Institutional Development Specialist

About the role

The Institutional Development Specialist will support institutional strengthening, organizational development, governance reform, and operational systems development within the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and its policy‑related units, based in the FAO Country Office in Syria.

Key responsibilities

• Lead institutional and functional assessments.
• Support organizational restructuring and governance reforms.
• Develop institutional systems, SOPs, and internal regulations.
• Facilitate the establishment of coordination and management mechanisms.
• Strengthen internal communication and coordination systems.
• Support the development of institutional capacity‑building plans.

Required profile

• Advanced university degree in public administration, institutional development, organizational management or a related field (or a bachelor’s degree with two additional years of relevant experience).
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in supporting institutional reform and public‑sector strengthening.
• Working knowledge of English (Level C).
• Experience in fragile and transition contexts is desirable.
• Ability to speak Arabic is an added advantage.

Required skills

• Strong institutional analysis and organizational development skills.
• Experience in governance reform and change management.
• Ability to facilitate institutional consultations and workshops.
• Experience in developing SOPs and operational systems.
• Working experience with UN agencies (preferable).
• Familiarity with FAO systems and standards (preferable).