Partnerships Manager (Sudan Kosti) – NRC

Job Description

Organization	The Norwegian Refugee Council
Job Identification	14122
Job level	Bachelor’s Degree
Location	Kosti Country Office
Posting Date	02/23/2024, 10:27 AM
Apply Before	03/08/2024, 10:59 PM
Job Schedule	Full time

NRC is rapidly expanding the partnership portfolio of national organizations in Sudan to rapidly scale up emergency response, and is also entering into partnerships with different international organizations to enhance and complement the response. We are seeking an experienced Partnerships Manager to provide leadership for work with local partners in Sudan as it works to build the ownership, capacity, and resources of local partners to effectively respond to humanitarian needs in the country.
You will lead the development and implementation of the partnership strategy that contributes to program sustainability and high-quality programs, and lead the implementation of the core process of partnership management.

Specific responsibilities

Partnership Unit Management:

• Led the development of NRC Sudan’s Partnership Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and tools, incorporating Lessons Learnt and feedback, and ensuring their adoption across all departments.
• Develop a RACI (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed) matrix aligned with global tools and strategic guidance, fostering clarity on roles and responsibilities throughout the partnership cycle.
• Facilitate NRC staff engagement with partnership SOPs and tools, coordinating across departments to conduct partner organizational capacity assessments and provide targeted capacity-strengthening support.
• Build a network of key partners and stakeholders, staying informed on evolving trends and fostering innovation in partnership and project development.
• Contribute to the mapping of national and local NGOs, Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), and civil society actors outlining partner capacity, influence, and alignment with NRC programming, and analyze ongoing partnerships to produce lessons learned for strategic decision-making.

Localization:

• Support the implementation of the localization strategy of NRC and any other relevant localization and partnership-related tasks. 
• Support the expansion of operational models that rely on the delivery of assistance with and through local actors.
• Support the Specialists, Area Managers, and Area Programme Managers in the development of area-level integrated partnership strategies and review of pilot initiatives and approaches.
• Provide technical programmatic and operational guidance to develop and mainstream localization for NRC operations.

Project Implementation Agreement (PIA) management:

• Collaborate with the partnership team to ensure that donor requirements/procedures are reflected in the PIAs and modification requests.
• Manage negotiations for new projects and programs with partners, including coordinating technical and financial requirements in line with donors.
• Supervise or directly draft partnership agreements and/or contractual documents required for the signature and implementation of new projects.
• Work actively with the protection, accountability, grants, and compliance units to ensure strong mainstreaming of core NRC principles across operational partners.
• Provide technical support to partners, particularly on M&E, PIA (grants) management issues, and financial management and compliance.
• Ensure the adherence of the intervention with NRC’s project cycle management approach.

Capacity building:

• Oversee capacity-building activities aiming at ensuring smooth implementation of the partnership agreements, but also at supporting the overall development of the NGO partner.
• Supervise the monitoring of partner learning progress and the application of the transferred knowledge, identifying and reporting challenges and achievements.
• Assess the partner NGO’s priority needs in terms of capacity development. 
• Actively integrate partner feedback into tools and guidance and ensure strong mutual learning between NRC and its partners. 

Click this job description for more information on the role

Generic professional competencies: 

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a related area. Master’s degree preferred but not mandatory
• Minimum 5 years of experience with NGO and/or international organization, preferably with grants management or partnership-related duties
• Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities
• Ability to coordinate tasks and work processes and work with short deadlines
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal
• Fluency in Arabic (speaking, reading, writing) will be an added value

Context/Specific skills, knowledge, and experience: 

• Diplomacy and facilitation skills are essential
• Familiarity with the Sudan context is an asset
• Excellent training and facilitation skills
• Excellent coordination, communication (verbal and written) and networking skills
• Experience working with national and local civil society organizations
• Advanced computer skills, especially in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook

Do you still need to hear more? Watch this short video to see NRC in action

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to join our work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility: At NRC, we think outside the box. We encourage ideas and give responsibility to all employees at all levels, to help solve the complex issues that we face. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative

• 12 months renewable fixed term contract subject to terms and conditions 
• We aim to attract internationally experienced candidates with a starting monthly fee of NOK 57,744
• An opportunity to match your career to a compelling cause; Learn more about NRC
• A chance to meet and work with people who are the best in their fields
• Find out more about the benefits of working for NRC

 Internal candidates are encouraged to apply but we are also open to external applicants who can show a commitment to NRC and being part of a challenging, but important mission to make a difference.  

“To apply as an internal candidate, log in with your official email or click on Opportunity MarketPlace”

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The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organization helping people forced to flee. We work in crises across more than 31 countries, providing emergencies and long-term assistance to millions of people every year. We stand up for people forced to flee, advocating their rights. NORCAP, our global provider of expertise, helps improve the international and local ability to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from crises. NRC also runs the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre in Geneva, a global leader in reporting on and advocating for people displaced within their own country.

Employment with NRC may lead to employment in or deployment to Regions, Countries, Areas, or Offices that may be host to considerable health, safety, and security risks. NRC takes this very seriously and we have procedures in place to reduce known risks, but will never be able to take away all risks.

NRC is an equal opportunities employer and aims to have staffing diversity in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability.