Partnership Manager at The International Rescue Committee

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:

• Partnership / sub-awardee mapping
• Identification and on-going engagement of partners
• Capacity development and training support to partner staff on proposal development, donor compliance, and budget development.

This Partnerships Manager will be based in Maiduguri with occasional trips to other IRC operational bases in the Northeast. S/he 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;
• Strengthen relationships with other relevant stakeholders (e.g. with government entities).

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 (OFDA, USAID, ECHO, DFID, SIDA, etc.)
• Proven previous successful experience developing projects, writing proposals and donor reports required
• 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 

Working Environment:  

The position will be based in Maiduguri, Nigeria with frequent travel throughout project areas in the northeast, including to remote and insecure locations. The situation in northeast Nigeria continues to be volatile and the security phase is orange or red depending on location. This is a non-accompanied position. 

Standards for Professional Conduct:

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere 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 enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation

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 or disability