Partnership Manager at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Job Overview/Summary

• The Partnerships Manager plays a pivotal role within the IRC Nigeria’s Partnerships Unit, contributing to the delivery of high-quality, compliant, and impactful programming. The role is central to ensuring effective partnership management and fostering strong, sustainable relationships with partner organizations. Reporting to the Partnerships Coordinator, the Partnerships Manager will enhance IRC’s capacity to engage with partners, particularly local actors, by promoting and modeling effective partnership approaches. The position will also lead efforts in collaborative partnership management, capacity sharing, and the training and support of partners throughout project implementation.
• Based in the IRC Katsina office, the Partnership Manager will support the Partnership Management tasks across the Country Program (currently spread in NE and NW of Nigeria with possibility of expansion). The Partnerships Manager will work closely and collaboratively with colleagues across the Grants, M&E, Finance, Technical, and Operations teams in Nigeria, as well as with the Regional Partnerships Team, the Awards Management Unit (AMU), and Legal/Compliance teams at IRC Headquarters.

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, and appropriate sub-close-out.

• Partnership Excellence and Compliance
• Adhere to IRC's Partnership Excellence for Equality and Results System (PEERS), ensuring efficient, responsive, and compliant processes that clearly define roles, responsibilities, and IRC's strategic approach to partnerships.
• Ensure quality management across all stages of the sub-award lifecycle - including start-up, implementation, monitoring, and close-out - in line with IRC and donor requirements.
• Maintain effective and efficient internal procedures for managing partnership processes, documentation, and compliance across all departments.
• Support the preparation of management responses and action plans for internal or external audits, ensuring timely follow-up and documentation of all partnership compliance issues.
• Champion IRC's partnership principles - equality, clarity, results, responsibility, and complementarity - in all aspects of relationship management and collaboration with partners.
• Promote a coordinated, strategic approach to local partnerships across IRC Nigeria, facilitating inter-departmental collaboration and regular coordination meetings including PWG.
• Partnership Management
• Oversee the full partnership lifecycle - from stakeholder analysis, partner identification, and due diligence to project development, agreement negotiation, start-up, supervision, and close-out.
• Lead the pre-award due diligence process, including vetting, the Partners Capacity Assessment (PCA), and risk analysis; and ensure mitigation measures are derived and documented in collaboration with relevant departments and partner/s.
• Review and ensure quality of all sub-award agreements, confirming that appropriate mechanisms and conditions are applied based on risk levels and funding modalities.
• Facilitate regular partner engagement and communication through scheduled management meetings, learning sessions, and ad hoc consultations.
• Ensure timely receipt, review, and archiving of partner reports in compliance with partnership agreements.
• Lead reflective close-out processes, capturing lessons learned, identifying best practices, and informing future partnership planning.
• Facilitate systematic partner feedback on IRC's partnership management and ensure appropriate follow-up actions, involving Senior Management where necessary.
• Maintain up-to-date and accurate presentations, reports, and briefs on the partnership portfolio for internal and external stakeholders.
• In conjunction with Grants, Program/Consortium and Finance teams ensure reporting timelines and templates are prepared and shared with partners.
• Provide necessary assistance to Grants, Program/Consortium and Finance in coordination, follow-ups and review of Partner reports.
• Capacity Sharing
• Lead efforts to build and sustain strong, capable, and accountable local partners through collaborative capacity-sharing approaches.
• Oversee and guide the Partnership Management sub-unit, ensuring adequate resourcing, clear structure, and effective supervision of Partnership Managers and their teams.
• Provide coaching, mentoring, and structured performance management to direct reports, setting clear expectations, reviewing progress, and supporting professional growth.
• Support and coordinate Partner Capacity Analyses (PCAs) for new and existing partners, and ensure that tailored Partner Support Plans address organizational, technical, and operational capacity gaps.
• Coordinate the design and delivery of organizational development and capacity-sharing activities for partners, leveraging internal expertise and external resources as needed.
• Facilitate learning exchanges, mentoring, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities among partners, fostering collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Organize and facilitate PEERS orientation sessions for IRC and partner staff to strengthen understanding of partnership principles and policies.
• Lead Partner Health Check and Power Equity sessions to reflect on partnership dynamics, mutual accountability, and the quality of collaboration.
   

Key Working Relationships

Position Reports to: Partnerships Coordinator

Position directly supervises: NA

Other Internal and/or external contacts: Partnerships Team, Grants Team, Programs and M&E Staff, Finance, P&C, Supply Chain departments and Regional Partnerships Support Team, AMU, and Legal and Compliance at HQ.

Job Requirements

• Master's degree (MA) or equivalent in international affairs, development, international political economy, math/statistics/economics or related subject desired; BA required.
• Fluency in spoken and written English
• Three years of experience working in grants management and proposal/business development/design required. Additionally, experience is Accounting and Audit will be valued.
• Prior knowledge of donor regulations (USG, FCDO, EU, ECHO, SIDA, etc.)
• Previous experience managing sub grantees and partnerships is highly desired
• Good communicator with strong organizational, time management and analytical skills
• Excellent inter-personal, cultural, and diplomatic skills
• Strong writing and editing skills with close attention to detail
• Flexibility to adapt to changing requirements
• Ability to manage competing priorities, meet demanding deadlines and work under pressure in unstable security environments
• Strong computer skills required