Partnership & Delivery Unit (PDU) Manager - AFS Programme

About the role

Position: Partnership & Delivery Unit (PDU) Manager Location(s): Damascus, Syria Reports to: PDU Lead - Programming Duration: 1st July 2026 - 31st December 2026 About ASI and AFS Adam Smith International (ASI) is a global advisory company that works locally to transform lives by making economies stronger, societies more stable, and governments more effective. Our clients are governments, international organisations, companies, and foundations. They come to us to develop strategies and to design, deliver and evaluate programmes that address the big challenges facing the world. Our core team of staff and technical experts, in multiple offices around the world, ensures the quality of delivery and high ethical standards that we and our clients require. ASI is owned and operated by its employees. We are committed to corporate integrity and a triple bottom line of social, environmental and financial performance. This commitment was formally recognised when we became a certified B Corp. The certification indicates we balance profit and purpose through the highest standards of transparency and accountability as well as social and environmental performance. The Aid Fund for Syria (AFS), formerly the Aid Fund for Northern Syria (AFNS), is a multi-donor pooled fund established in October 2022 to meet critical needs in Syria. Initially focused on addressing acute humanitarian needs in northern Syria through the cross-border response, AFS has since evolved into a flexible funding mechanism supporting efforts towards Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus. Following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, AFS expanded its strategic focus to areas previously not accessible to AFS partners, adapting to Syria's evolving political, economic, and institutional landscape. The Fund continues to work with aid actors, including communities, civil society organisations, the cluster coordination mechanism, the United Nations, and donors to identify where needs and opportunities are greatest and where it can add the most value. Objective The PDU manager will oversee the technical implementation, partner coordination, and strategic planning. The role involves managing a multi-million-dollar portfolio, ensuring high-quality program delivery, and engaging with internal and external stakeholders to strengthen AFS's impact in the Syrian response. Key Responsibilities Delivery & Grants Support Participate in grants kick-off meetings with partners when new grants are awarded. Serve as the focal point for grants and ensuring partners follow AFS manuals and standard guidelines in Syria. In cooperation with technical experts, provide technical guidance and support for integrated sectoral interventions that contribute to AFS's overall strategic objectives, both during the proposal development phase and throughout implementation. Ensure programmatic oversight by reviewing implementing partners' reports (quarterly, inception, financial, and final narrative) submitted through the GMS, ensuring quality and compliance. Ensure timely and transparent feedback to partners, addressing delivery concerns. Follow up on payments in collaboration with AFS finance focal points. Ensure meaningful engagement of local and community led initiatives and grassroots in grants where they are included and support their equal participation. In cooperation with other AFS staff, provide hands-on capacity-building support for partners throughout project implementation. Partnership Management & Compliance Ensure partner staff are aware of AFS manual, guidelines and policies, immediately raising any compliance issues. Track partner-related technical, operational, financial, HR, or grant issues and coordinate support. - Lead and/or participate in PPA (Partner Performance Assessment) meetings, providing data-driven evaluations in close cooperation with the MREL Unit and Risk Management Unit of partners' capacity and performance on the AFS GMS. Address outstanding partnership issues, ensuring timely resolution of concerns, including compliance-related allegations. Participate in Due Diligence and Capacity Assessments (DDCA) for new and potential partners. Review the partners' standard and incident reports, to provide necessary feedback in a timely manner. Conduct partner reviews/meetings and participate in learning sessions as needed. Assist partners in strategizing ways to ensure program delivery meets targets. Support on special conditions updates meetings mentioned in the PFA (Partnerships Framework Agreement) in close cooperation with the Risk Management Unit. Coordination & Representation Attend sectoral meetings and any coordination ad-hoc and relevant meetings. - Contribute to the development of Regular & Special Allocation Strategies. Actively coordinate with Quality & Impact Officers throughout implementation, including but not limited to field visits, spot checks, and complaints validation processes Serve as AFS's representative in engagements with local

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