Senior Partnerships Manager

Job Description

The Senior Partnership Manager is a lead position in the Syria Partnership Department.

Under the guidance of the Partnership Coordinator, the main goal of this position is to

achieve high quality and compliant programming, ensure effective partnership

management and build strong, sustainable partners. The Senior Partnership Manager

will be responsible for and supervise the Partnership Management sub-unit in NWS and

SS, and in a transition period also NES, country programs, coordinate the daily

management of the sub-award lifecycle and ensure that the IRC’s partners understand

donors’ regulations, while also working to ensure that partners’ results are received,

reviewed, filed and followed up on in a timely manner.

Major Responsibilities:

• Champion robust partner relationship management characterized by the core

partnership principles of equality, clarity, results-oriented approach,

responsibility, and complementarity.

• Support development and implementation of IRC Syria’s strategic approach to

partnerships, including supporting the SAP Implementation Plan.

• Co-chair the PWG with the Partnership Coordinator to promote a coherent, strategic, and coordinated approach to local partnerships in IRC Syria and facilitate regular inter-departmental meetings to ensure effective collaboration across the country program for partnerships.

• Maintain effective and efficient procedures for IRC Syria that responsibly handle PEERS processes.

Partnership Management

• Oversee, facilitate and coordinate all aspects of partnership life cycle management, from stakeholder analysis, partner identification, due diligence, project development, agreement, start-up, implementation, supervising through to close-out, coordinating effectively with all program, operations and finance components.

• Working with the program and grants teams, facilitate new funding opportunities for local and national civil society organizations, government, the private sector, and other entities. This will include proposal writing, coordinate design workshops/budget development. Proactively engage partners on program development and design efforts.

• Be responsible for the pre-award due diligence process with respect to all new partnerships, including through appropriate vetting, coordinating the Partner Project Capacity Review (PPCR) with other departments, analysis of risks associated with the award, chairing the PPCR Panel, and the identification and implementation of appropriate measures to handle those risks, working with other departments as appropriate.

• Ensure that the appropriate funding mechanism is identified for each sub-award, and that appropriate special conditions are incorporated in each award. Review sub-award agreements and related documentation for quality prior to signatures.

• Review PEERS requirements post sub-award agreement signature (implementation, review and reflection and closure processes).

• Ensure appropriate proactive and reactive communications and engagement with IRC partners through regularly scheduled partnership management meetings and outside of formal partnership relationships.

• Coordinate the effective startup of partnerships, including Partnership Opening Meetings with partners, programs, M&E and other departments, as relevant.

• Ensure the timely review of partners’ reports in accordance with the terms of their partnership agreements, coordinating with Senior Partnership Finance Manager and programs teams. Input to donor reporting for partnership-related matters (non-programmatic).

• Coordinate effective partnership close out processes, incorporating reflection, lessons learned and future planning.

• Facilitate systematic partner feedback on IRC’s management of the partnership relationship, as well as appropriate action in response to the feedback, engaging SMT as needed.

• Maintain up-to-date and accurate presentations for Partnership Department for internal and external meetings and presentations.

• Coordinate with the Partnerships Coordinator on preparing management response and plan of actions of Internal and/or External audit and follow up on all sub-award compliance issues and audits and document resolutions.

• Ensure partners are aligned with PEERS and donor rules and regulations through effective and close monitoring and follow up.

Capacity Strengthening

• Creatively problem solve with partners to develop protocols and procedures that are both compliant and contextually appropriate.

• Develop content for trainings on topics such as fraud awareness and prevention, conflict of interest, donor rules and regulations, PCM, and partnership management key partners and IRC staff. Conduct on-boarding training, regular refresher trainings, and regular brown-bag sessions on issues of compliance, PEERS, and other sub-award and partnership issues.

Human Resource Management

• Direct management oversight of the Syria Partnership Management sub-unit, including ensuring that the unit is appropriately resourced and structured. Directly supervise the Partnership Managers and guide their management of their reports.

• Coach, train, mentor and supervise direct-report staff, including presenting clear expectations, setting quarterly performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews. Look for opportunities to support staff in their career growth.

• Provide a measurable development plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing guidance on career paths.

• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.

• Model balanced work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff.

• Work with regional HR staff to identify and implement recruitment and retention strategies.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Partnership Coordinator

Position directly supervises: Partnership Managers (NWS and SS, NES for a transition period)

Other Internal and/or external contacts: the position regularly corresponds and attends meetings with external and internal audiences, thus a strong ability to communicate and maintain positive working relationships is required for this position.

Internal: Technical Coordinators, Partnerships Department Staff, Finance team, Supply Chain team, M&E team, Senior Program Quality Coordinator, Senior Program Coordination Manager, Deputy Director of Programs, Grants teams

External: Partner staff, occasional coordination meetings with other INGOs; Relevant stakeholders, both GO and INGO, and Syrian NGOs.

Qualifications

BA degree or equivalent in International Development or Affairs or related field. Master’s degree in relevant area is preferred.

• Minimum 5-7 years of proven experience managing a partnership or grants portfolio in development or humanitarian context required.

• Proven track record to work effectively with national and local civil society organizations required.

• Significant experience managing a sub-award portfolio of at least $5m in value required.

• Demonstrated solid knowledge of U.S. Government rules and regulations as they apply to sub grant management required; experience working with FCDO, ECHO and other European donors desirable.

• Strong familiarity with IRC’s core programming areas in Syria, including Protection, Health, Economic Recovery and Development, and Early Childhood Development

• Proven experience in donor proposal development with partners.

• Superior written and spoken communication and coordination skills required.

• Proven track record to work well in and promote teamwork, thrive in a multi-cultural environment, be flexible and handle pressure with professional patience.

• Experience and skills in reading and reviewing financial reports.

• Experience handling staff and a commitment to team building, mentoring and staff development.

• Excellent written and spoken English and Arabic required.