharmaceutical industry development.

·       Provide overall leadership and direction for the implementation of the Syria Pharma Recovery project in line with Syria’s National Plan.

·       Ensure alignment of project activities with national health strategies, and EU/Expertise France priorities.

·       Foster strong collaboration with national authorities (MoH), EU Delegation, GIZ, implementing partners, international organisations (WHO), and private sector industries.

·       Define and manage both strategic and operational project goals, ensuring coherence with existing and forthcoming policies, programs, and initiatives in Syria.

·       Oversee the planning, implementation, and monitoring of project activities, ensuring timely delivery of outputs and alignment with objectives, logframe targets, and budget.

·       Supervise the financial and accounting management in accordance with Expertise France and EU guidelines.

·       Lead internal steering exercises (semi-annual and annual reviews), and co-chair project monitoring and steering committees with partners (EU Delegation, Syrian authorities).

·       Assist the Deputy Team Lead in the deployment of short- and long-term experts, ensuring efficient mission planning, needs assessment, and quality control of deliverables.

·       Facilitate internal and external project missions (headquarters visits, expert assignments, etc.) to ensure smooth project implementation.

·       Support team cohesion and drive the operational implementation of strategic directions from the Damascus-based office.

·       Monitor and report on potential challenges or sectoral developments that may affect project execution, ensuring proactive measures are in place.

·       Contribute to identifying partnership opportunities and aligning with France’s health initiatives in Syria.

Project Representation, Institutional Relations, and Communication

·       Represent the project and Expertise France to stakeholders, including national and provincial authorities, technical and financial partners (EU Delegation, AFD, WHO, GIZ, World Bank, etc.).

·       Serve as the primary liaison between Expertise France, national stakeholders, donors (EU, MEAE), and technical partners (WHO, NGOs…).

·       Represent the project in high-level meetings, technical working groups, and policy dialogues.

·       Build strong institutional relationships to support sustainability and local ownership

·       Build and maintain strong relationships with project beneficiaries, ensuring transparent and regular communication with Syrian authorities and promoting smooth activity implementation.

·       Coordinate and ensure alignment with other ongoing health sector initiatives, fostering synergies and complementarities with local, national, and EF-implemented projects.

·       Actively participate in sectoral coordination mechanisms and governance bodies, facilitating project-related consultations and meetings.

·       Develop and maintain strong ties with the broader "Team France" (French Embassy, AFD Group), Expertise France geographical coordinators, and the EF Regional Operations Security Coordinator.

·       Supervise the development and implementation of the project’s communication strategy, in collaboration with the EUD focal point for Visibility and Communication.

·       Promote the project and disseminate its results in line with donor and institutional standards, ensuring maximum visibility.

·       Build and maintain a network of institutional, technical, public, and private partners, along with national, regional, and international experts relevant to the project’s objectives.

·       Supervise the implementation of the project’s communication and visibility plan, ensuring all project outcomes are appropriately highlighted.

Administrative and Financial Management

In coordination with the Administrative and Financial Manager (RAF) and project team at headquarters:

·       Ensure operational planning aligns with budget forecasting.

·       Oversee and consolidate budget monitoring, including financial reviews and forecasts.

·       Ensure timely updates and accuracy of all financial tracking tools, such as expenditure forecasts, procurement plans, and audit schedules required by the donor.

·       Provide the Administrative and Financial Manager with necessary data for internal (Expertise France) and external reporting to the donor, ensuring compliance with reporting deadlines and required formats.

·       Monitor and enforce adherence to financial and administrative procedures in line with Expertise France and EU regulations.

·       Verify that partners' financial reports meet donor requirements, ensuring quality control of financial documentation.

·       Support the preparation and validate the project’s technical and financial reports in collaboration with the project team.

·       Contribute to the development and improvement of project management tools and administrative procedures.

Project Team and Human Resources Management

·       Coordinate and manage the Damascus-based project team, including support staff and experts, from recruitment through task delegation and performance evaluation.

·       Oversee the setup and management of the Damascus office, ensuring smooth daily operations.

·       Define operational objectives for team members, organize workloads, and lead regular meetings to foster communication and collaboration.

·       Lead the recruitment and on-boarding of project team members and mobilized experts, including drafting terms of reference and overseeing their assignments.

·       Supervise the performance and professional development of the team, in coordination with EF headquarters.

·       Lead the implementation of organizational and coordination tools (e.g., responsibility assignments matrix, office planning documents).

·       Ensure proper administrative management of staff in line with EF procedures.

·       Promote a positive, inclusive, and collaborative team environment, fostering strong internal communication and teamwork.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Capitalization

In coordination with the EF Health Department’s MEAL Coordinator at EF headquarters and support from short-term MEAL experts:

·       Ensure the deployment of short- MEAL experts, ensuring efficient mission planning, needs assessment, and quality control of deliverables.

·       Establish a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system at the start of the project with external M&E expertise.

·       Track both quantitative and qualitative project indicators, contributing to data analysis and ensuring the integration of gender considerations into project strategies.

·       Prepare intermediate and final activity reports (narrative and financial) in line with donor deadlines and contractual requirements.

Safety and Security Management

In coordination with the Logistics and Security Officer and with the support of the Regional Operations Security Coordinator:

·       Ensure the implementation and dissemination of security rules, ensuring their compliance by project team.

·       Identify potential security issues and escalate them appropriately.

·       Contribute to the overall safety management of personnel and assets, ensuring compliance with necessary security procedures and protocols.

This list is not exhaustive, and the tasks and activities mentioned are not restrictive.