Programs and Partnerships Officer

Position description

The Programs and Partnerships Officer is responsible for overseeing the grant management of a portfolio of assigned grants funded by North American donors, contributing to global program and proposal development, representing AKF USA at various networking events, conferences and meetings of technical groups, and supporting public engagement and professional learning. The position also supports AKF’s Global Partnerships function. The Programs and Partnerships Officer will report to the Senior Manager, Programs and Partnerships.  AKF USA is currently seeking one full-time permanent Programs and Partnerships Officer and may seek out additional full-time contract Programs and Partnerships Officers from this pool.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide overall guidance, oversight, quality control and coordination for grant management across all components of an assigned grant portfolio funded by North American donors. Activities include work planning, budgeting, reporting, field missions, monitoring and evaluation, environmental compliance, gender equality, ensuring general compliance and provision of technical assistance.
• Coordinate proposal development in response to solicited and unsolicited funding opportunities, in consultation with AKF USA’s Finance and Public Engagement departments, implementing agencies, and AKF’s Global Program Team. 
• Contribute to other aspects of business development, such as (but not limited to) donor intelligence, opportunity scanning and identification, and pre-positioning.
• Provide support to AKF’s Global Partnerships function and team, including on managing global processes related to resource mobilization and grant management, mentoring Partnerships staff in field offices, and providing support on program design and proposal development processes.
• Developing positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, such as donor representatives for relevant projects, sectors and/or geographies, consultants, AKF and AKDN technical working groups, and other NGOs.
• Contribute to visibility of, and engagement with, AKF USA’s work in international development in North America and abroad. This may include fostering partnerships, cooperation, and coordination with other organizations in the USA, Canada and overseas; representing AKF USA at relevant provincial, national, and international forums and conferences; contributing to the development of project communications materials; and identifying opportunities to engage USA audiences in development, particularly related to women’s empowerment
• The Programs and Partnerships Officer will be based in Washington, DC, with travel of up to 25% per year to Africa and Asia. Support is provided for relocation to DC if necessary.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant discipline, such as international development.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in a program management, grant management, and/or business development role, preferably including at least one (1) year in a position based in a developing country. 
• Proven experience in business and proposal development for institutional donors.
• Experience working on international development projects funded by institutional donors, including experience meeting donor criteria in project design, reporting and monitoring and evaluation.
• Experience working on projects funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and USAID is a requirement for this position.
• Knowledge of, and experience with, results-based management. 
• Knowledge of key concepts in gender equality and women’s empowerment and experience with integrating and implementing these concepts in programs.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English. Candidates who can also work in French are strongly preferred. 
• Demonstrated capacity to respect and safeguard vulnerable populations.
• Ability to travel up to 25% of time per year, including to Africa and Asia. 

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES

• Dynamic, collaborative, and able to work in challenging contexts with patience, perseverance, and flexibility.
• Capacity to work independently, take initiative, set priorities, and manage a variety of activities simultaneously.
• Enthusiastic about learning from others and sharing knowledge.
• Demonstrated intercultural competence and ability to adapt professional skills to fit local conditions and constraints. 
• Superb analytical, organizational, negotiation and problem-solving skills. Proven interpersonal and communication skills in diverse and cross-cultural settings.

Sector

General Development 

About the Agency

The Aga Khan Foundation is a leading global development organisation working to tackle the root causes of poverty. For more than 50 years, we have helped create strong community institutions that support sustainable, locally driven initiatives to improve the lives of millions of people. By combining local knowledge with global best practices, we strive to bring about transformative and long-lasting improvements to quality of life.

Working alongside the agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network and through partnerships with local communities, civil society and business as well as governments and international aid agencies, we are building a future where we all thrive together.

Application instructions

Please be sure to indicate you saw this position on tendersglobal.net