Advisor Private Sector Cooperation

Job description

GIZ has been operating in Syria since 1976. It has thus established valuable contacts in civil society and garnered experience that is now crucial for supporting the country. From 2013 onwards, it worked without government involvement with the assistance of local non-governmental organizations. Despite the difficult conditions, GIZ has consistently contributed to improving people’s living conditions.

In view of the developments since December 2024, which have led Syria into a decisive phase of transformation, GIZ reopens its Country Office in Damascus in 2026. It is currently implementing 14 projects on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Federal Foreign Office (FFO), with co-financing from the European Union and other donors. From 2026, the portfolio is planned to be expanded by several new projects.

This position will be a shared position between the “Syria TVET and Employment Promotion Project” (STEP) and the Individual Measure “Cooperation with the Private Sector in Syria”, as part of the Bilateral Studies and Experts Fund (SFF) for Syria.

The “Syria TVET and Employment Promotion Project” (STEP) aims to strengthen the employment prospects of Syrians in close cooperation with the private sector. This includes policy advice on the realignment of vocational training and employment strategies at national level, technical and organizational advice for vocational schools and training centers and cooperating companies. Furthermore, the STEP project focuses on the development of inclusive and efficient labor market services based on partnerships with local and foreign companies for rapid labour market integration.

The Individual Measure “Cooperation with the Private Sector in Syria”, as part of the Bilateral Studies and Experts Fund (SFF) for Syria, aims to strengthen Syria´s economic recovery in an evidence-based manner through technical expertise. It will commission technical experts as well as studies and analyses focusing on the analysis of productive economic sectors and investment framework and regulations.

Your tasks

For STEP project:

• Designing and overlooking conflict-sensitive, inclusive and gender-sensitive employment promotion measures with the local private sector
• Setting up concrete co-implemented projects with local Syrian companies across all geographies of Syria
• Overseeing development partnerships with the local private sector, incl. providing information and advice to companies, coordinating a call for proposal and overseeing the co-implementation of employment-oriented partnerships with GIZ
• Overlooking and providing quality assurance of in-company trainings
• Coordinating with other development or humanitarian actors providing short-term qualification measures
• Closely consulting and coordinating with relevant Syrian public institutions
• Where appropriate and reasonable, performing additional tasks upon request of the management

For SFF:

• Liaising with chambers of industry, associations and individual companies in different governorates
• Liaising with private sector networks and initiatives in Syria
• Developing concept notes and TORs for economic sector analyses and investment framework studies;
• Support to commissioning, procurement and management of consultancies, including oversight and quality control of studies, reports and consulting products
• Organisation of events/ workshops for the presentation and discussion of study outcomes with public and private stakeholders
• Support to strategic development of the GIZ Syria portfolio based on research outcomes
• Where appropriate and reasonable, performing additional tasks upon request of the management

Your profile (required qualifications, competencies and experience)

• University degree (at least Bachelor’s degree) in economics, business administration, or a related field
• At least 5 years of experience in designing and/or implementing employment promotion measures
• At least 3 years of experience of working with relevant governmental bodies in Syria
• Solid knowledge and network of private sector structures in Syria
• Solid knowledge of conducting economic research
• At least 3 years of professional experience in designing conflict-sensitive, inclusive and gender-sensitive employment promotion measures
• Familiarity with social cohesion approaches
• Professional fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic, knowledge of German is an asset