Partnership Coordinator

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world’s largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and more than 25 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees delivers lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you’re a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Technical Excellence and Grant Operations & Analytics Team

At the IRC, we define and measure our success as positive changes in people’s lives in relation to five outcome areas: health, education, economic well-being, safety and power, while helping to narrow the gender gap. To achieve these outcomes – to drive our impact – our programs must be based on the best available evidence and aligned with our theories of change; adapted to context; responsive to client needs and preferences; and continuously improved by generating evidence, measuring what we do, and acting on what we learn. The Technical Excellence team supports the delivery of this.

Established in April 2021, the Grant Operations & Analytics Team (GOAT) brought together grants, business development, finance, and analytics functions and staff from each Technical Excellence Unit to one centralized team to increase efficiency, effectiveness and quality control across Technical Excellence grants and business operations. The primary purpose of this team is to harmonize capacity and capabilities and drive efficiencies by establishing consistent, high-quality standards and best practices to the service of improved budgeting, grants & contracts management, partnership management, business development, and data collection and analytics. The Grant Operations & Analytics Team strives to build a diverse and inclusive team at all levels who as individuals, and as a group, create a working environment characterized by critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity for us to achieve our aspirations as a team and deliver the best possible service to our clients.

The Role:

The Partnership Coordinator, Grant Operations & Analytics Team (GOAT) will maintain quality management of the partnerships under grants and contracts within IRC’s Technical Excellence (TechEx) Department. Reporting to the Sr Partnerships Adviser, this position will work closely with in-country and HQ staff, including award managers, finance, and business development, to ensure effective partnership management in line with IRC’s Partnership Excellence for Equality and Results System (PEERS). The Partnership Coordinator will also supervise three Partnership Officers. This position has limited field travel and logistical support for special projects.

The IRC’s Strategy100 partnership ambition recognizes that people affected by crisis and the actors closest to them as best place, have the right, and should have the power and resources to respond and drive lasting change. In line with this, the Partnership Coordinator will also be a partnership champion in working with TechEx departments in IRC’s commitment to: Ask ‘why not partner?’ whenever we plan programming, with an aim to increase the proportion of resources we provide to local partners to 25% by 2024; and also ‘Partner as equals,’ ensuring that we support, learn from, and work alongside partners, in long-term, principled, feminist partnerships that share power and resources.

Major Responsibilities:

Strategy

• Support the Sr Partnerships Advisor in the development of TechEx’s internal capacity to partner, including establishing the six core building blocks for partnership success: self-assessment; defined and resources roles; partnership working group; partnership training; stakeholder analysis; and collaborative design.

• Support the GOAT Partnership Team in delivering their service offering to TechEx including the development of partnership strategies for each Technical Unit and the identification of ne potential partners, including strategic partners.

Business Development (estimated 10% of time):

• Support Unit technical staff in the development of proposals for new opportunities with partnership element, including reviewing and contributing to concept notes and full proposals, in accordance with donor guidelines and program needs and ensuring that partner’s voices are heard throughout this process.

• Provide advice on PEERS processes during development phase as required.

• Conduct all partner due diligence processes including vetting and facilitating the signing of pre-teaming/teaming agreements, for opportunities you are the partnership lead on.

Partnerships within GOAT (estimated 60% of time)

• Support the Partnership Officers in the management of the post award partnership portfolio for TechEx awards, including the finalizing of agreements all the way through to close out and capacity sharing.

• Co-lead Partnership Working Groups/Communities of Practices within TechEx, helping to drive cross departmental collaboration and the effective and efficient management of partnerships.

• Develop and maintain an expertise in PEERS. Keep abreast of changes to processes and how this affects TU-led grants and contracts.

• Use PEERS knowledge to guide Grants Managers, Contracts Advisers, and Partnership Officers on PEERS processes as they arise.

• Directly participate in partnership processes as required, often working directly with GOAT team members, other HQ teams, and project delivery teams.

• Lead on the collection and ongoing management of key information, data, and feedback related to TechEx partnerships, providing suggestions/actions to strengthen.

• Participate in relevant partnership meetings for specific TechEx awards.

Partnerships outside of GOAT (estimated 10% of time)

• Cultivate ties and growing connections with other HQ partnerships teams and initiatives to support GOAT’s continued engagement and support of PEERs and partnership related efforts.

Staff Supervision & Development (estimated 20% of time):

• Supervise Partnership Officers

• Monitor and build the technical capacity of direct reports as needed.

• Maintain and promote a positive work environment for direct reports including providing timely support, effective feedback and professional development opportunities.

• Ensure that direct reports understand the roles and responsibilities of their position, have agreed performance objectives for each year and receive required training on IRC systems and processes.

• Monitor quality, activity timelines and due dates for award deliverables to ensure staff meet internal and/or external requirements and deadlines

Key Working Relationships:

**Position Reports to:**Senior Partnerships Adviser

**Position directly supervises:**Partnership Officers

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal:

• Regular contact with Technical Units, Finance teams, Global Supply Chain team and the Awards Management Unit

• Collaborate closely with country program staff.

• External: Interact with donors, partners, vendors, contractors, and consultants.

Job Requirements:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field is required.

Work Experience:

• Approximately 6 years of experience managing all types of partnerships including those with International and National NGOs, civil society organizations, private sector, and universities/research institutes; ideally under grants and contracts.

• Demonstrated experience of supporting the development of proposals for public and private donors

• Previous management experience and/or training is desirable.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Knowledge of donor compliance regulations, particularly on partnership management.

• Excellent critical thinking skills in order to problem-solve independently; ability to address complex business challenges, adhere to tight deadlines, and adapt to changing variables.

• Dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion and a strong passion for our mission

• Excellent organizational skills: the ability to multi-task, learn quickly, and work independently and productively in a fast-paced and exact environment.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills: the ability to effectively collaborate with and motivate a variety of people in a multi-cultural environment.

• Excellent digital literacy: MS Word, Excel, and Desktop Publishing.

Language Skills:

• Fluency in English; French, Spanish or Arabic language skills a plus

Working Environment:

• Standard office work environment

• Travel less than 20%

Compensation:

Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

US Benefits:

The IRC offers a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. All US employees are eligible for sick time, a 403b retirement savings plans: up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus an 3-7% additional IRC contribution, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

In addition, full-time employees are eligible for 10 US paid holidays, 20-25 paid time off days, disability & life insurance, medical, dental, and vision insurance (employee contribution starting at $135, $7, and $5 per month respectively) and FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs. Part-time employees are eligible for a proportionate amount of paid time off. These additional benefits apply to employees who work at least 6 months within a 12 month time period.

Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.