Partnerships Manager (NW)

Requisition ID: req51017

Job Title: Partnerships Manager (NW)

Sector: Grants

Employment Category: Regular

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: No

Location: Katsina, Nigeria

Work Arrangement: In-person

Job Description

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in more than 40 countries and in 22 U.S. cities, IRC restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) initiated operations in Nigeria in October 2012, responding initially to widespread flooding. Over time, the IRC has significantly broadened both the scope and scale of its programs, striving to make a substantial impact in addressing humanitarian needs in Northeast Nigeria and expanding its reach to Northwest Nigeria. The IRC’s comprehensive response encompasses integrated services in health, reproductive health, nutrition, protection (including women’s protection and empowerment), child protection, environmental health, economic recovery and development, as well as education support. The country program has formulated a new Strategic Action Plan, providing a strategic framework for the expansion of initiatives in key thematic and geographic areas.

Job Overview/Summary:

Working under the direct supervision of IRC NW Team Lead and Partnerships Coordinator, the Partnership Manager (NW) plays a pivotal role in overseeing and executing Partnership Management in Northwest Nigeria. With a primary focus on achieving high-quality and compliant programming, the position is dedicated to enhancing partnership management, nurturing sustainable collaborations. Responsibilities encompass strengthening IRC’s ability to engage with partners, exemplifying effective partnership approaches, particularly with local actors, and facilitating collaborative partnership management. The role also entails engaging in capacity sharing, training, contribute to business development, and providing support to partner organizations in project implementation. Based at the IRC Sokoto Office, the manager collaborates with diverse teams across IRC operational areas and maintains connections with regional and HQ teams as required. Occasional travel to partners’ offices is anticipated for partnerships mapping, organizational capacity assessments, and knowledge sharing.

Major Responsibilities:

Strategy Implementation:

• 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 Nigeria strategic approach to partnerships, including supporting the SAP Implementation Plan.
• Promote a coherent, strategic, and coordinated approach to local partnerships in IRC Nigeria and facilitate regular inter-departmental meetings to ensure effective collaboration across the country program for partnerships.
• Maintain effective and efficient procedures for IRC Nigeria that responsibly handle PEERS processes.

Partnership Management:

• Assist Sr. Partnerships Manager and country team in the development of principled partnerships (Strategic Partnerships).
• 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 programs, 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.
• Responsible for the pre-award due diligence process with respect to all new partnerships, including through appropriate vetting, coordinating the PCA with other departments, analysis of risks associated with the award, chairing the PCA 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.
• Ensure the engagement of partners in project designing and development and promote a culture of collaborative project designing.
• 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/reviews and outside of formal partnership relationships.
• Aid the Program Team in upholding precise and secure partner mapping databases while contributing to partner selection processes.
• Ensure implementation of partnership health checks, equity assessments, and solicit feedback to inform partnership-related decision-making processes and shape the overall partnership strategy.Offer comprehensive insights to the team and assist in conducting routine stakeholder mapping exercises.
• 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.
• Support 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.
• Facilitate Partnership Working Group meetings for a strategic and coordinated approach.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting of Partnership Management, highlighting challenges and providing necessary updates for prompt support.
• Work closely with regional and headquarters partnership specialists to arrange training sessions for country team on PEERS.

Team Management and Collaborations:

• Work closely with Partnerships Capacity Sharing Manager, and Program and Support functions to develop and execute plans of partners capacity sharing that are contextually appropriate.
• 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.
• 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.
• In absence of a team member, take over the responsibility of colleague and ensure the timely and quality delivery of results.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to:Partnerships Coordinator and NW Team Lead/MIP

Position directly supervises:None

Indirect Reporting: NW Team Lead

Other Internal and/or external contacts: NW Team Lead, Partnership Team, Partnerships Capacity Sharing Manager, Grants Team, Programs TCs, Support Department Leads, Regional and AMU Advisors. 

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Finance/Business Management, International Development, or a related field.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of 3 years of progressively responsible professional experience managing Finance/Operations/Grants/Partnerships in development or humanitarian contexts is required.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Proven ability to work effectively with national and local civil society organizations is required; experience in designing and delivering training is highly desirable.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills

Language Skills:Professional fluency in written and spoken English required.

Certificates or Licenses: N/A 

Working Environment:

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct.These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.