Partnerships Manager at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Requisition ID: req23646

Sector: Grants

Employment Category: Regular

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: No

Location: Maiduguri, Nigeria

Job Description

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in more than 40 countries and in 22 U.S. cities, IRC restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

Contextual Background:  

IRC began working in Nigeria in October 2012 in response to a widespread flooding. Since then, IRC has expanded its program scope and size with the aim of making the greatest possible contribution to meeting humanitarian needs across Northeast Nigeria. IRC’s response includes integrated health, reproductive health, nutrition, protection including women’s protection and empowerment services, child protection, environmental health, economic recovery and development, and education support. The country program has developed a new Strategic Action Plan, which is guiding growth in priority thematic and geographic areas.

Job Overview/Summary:

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. The Partnership Manager will coordinate the daily management of the sub-award lifecycle and invest in their sustainable growth and capacity for partnerships. With the overall objective of achieving high quality and compliant programing, the Partnerships Manager will increase IRC Nigeria’s capacity to engage with partners in the following functions:

• Partnerships / Sub-awards Management
• Identification and on-going engagement of partners
• Capacity development and training support to partner staff on proposal development, donor compliance, and budget development.
• Internal and External Coordination with the IRC Team and Partners

This Partnerships Manager will be based in Maiduguri with occasional trips to other IRC operational bases. S/he will directly report to Senior Grants and Partnerships Manager and will work collaboratively with other members of the Grants, M&E, Finance, technical and operations teams. The Partnership Manager will contribute to overall Partnership management at IRC Nigeria.

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-close-out.

Sub-Award Management:

• Work closely with the Senior Grants and Partnership Manager as well as the programs units to map out processes for selecting partners
• Manage the administration of pre-award due diligence processes with all new sub-awards, including identification of specific risk factors and mitigation measures associated with the award
• Ensure that all partners’ program deliverables are received and tracked in compliance with donor objectives and requirements
• Review partners’ contractual reports, coordinate internal feedback, and escalate any issues as relevant
• Lead in conducting review meetings with partners and follow up on the implementation of action points
• Coordinate with the M&E and Grants team to ensure that projects are monitored robustly
• Maintain Partner files and the Sub-Award Tracker
• Process sub-award amendments in a timely manner
• Organize sub-award close-out meetings and support the partners in the closing process, ensuring that all requirements are met
• Resolve any issues that may arise with partners, working closely with the Senior Grants and Partnership Manager to advise on the appropriate progressive corrective action, alerting partners’ Senior Management Teams/Boards and the IRC Ethics and Compliance Unit, as required.
• Ensure appropriate financial documentation in compliance with IRC and donor regulations. Coordinate with the IRC Country Office Finance department to facilitate timely processing of all sub-award payments according to schedule.

Reporting:

• Ensure reporting timelines are prepared and shared with sub-awardees
• In conjunction with Finance and respective Program, ensure the timely review of partners’ financial reports in accordance with the terms of their Partnership agreements, coordinated with the review of programmatic reports.

Partners Capacity Building:

• Review capacity building/development plans for partners based on pre-award assessment results, ensure capacity building/development plans are tailored, targeted and responsive to respective organizational needs and priorities.
• Design tools and create systems to effectively monitor progress made against partner capacity building plans and to partners in their organizational development.
• Contribute/lead as/if required to collate lessons learned on a regular basis and disseminate these among partners to maximize the impact of programs and contribute to future strategy and direction.
• Support the Senior Grants and Partnership Manager with any other tasks and responsibilities when and where required.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to:  Senior Grants and Partnership Manager

Position directly supervises:  None

Indirect Reporting: None

Other Internal and/or external contacts: Grants staff, Programs and M&E staff, finance, HR, supply chain departments and Regional Grants Support staff at HQ.

Qualifications

• 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
• Two years of experience working in grants management and proposal/business development/design required.
• Prior knowledge of donor regulations (USAID, FCDO, 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 

Standards of Professional Conduct

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

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.

Working Environment

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.