Senior Advisor, UK FCDO Donor Engagement

The Awards Management Unit (AMU)

AMU has responsibility for identifying, securing and managing all funding from government donors for the IRC. AMU is a bridge between donors and the IRC’s work on the ground. The team provides expert technical advice to colleagues delivering our services around the world, ensures consistency and compliance with our donors’ policies and procedures, and manages risk. The unit also supports all IRC staff working on awards from government donors and partnerships.

The Purpose of the Role

The Senior Advisor, FCDO Donor Engagement will lead, guide and coordinate IRC’s funding focused engagement with UK Government’s Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The post holder will provide an internal and external “account management” function to support engagement with these donors. The role is responsible for providing expertise and leadership on donor relations. It will work closely with technical and proposal development teams who will provide the operational BD capacity to secure significant growth in its funding portfolio from the UK Government and to protect IRC’s funding share, through influential engagement around policy shifts, working in close collaboration with Policy & Solutions as well as Advocacy & Influence.

The FCDO Senior Advisor will lead the development and implementation of strategies for proactive donor and partner relationships on behalf of IRC. The role will develop and maintain positive working relationships and standards of collaboration with senior colleagues across the organization, including the Awards Management Unit, International Division (CRRD) and External Relations. The role will also lead FCDO liaison on Business Development with the President’s Office, advising the leadership board on relevant trends in FCDO funding.

Major Responsibilities:

Strategy

• Collaborate with senior leaders to develop, update and lead a comprehensive UK-focused business development strategy including approaches, tools, and metrics.
• Lead the development and implementation of the UK donor engagement strategy including coordinating actions of relevant stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain a network of senior stakeholders within relevant FCDO teams to ensure effective engagement, influence and winning BD approaches.
• Undertake direct representation with donor officials, and support the development of IRC’s donor relationships, including brokering meetings between donors and Regional and Technical Leadership, Country Directors, and supporting the preparation for these engagements.
• Participate in key meetings with FCDO officials, including Desk/Program Officers, Heads of Unit, Director-General/equivalent, advisors and other officials.

External Representation

• Represent the IRC at external meetings, events, and forums including delivering presentations/briefings to senior donor representatives, forums and sector groups.
• Proactively identify and broker relationships with key UK FCDO officials and stakeholders.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of donor strategies relevant to IRC’s work, such as funding priorities, geographical interests and political climate, providing analyses and synopses of press releases, policies and other announcements, and disseminating this information internally.
• Map donor organizational structure, identify key contacts and maintain relationship records in IRC’s CRM system.
• Maintain and contribute to the improvement of tools and resources to support donor engagement and relationship building with donors.
• Work with key staff across the organization to support UK business development planning and implementation, routinely engaging with operational BD teams at global, regional and country levels to review long term pipeline, plan strategic engagement and mitigate portfolio risk.
• Equip IRC staff with the skills, tools and information to manage local, or technical donor engagement, business development and implementation.
• Coordinate across IRC teams to ensure consistent, accurate, and timely messaging for FCDO.
• Significant experience of working with organizations that engage closely with or directly for UK FCDO.
• Strong working understanding of the UK political environment and trends relevant to FCDO, charity and development funding commissioned and led by UK based charities and contractors.
• Hold a wide network of contacts within FCDO.
• Experience of humanitarian and development business development, program management, advocacy or other similar HQ-HQ relationship with FCDO.
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills, including development of influential reports and briefing documents.
• Ability to lead and manage projects, including working as part of remote/virtual teams.
• Excellent strategic vision and a track record of delivering long-term strategic objectives.
• Good analytical skills and first-class attention to detail. Experience undertaking reviews of policies and reports, producing associated written and verbal guidance relevant to senior and operational staff.
• Strong prioritization skills and organizational skills.
• Ability to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously, work well under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills. Ability to collaborate with others and work as part of team.
• Previous experience of working for FCDO (FCO, DFID) or equivalent experience of working in partnership with UK government.
• Demonstrable experience of driving coordinated advocacy, communications and fundraising programs to access funding.
• Understand programmatic and financial contractual arrangements with donors and partners, including experience of negotiating with donors.
• Experience of working in developing countries, preferably in the context of a UK donor, NGO or International Organization.
• Relevant additional language skills, particularly French or Spanish

Enabling cross organizational engagement with UK Govt

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

Please note that diversity of experience counts (i.e., paid and volunteer work; lived experiences; transferable skills from another industry etc.)

Preferred experience & skills:

Candidates must have the right to work within the country they are applying.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Our Values: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way -Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Equality, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.