Partnerships Manager-Damascus

Background/Context:

The IRC has operated in Syria since 2012, providing protection, health, economic recovery, and early childhood development programs in Idleb, Aleppo, Ar-Raqqa, Hassakeh, and Deir ez-Zor, with new programs expanding into Hama, rural Damascus, and Homs. With a team of over 350 members, the IRC has established trust and strong community relationships, ensuring access and effective service delivery.

Our longstanding experience in the country to date provides a strong foundation for the IRC to further adapt and expand its programming across Syria, in order to respond to the new realities, with a greater focus on resilience and recovery initiatives. Alongside this, the IRC also It plays a significant role in Syria’s NGO, donor, and coordination forums, holding key positions and actively engaging in advocacy efforts.

Job Overview/Summary:

The Partnership Manager is responsible for the management and implementation of IRC’s approach to partnering with local and national civil society and other local organizations in Syria. Under the guidance of the Partnerships Lead, Whole of Syria, and in close collaboration with field management teams (FMTs), the Partnership Manager will lead the Hub Partnership Department to ensure strong, collaborative partnerships that deliver effective and efficient program outcomes in accordance with IRC Strategy 100 (S100) and IRC Syria’s Strategic Action Plan.

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.

Partnership Management

• Support Partnerships Lead to establish and maintain the six core building blocks of partnership success – self-assessment, working group, defined and resourced role, training, stakeholder analysis, and collaborative design.

• Contribute to the business development process by supporting proposal development through integrating partnerships inputs

• Actively engage in and help drive IRC partnership initiatives, including participating in the Syria Partnership Working Group and thematic meetings on partnership approaches and practices, identifying opportunities for systems improvements, and coordinating to ensure a coherent, efficient, and effective joint approach to partnerships.

• Oversee all aspects of partnership management in Syria - from identification, development, risk management, project and agreement development, sub-award management, monitoring and accountability, through to closure – ensuring cross-collaboration with the partnerships team and all program, operations, and finance components.

• Facilitate and lead the development of the portfolio structure and approach to individual partner relationships with SYRIA-based team – including the selection of the appropriate funding mechanism and the development of appropriate reporting, monitoring and advance terms - based on the findings of due diligence, donor regulations and in line with IRC policy, appropriately analyzing and mitigating risks, in collaboration with SYRIA FMT and program leads.

• Collaborate with Grants and program leads to ensure that we maximize partner collaboration in program design and development, including with respect to budget allocation, ensuring that we maximize resources for those leading delivery.

• Oversee the systematic partner feedback on IRC’s management of and performance in partnerships in Syria, as well as appropriate action in response to the feedback.

• Oversee the effective partnership project close-out processes, incorporating reflection and lessons learned across Syria.

• Ensure all partners have collaboratively developed project support plans in place where relevant and oversee the delivery of timely and effective support, in close collaboration with the Partnership Lead, FMT, and Syria Capacity sharing focal point.

• Ensure IRC understands the capacity strengthening priorities of its partners in SYRIA, including through Organizational Capacity Assessment processes where appropriate, and identify opportunities for IRC to support partner capacity strengthening efforts where aligned with prime award objectives.

• In collaboration with the Capacity sharing focal point, support IRC’s delivery of organizational capacity strengthening support, appropriately coordinated and integrated with technical capacity strengthening support.

  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 transparent and well documented.

• Work with the Partnerships Lead 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.

• Liaise 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.

Sub-Award Management

• Ensure that all partners’ program deliverables are received, tracked, 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. Notify the Partnerships Lead, 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.
• Ensure that projects are monitored robustly, following up on implementation of partner-specific compliance, programmatic monitoring work plans, procurement plans, budget spending, and more. Notify the Partnership Lead and other relevant staff of any issues, and provide timely feedback to partners.
• Chair case management meetings for sub-awards, address specific issues as they arise, and escalate issues to the Partnership Lead or other relevant forum as required.
• 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.
• Assist the Deputy Director of Programs or Partnership Lead 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 Performance Management, Learning & Development:

• Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of team members in relevant technical and management competencies.
• Coach, train, supervise, and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Approve and manage time, attendance, and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews.
• Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, minimally on a monthly basis.
• Provide a measurable development plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team, and providing guidance on career paths.
• As required, identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff.
• Look for opportunities to support staff in their career growth, where appropriate.
• Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures and communicate through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations.

Job Requirements:

Work Experience & Education:

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in International Development or Affairs, Finance, Business, or related field, or equivalent years of experience.
• 6 years of work experience in partnership and grants management with INGOs or NGOs in the Middle East Region.
• 2 years of staff management experience
• Proven experience in sub-grants management is required
• Direct experience with GFFO, BMZ USAID, and/or OFDA funding plus FCDO funding, & ECHO experience desired.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• A commitment to IRC’s mission, vision, values, and IRC Way – Professional Code of Conduct.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to work well in and promote teamwork, thrive in a multi-cultural environment
• Flexibility
• Commitment to team building, mentoring, and staff development
• The position regularly corresponds and attends meetings with external and internal audiences; thus, a strong ability to communicate and maintain positive working relationships is highly desirable for this position

Language/Travel:

• Excellent written and spoken English and Arabic are required.
• The position is based in Damascus with a standard office work environment, with around 60% regular travel to field sites.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Partnership Coordinator
Position directly supervises: Partnership Officers, Partnerships Assistant

Indirect Reporting:
Key Internal Contacts: Technical Coordinators, Partnerships Department, Grants team, Finance team, Supply Chain team, M&E team

Key External Contacts: Partner staff, occasional coordination meetings with other INGOs; Relevant stakeholders, both INGOs and NGOs.

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 where this position is based and are currently residing outside of your home country, you may be eligible for an attractive relocation package. Eligibility is determined based on IRC's operational needs and specific role requirements. 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.

How to apply

(female candidates are highly encouraged to apply)

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/vdZ9r9SmZV