Partnerships Manager (Syria Country Program)

Programme & Policy

Overview

Manage partnerships and sub-awards for the Syria program effectively and compliantly.

You have:

• BA degree or equivalent in International Development or Affairs, Finance, Business, or related field; Advanced degree a plus.
• Minimum of 3-5 years work experience with INGOs or NGOs in the Middle East Region, preferably in the Partnership Sector.
• Confirmed experience in sub-grants management desired.
• Direct experience with USAID and/or OFDA funding plus DFID funding, ECHO and GFFO experience desired.
• Confirmed understanding of U.S. Government rules and regulations as they apply to grant management.
• Excellent communication and coordination skills.
• Shown ability to work well in and promote collaboration, thrive in a multi-cultural environment, be flexible and handle pressure with professional grit.
• Experience handling staff and commitment to team building, mentoring and staff development.
• Excellent written and spoken English and Arabic is required.

Job Description

The Partnership Manager is a key position supporting the Syria Program. With the overall objective of achieving high quality and compliant programming, the main goal of this position is to ensure effective sub-grants management and due diligence with sub-award partners and build strong, sustainable partners, will coordinate the daily management of the sub-award lifecycle and invest in the sustainable growth and capacity for the Syria portfolio.

Major Responsibilities: ---------------------------

Follow IRC’s Partnership Excellence for Equality and Results System (PEERS) that sets out efficient and responsive processes, delineates clear roles and responsibilities, and articulates IRC’s strategic approach to partnerships. Ensure quality sub-award management, including sub-award start-up, sub-award implementation monitoring and management, and appropriate sub-award close-out.

Pre-award phase: --------------------

- Lead the mapping process for selecting partners, work closely with the program units to identify selection criteria and make sure selection is clear and well documented. - Verifying the partner/CBO and its management against ATF&AML, US&EU block list (against terrorist financing and money laundering) - Lead and handle the administration of pre-award due diligence processes with all new sub-awards, including coordinating with other units their participation in the appropriate vetting process for all potential partners. Identify specific risk factors associated with the award, and the identification and implementation of appropriate measures to handle those risks, working with other departments as appropriate. - Work with the Partnerships Coordinator and the Award Management Unit in headquarters to ensure that the appropriate funding mechanism is identified for each sub-award, and that appropriate special conditions are incorporated in each award. - Collaborate closely with IRC units to collect inputs on partners’ project proposals and work collaboratively with partners to finalize project descriptions, budgets, work plans and monitoring and evaluation plans. - Draft sub-award agreements and follow IRC internal review process of all sub-award documentation and coordinate to get all vital approvals. - Develop agenda and materials for grant opening meetings, in coordination with support functions and program staff, to ensure projects start with clear expectations of both parties. Brief sub-award partners on agreements, as well as IRC’s and prime donors’ rules and regulations, in coordination with the Senior Partnership Finance Manager.

Sub-Award Management ------------------------

- Ensure that all partners’ program results are received, supervised, filed and in compliance with donor objectives and requirements, coordinating with program teams and other units within the IRC. Ensure that partners’ contractual reports are reviewed, and internal feedback is compiled and sent to partners in a timely manner. Advise the Partnerships Coordinator, compliance, and finance staff of any issues, and provide timely feedback to partners. - Serve as a pivot- and communication-point for coordination of daily inputs of program, operations, and finance support to the partners. - Lead in organizing and conducting review meetings with partners, ensuring inputs from program, finance and compliance staff are received and included, meeting minutes taken, filed, and disseminated to Program Coordinator and partners. Follow up on the implementation of action points agreed upon during these meetings. - Ensure that projects are supervised robustly, following-up on implementation of partner-specific compliance, programmatic monitoring work plans, procurement plans, budget spending, and more. Advise the Partnerships Coordinator and other relevant staff of any issues and provide timely feedback to partners. - Conduct monitoring visits and coordinate support for partners to address any concerns or issues that may arise. Ensure response and support plans are implemented. - Chair case management meetings for sub-awards, address specific issues as they arise and advance issues to the Partnerships Coordinator or other relevant forum as the need arises. - Maintain partner files, including filing all appropriate communication and maintaining the Sub-Award Tracker, assembling all requirements throughout the sub-award life cycle (such as scheduled payments, partner results, and special requirements). - In collaboration with relevant IRC staff, coordinate inputs and review of sub-award progress for donor reporting and grant review meetings to ensure that donor commitments are met. - Develop and process sub-award amendments in a timely manner ensuring that the relevant IRC units (in-country and at the HQ) provide their inputs and approve the modification. - Organize sub-awards close-out meetings and support the partners in the closing process, ensuring that all requirements are met. Prepare close-out letters and ensure that all requirements of the sub-award agreement have been met and that sub-award funds have been properly settled. - Assist the Partnerships Coordinator 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.

Staff Management and Development ------------------------------------

- Coach, train, and mentor staff with the aim of strengthening their technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team, and providing professional development guidance. - Always maintain close communication and positive working relations with partners. - Promote and supervise staff care and well-being. - Be a good team member within the Partnership Department and the IRC country program. Support and help colleagues wherever needed. - Offer support for successful adherence by staff to IRC’s Global HR Operating Policies and Procedures.

Key Working Relationships: -------------------------------

Position Reports to: Partnerships Senior Manager

Position directly supervises: none at the time being --------------------------------------------------------

Other Internal and/or external contacts: the position regularly corresponds and attends meetings with external and internal audiences, thus a strong ability to communicate and maintain positive working relationships is helpful for this position.

Internal: Technical Coordinators, Partnerships Department Staff, Finance team, Supply Chain team, M&E team

External: Partner staff, occasional coordination meetings with other INGOs; Relevant partners, both GO and INGO, and Syrian NGOs.

Qualifications

The requirements should establish a baseline (minimum) for educational background, previous work experience, professional knowledge or certification, specific skills and strengths and any other skill vital to perform the essential functions of the job.

- BA degree or equivalent in International Development or Affairs, Finance, Business, or related field; Advanced degree a plus. - Minimum of 3-5 years work experience with INGOs or NGOs in the Middle East Region, preferably in the Partnership Sector. - Confirmed experience in sub-grants management desired. - Direct experience with USAID and/or OFDA funding plus DFID funding, ECHO and GFFO experience desired. - Confirmed understanding of U.S. Government rules and regulations as they apply to grant management. - Excellent communication and coordination skills. - Shown ability to work well in and promote collaboration, thrive in a multi-cultural environment, be flexible and handle pressure with professional grit. - Experience handling staff and commitment to team building, mentoring and staff development. - Excellent written and spoken English and Arabic is required.

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

Working Environment: The position is based in Gaziantep with standard office work environment.

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: rescue.org