Advisor – Syria

The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) is a private diplomacy organisation founded on the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. Its mission is to help prevent, mitigate and resolve armed conflict through dialogue and mediation. HD operates in more than 40 countries with more than 300 staff. HD is currently looking for a:

Advisor – Syria

Since 2011, The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue has been a crucial player in the Syrian conflict, working towards the peaceful negotiated resolution of the crisis. Leveraging its expertise in mediation, grounded in core principles and values, the organization has actively contributed to improving the plight of civilians and building pathways towards a more peaceful future. HD’s sustained engagement has established it as a highly relevant and trusted mediation actor within the Syrian context.

In particular, they will:

• Advise on HD’s projects in Syria, with an emphasis to the Southern regions and/or other geographic areas.
• Develop HD’s network with non-state actors, including local councils, security forces, armed groups, criminal networks, familial and tribal networks, both inside and outside of Syria – with a preference for links to Druze actors.
• Undertake a comprehensive and inclusive conflict analysis and mapping exercise to understand local leadership structures and governance arrangements in southern Syria and/or other geographic areas.
• Monitor the political and conflict situation in Syria and analyses the impact on the project.
• Regularly engage relevant local actors and identify opportunities to facilitate dialogue to address internal disputes and identify common positions on local conflictual issues.
• Support the organization, facilitation and reporting of HD meetings.
• Represent HD in bilateral meetings with Syrian stakeholders, international actors and donors.
• Present analytical findings to the team, through oral and written reports, during periodical meetings, in a timely and qualitative manner.
• Regular travel to and within Syria, with the possibility of travel to the wider Middle East region and other destinations when needed.

The successful candidate should meet the following criteria:

• Politically astute and well-connected among local actors in southern Syria (or other geographic areas that may be relevant to the project objectives).
• Deep knowledge of Syria as a whole and in particular of local governance, tribal, religious and armed group actors in southern Syria.
• Knowledge and commitment to conflict resolution and related humanitarian issues,with at least 5 years of experience in Syria and related areas.
• Relevant university degree (international relations, politics, mediation preferred)
• Committed to HD work ethics and confidentiality terms.
• Excellent written and verbal skills in Arabic (native or equivalent) and fluent English. Proficiency in another language from the Middle East region is a significant asset.
• Works independently while aligning with management priorities.
• Strong organizational skills to ensure adherence to timelines. Demonstrates a solid commitment to security management and consistently adheres to all security protocols
• Demonstrates effective teamwork skills and ability to effectively manages conflict.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with a proven ability to thrive in multicultural team environments and demonstrate cultural sensitivity.

If you are interested in this position and meet the above criteria, please send your CV along with a short cover letter in a single PDF file to hrgeneva@hdcentre.org by (15 december 2025 Please indicate “Syria Consultant ” in the subject line of your e-mail.

HD promotes equal opportunities in employment.