General coordinator (head of mission) (F/M)
Job description
For more than 40 years, Médecins du Monde (MdM), a campaigning medical organisation committed to international solidarity, has been caring for the most vulnerable populations here and abroad. It has continued to bear witness to obstacles that exist in accessing healthcare and has secured sustainable improvements in health-for-all policies.
Those working for this independent organisation do not solely dispense care and treatment but condemn violations of human dignity and rights and fight to improve matters for populations living in precarious situations.
MdM France currently works in 30 countries across all continents to facilitate access to healthcare through 6 political battles:
- Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights
- Migration, Exile, Human Rights and Health
- Harm Reduction
- Environment and Health
- Humanitarian Space
- Healthcare systems and rights
MdM in Syria
Following the rapid power shift in Damascus on 8 December 2024, the Syrian Arab Republic is undergoing a pivotal transformation that is fundamentally reshaping its humanitarian, political, and recovery landscape. The legacy of more than 14 years of conflict continues to manifest in an ongoing and unprecedented humanitarian crisis, characterized by significant challenges.
Currently, 16.5 million people are in need, with 8 million individuals urgently prioritized—representing 33% of the Syrian population. Syria’s health crisis is compounded by multisectoral fragilities and overlapping crises, including severe shortages of human resources, insufficient medical supplies, disparities in salary scales between the Ministry of Health and INGOs, weak governance and monitoring systems, political uncertainty, evolving humanitarian coordination mechanisms, reduced funding amid increasing needs, and expanded humanitarian access to previously restricted yet highly contaminated areas.
MdM is adapting its interventions to remain effective and impactful within Syria’s evolving humanitarian landscape.
MdM’s strategy in Syria is structured around two main priorities:
- Providing primary healthcare services, including outpatient consultations, vaccination, nutritional care, and reproductive health, through the direct support of three health facilities.
- Ensuring a community-based approach to promote equitable access to healthcare services for all.
About the role
In a context of strengthening our activities in Syria, you will be specifically in charge of managing and reinforcing our program development while also representing MdM towards all stakeholders, including authorities, donors, security service providers, INGOs, UN and IOs, etc.
What you’ll do
Under the supervision of the desk manager, you are responsible for the overall management of the Syria mission.
Your main responsibilities are:
- Recruit, manage, train and motivate the mission’s team
- Define the operational and advocacy strategy together with the coordination team, the desk manager and the volunteer board delegates of the mission
- Plan and monitor activities, implement corrective action when necessary, providing technical support to the team
- Represent MdM with authorities, local actors, partners, donors and the media
- Monitor partnership agreements with partners, authorities and donors, seek out and develop new partnerships, and ensure or supervise fundraising
- Ensure the financial coverage of the mission by leading fundraising and budget management
- Draft, adapt and monitor safety regulations and procedures and coordinate crisis management in the region
- Implement and monitor the application of MdM’s programmatic and support services framework, policies and procedures
- Supervise reporting to MdM and donors
Who you’ll work with
You will directly manage a team of four person : the field coordinator based in Aleppo, the medical coordinator, the administrative coordinator and the humanitarian access & risk officer.
Your conditions of employment
Employment conditions
Contract & status:
- Gross monthly salary: 4 027 €
- Fixed-term contract until June 30th, 2026, starting in January 2026
- Trial period : 2 weeks
- Single posting
Work environment:
- Position based in Damascus, Syria
Benefits:
- 13th month salary (paid in 2 installments after 6 months of service)
- Expatriation allowance: 10% of gross monthly salary
- Coverage of travel (home – mission), visas, and vaccinations
- Guesthouse
- Health insurance (50% covered by MdM and 50% by the employee)
- Repatriation insurance
- MdM promotes training and internal mobility
Essentials:
- 5 weeks paid leave + 22.5 RTT days per year
- Strong commitment to inclusion and fighting all forms of discrimination
- More info: https://www.medecinsdumondeh.org/en/working-internationally/
Our commitment to diversity and inclusion
MdM is committed to the inclusion of people with disabilities and to fighting all forms of discrimination.
If you are officially recognized as a person with a disability and/or require workplace accommodations, please let us know.
Your profile
You are the right match if you:
- Have a minimum of five years of experience in a similar position with an international NGO, working in emergency contexts
- Experience with MdM
- Have a high level of expertise in representation and negotiation with governments and donors
- Have a strong understanding of the humanitarian emergency operating context, including the humanitarian system, donors landscape, security, civil military liaison and program management,
- Speak English fluently, Arabic is highly appreciated
This role may not suit you if you:
- don’t have experience in complex decision making and leading a multi-disciplinary, multi-national team under difficult and tense context,
- don’t have any experience in managing medical activities
- don’t have extensive experience in safety and security management,
- Are not aligned with MdM’s values
Recruitment process
If shortlisted, you will first meet with our HR team. Technical and managerial interviews, which may include practical case studies, will follow.
Please note: as part of our anti–money laundering and counter-terrorism policy, international background checks may be conducted. Data is processed confidentially and securely. More info: https://www.medecinsdumonde.org/en/working-internationally/
All successful candidates must provide a criminal record extract (B3).
Ready to apply?
We only need your CV and a cover letter.
If this role sounds like the right fit for you, apply now – we’d love to hear from you!
