Portfolio Manager

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.

The Portfolio Management Unit (PFMU) of GIZ Syria supports the management, operational implementation especially with regards to overarching topics, and further developments of the bilateral portfolio in Syria. Additionally, the PFMU manages internal and external relations and partnerships across projects from a portfolio perspective, in alignment with the company strategy and priorities of the commissioning parties.

Your tasks

• Support the Country Director on relevant overarching processes and topics
• Support the integration of cross-cutting issues and foster cooperation between the projects
• Liaise with relevant stakeholders, especially in the Syrian government, build up partnerships and support the acquisition of new projects
• Provide advice and updates on activities, regulations, processes, and progress of projects within GIZ Syria (e.g., briefing documents)
• Assist in coordinating internal and external inquiries and ensure appropriate responses
• Prepare and coordinate delegation visits and support in other relevant portfolio-wide events such as the annual planning, ensuring smooth and efficient operations
• Manage the knowledge management of overarching processes relevant to the whole portfolio
• Where appropriate and reasonable, perform additional tasks upon request of the management

Your profile (required qualifications, competencies and experience)

• University degree in social, economic or regional sciences, or relevant field.
• At least 5 years of professional experience in development cooperation or humanitarian operations, ideally in the field of portfolio management and operational planning
• 5 years working experience in an international environment on Syria or similar contexts
• Strong communication skills with the ability to work efficiently and collaboratively with both external stakeholders and internal colleagues, demonstrating a strong team-oriented approach
• Independent decision-making, excellent prioritisation and coordination skills, and ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, always with an interdisciplinary, solution-oriented mindset
• Willingness to learn and ability to identify improvements
• Proficiency in all MS Office applications
• Professional fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic, knowledge of German is an asset