About IRRI

Job Purpose

The Strategic Partnerships Specialist will provide support in strategic planning, knowledge management and coordination of strategic partnership funding opportunities across IRRI. The specialist will support in providing high-quality, up-to-date market information on priority IRRI investors and partners that helps inform the setting and implementation of the Institute’s business development strategies and the positioning of our research services and products to meet current and projected future market trends. The Specialist will also assist in coordinating engagement and follow up with external priority investors and strategic partners, particularly key bilateral and multilateral donors as well as the National Agriculture Research and Extension Systems (NARES) of IRRI partner countries.

This position will be based at the IRRI Headquarters, Los Baños, Philippines and may only be filled by permanent citizens of the Philippines.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Manage and integrate investor market research activities for traditional investors across IRRI’s themes and target regions/countries
• Support in maintaining external relationships with working level contracts of IRRI priority investors and strategic partners
• Research and analyze investor websites and policies to understand general trends and opportunities in investor funding/ procurement for IRRI research themes
• Conduct detailed research in response to newly identified, high priority opportunities from traditional investors
• Coordinate and support due diligence efforts when screening new opportunities and new funders
• Liaise with IRRI teams and account managers to help plan and organize (as well as document) IRRI’s engagement of traditional donors, visits to IRRI offices and other events such as workshops, conferences, and conventions – identifying business development opportunities for sharing with junior database specialist
• Lead the coordination with internal (communications, IRRI Country offices & Regional Representatives) and external (NARES) partners on the annual Council for Partnership on Rice Research in Asia (CORRA) Meetings and other CORRA related events
• In coordination with the junior database specialist, monitoring and updating the Strategic Partnerships Senior Manager on (1) status of pre-pipeline and pipeline activities and (2) partnership agreements and provide recommendations on improving engagement with current partners and investors
• Liaise with the Portfolio Management Office to ensure efficient handover of investor confirmed funding opportunities so that these are accurately captured in the IRRI project pipeline and other related information dashboards
• Develop concise meeting notes/ minutes to be used as reference for future stakeholder engagement and outreach
• Draft letters to stakeholders and partners following key stakeholder engagements and events
• Drafti briefing notes/ preparatory materials for meetings with key stakeholders and partners
• Draft presentation materials for introductory meetings with new (or high priority) partners/ investors
• Create market research briefs by researching and analyzing donor/funder contact information, history, and ongoing and pipeline projects and initiatives

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Sustainable Development, Management or a related field preferred with relevant professional experience of 4-6 years

Skills Required

Mandatory

• Experience working in, and with, international organizations
• Experience in engaging with local and national government stakeholders and the private sector
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English
• Sound understanding of agriculture and natural resource management, as well as major international sustainable development initiatives and fora

Preferred

• Experience of international relations
• Ability to synthesize and summarize large volumes of information quickly and communicate the main points to stakeholders

IRRI offers a highly extensive employee benefits package inclusive of globally-covered medical insurance, retirement plan, life and accident insurance and other allowances.

Join our team and be part of our story!

Please note only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
This position will remain open until filled.