Senior Partnerships Officer

Work Arrangement:

Job Description

Background/IRC Summary:

The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Today, 13.4 million people in Syria - more than half of the country's population - are in need of humanitarian assistance with needs increasingly being exacerbated by economic decline. Of these, 6.8 million are refugees and asylum-seekers who have fled the country. This is no short-term humanitarian episode. The devastating human consequences to huge numbers of people will endure for decades. The destruction of relationships, communities, livelihoods, homes and infrastructure will take years to repair.

IRC is offering a robust humanitarian response to the Syria crisis a rapidly expanding portfolio, supported by more than 1000+ staff in Syria Country Program. IRC is undertaking programs in Syria and the neighboring countries of Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan in the fields of health, child protection, early childhood development, education, women’s protection and empowerment, non-food items and food distribution, cash assistance, water and sanitation, protection and rule of law, and livelihood programming. Our work in these challenging settings gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, security, funding and coordination.

Job Overview/Summary:

The Senior Partnerships Officer holds an important role in bolstering the International Rescue Committee's partnership endeavors in Northwest Syria and Turkey. Collaborating closely with the Partnership team based in Gaziantep, this officer will play a role in supporting the partnership team in relationships with local partners, implementing capacity-sharing initiatives, and ensuring efficient coordination and collaboration with IRC's partners. Their responsibilities include contributing to the overall success of IRC's programs in Northwest Syria by providing crucial support for partnership management.

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. Assist the partnership team for quality sub-award management, including sub-award start-up, sub-award implementation monitoring, capacity sharing and appropriate sub-award close-out, developing the partnership strategy.

Partnership Facilitation:

- Support the partnership team to identify, assess, and cultivate potential partnerships with local national NGOs. - Provide support for maintaining robust working relationships with partners, ensuring regular communication and collaboration. - Aid in monitoring partner performance, coordinate to provide technical support and guidance through the partnership team in Gaziantep as necessary, and assist to address any partnership-related issues or challenges. - Assist the team in developing stakeholder analysis and ensure regular updates. - Contribute to the pre-award due diligence process for all sub-awards, including vetting, risk analysis, and the implementation of risk management measures, collaborating with other departments as needed. - Contribute to monitor project activities, including visits to partner organizations, to ensure alignment with the work plan and budget. - Assist the partnership team in drafting and following up on partner agreements, coordinating with all internal relevant units, and completing the OTIS flow. - Record minutes for IRC's internal Partnership Working Group meetings and follow up on action points with assigned team members.

Partner Support and Capacity Sharing

- Assist the partnership team to organize project opening, regular reviews and closure meetings. - Conduct capacity assessments of partners and support Senior Capacity Sharing Manager to develop capacity sharing plans in collaboration with partnership team. - Assist in organizing training sessions, workshops, and mentorship programs to enhance partners' organizational and programmatic capabilities.

Documentation and Reporting:

- Record the meetings with current and potential partners, share with relevant colleagues and store in IRC system for future use. - Create monthly progress report, share with partnership team, record the agreed action points and follow up with assigned team members. - Assist the partnership team on working with partnered project responsible and other partnership staff to review monthly/quarterly internal reports and support the drafting and compilation of partner reports into overall donor reports.

Qualifications

Required Experience/qualification/Skills:

- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, such as international development, business administration, or social sciences. - 3 years of progressively demonstrated successful experience working with local partners and/or grants management. - Strong understanding of stakeholder analysis and partner mapping techniques. - Experience in developing partnership proposals and conducting partner capacity assessments. - Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills. - Proven ability to work effectively in a team and with partners from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds. - Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities under tight deadlines.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

- A commitment to IRC’s mission, vision, values and IRC Way – Professional Code of Conduct. - Credible written, presentation and verbal communication skills - Validated sense of professional discretion, integrity, and ability to handle complex situations diplomatically and to effective resolution. - Validated ability to plan long-term, organize priorities and work under administrative and programmatic pressures with detail orientation and professional patience. - Highly collaborative and resourceful; ability to establish positive working relationships with senior level management and all other partners to maximize cooperation and productivity. - Curiosity, a desire to continually learn and develop is a must. - Analytical ability in creating effective solutions to complex matters.

Language/Travel:

- Fluency in English required. Fluency in Turkish or Arabic is an asset. - Travel: 25% to partner offices and field sites.

Key Working Relationships:

- Position Reports to: Partnerships Coordinator - Position directly supervises: N/A. - Indirect Reporting (If applicable): N/A - Key Internal Contacts: IRC Programs - Key External Contacts: Partners

Professional Standards: IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and carries out policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Respect at Work Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Returning National Candidates: We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a citizen of the Country in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possess over two years of international work experience, the Middle East Region has introduced an attractive remuneration package. The package includes competitive compensation, return flight to post, shipping allowance, temporary housing and a relocation allowance. Certain restrictions may apply. IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs.

Accountability to Clients: IRC staff must adhere to the commitment of contributing to the sustainability and development of its (CR) Client Responsiveness Mechanisms, preserving the culture of prioritizing the needs of our clients and affected communities by systematically listening to their perspectives and using their feedback to make programmatic decisions and give them greater influence over program design and delivery.

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.

Diversity and Inclusion: at IRC MENA, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Organizations that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, nationality, and perspective are validated to be better organizations. More importantly, creating a safe workspace environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best is the right thing to do. So, bring your whole self to work.

IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. In keeping with our core values of Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality, IRC strives to maintain a work environment built on mutual respect in which all individuals treat each other professionally, and free of bias, prejudice, and harassment. IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting. All IRC staff, wherever they are located, are accountable for creating an environment free of discrimination, harassment, bullying, and retaliation.