Partnerships Coordinator – Erbil (Head of Partnerships Department) / National Position At International Rescue Committee

CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND

A lead responder in Iraq since 2003, the IRC is providing robust programming across five governorates through women’s protection and empowerment, child protection and protection and rule of law programming; economic recovery and development programming; governance; and integrated early childhood development programming. The IRC is focused on strengthening social cohesion, with the aim of strengthening connectedness and cohesion among actors at different levels, from community groups to CSOs, to national authorities.

SCOPE OF WORK

The Partnership Coordinator is responsible for the management and implementation of IRC’s approach to partnering with local and national civil society organizations in Iraq, establishing IRC as a leader in its engagement with Iraqi civil society to produce better outcomes for the people we serve.

Under the guidance of the Deputy Director of Programs (DDP) Iraq, and in close collaboration with the extended senior management team (ESMT), the Partnerships Coordinator will lead the Iraq Partnership Team to ensure strong, collaborative partnerships that deliver effective and efficient program outcomes in accordance with IRC Iraq’s Strategy. The Partnerships Coordinator will oversee the implementation of IRC’s partnership management system (PEERS) ensuring that IRC identifies, appropriately allocates and effectively mitigates programmatic, operational, financial, and reputational risk, establishing a strong foundation for strategic partnerships that extend beyond program implementation to incorporate mutual capacity strengthening and broader collaboration. The Partnerships Coordinator is key in fostering and promoting the culture, attitudes, values, and skills conducive to collaborative partnerships throughout the Iraq teams, based on a clear and shared understanding of IRC’s strategy, role and approach, and core partnership principles.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Oversight of the IRC Iraq Partnerships Strategy

• Collaborate with the DDP and Program Coordinators to drive processes that ensure IRC develops and maintains a detailed working knowledge of the civil society landscape in Iraq and establishes, builds, and maintains a network of strategic partner relationships, including with women-led organizations.
• Work with the DDP, Program Coordinators, and the Grants Coordinator to ensure that partnerships is appropriately integrated into all new business development and support the development of new business development concepts that prioritize partnerships.
• Define and contribute to learning opportunities with respect to local partnerships.
• Support the DDP to advocate with donors to promote approaches and requirements that are responsive to the priorities and realities of local partners, and that promote localization.
• Actively engage in and help drive IRC regional partnership initiatives, including participating in working groups 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.

Implementation of the Partnership Management System

• Oversee all aspects of partnership management – from due diligence vetting, project and agreement development, sub-award management, monitoring and accountability, through to closure – coordinating all program, operations and finance components. Support effective sub-award close out processes, incorporating reflection and lessons learned.
• Facilitate and lead the development of the structure and approach to individual partner relationships – including the selection of the appropriate funding mechanism and the development of appropriate reporting, monitoring and advance terms – based on the findings of the pre-award due diligence and in line with IRC policy, appropriately analyzing and mitigating risks, in collaboration with ESMT.
• Lead the maintenance and coordination of partner program, finance and compliance monitoring schedules as well as facilitating review and reflections meetings. Ensure response and support plans are implemented.
• Coordinate with the Finance Department and supervise the Partnership Finance Officer to ensure appropriate financial documentation in compliance with IRC and donor regulations, and to facilitate timely processing of all partnership payments according to schedule.
• Serve as a technical resource for partnership-focused staff in sector teams to promote an effective, responsive and coherent approach.

Developing Strategies and Mechanisms for Capacity Sharing

• Ensure all partners have collaboratively developed project support plans in place and oversee the delivery of timely and effective support, in close collaboration with the SMTs.
• Ensure IRC understands the capacity strengthening priorities of its partners, including through Organizational Capacity Assessment processes where appropriate, and identify opportunities for IRC to support partner capacity strengthening efforts aligned with prime award objectives.
• Work with the Regional Gender Advisor to ensure alignment with IRC’s approach as a feminist organization and its commitment to gender equality under S100
• Work with M&E Coordinator and Senior Capacity Sharing Manager to ensure that the impact of IRC’s support to partners is effectively tracked and measured.

Promoting a Culture of Effective and Respectful Partnerships

• Ensure and champion robust partner relationship management grounded in collaborative, humble and principled approaches
• Implement standard best approaches for systematic feedback on IRC’s management of the relationship (as well as appropriate action in response to the feedback), as well as on partner engagement in program development
• Collaborate with Iraq SMT to ensure that IRC includes key partnership competencies in recruitment for relevant technical and operational positions; provide staff with necessary support for skills development for core partnership skills (mentoring, negotiation, etc.); and include performance objectives for relevant positions that incentivize effective partnerships.

Staff Management and Development

• Direct oversight of the Iraq Partnerships Team, ensuring that the team is appropriately resourced and structured. Work with HR staff to identify and implement recruitment and retention strategies.
• Coach, train, mentor and supervise direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting quarterly performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews. Look for opportunities to support staff in their career growth. 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.
• 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.
• Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Position reports to: Deputy Directors of Program (DDP)

Position directly supervises: Partnership Manager, Partnerships Finance Officer

Other internal: Technical/Program Coordinators, Deputy Director of Finance, Grants Coordinator, MEAL Coordinator, Regional Partnerships Advisor, Supply Chain Coordinator, Government Engagement Manager.

Other external: Iraqi NGOs as well as donors and relevant government stakeholders.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• BA degree or equivalent in International Development or Affairs or related field; advanced degree an asset.
• 5-7- years of progressively responsible professional experience managing a partnership or grants portfolio in development or humanitarian context required.
• Experience and proven ability to work effectively with national and local civil society organizations required; experience working in local or diaspora CSOs is highly desirable.
• Experience working in the Middle East, with Iraq response experience highly desired.
• Demonstrated knowledge of key donor compliance regulations (U.S. Government, FCDO, ECHO, UN agencies, etc.)
• Proven experience in project proposal development with partners
• Experience and skills in reading and reviewing financial reports.
• Ability to respond to multiple priorities in a timely manner, producing high-quality outcomes.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with ability to express ideas and concepts clearly and persuasively with senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated capacity to deal with ambiguity in stressful situations.
• Proven ability to work well in and promote teamwork, thrive in a multi-cultural environment, be flexible and handle pressure with professional grace. Experience managing staff and a commitment to team building, mentoring and staff development.
• Strong commitment to IRC’s vision, mission and core values.
• Professional fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic required

Standards of 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.

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 maternity leave, gender-sensitive security protocols, and other supportive benefits and allowances. Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: Per the Iraqi Ministry of Health COVID-19 guidelines, IRC requires candidates who are selected for positions to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter IRC premises. However, the exemption is only accepted per the Iraqi Health regulation and upon the provision of a negative PCR test.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

Notice to all Job Seekers

IRC implements an equal employment opportunity policy, and our recruitment process is based on merit.

Applicants and/or successful interview candidates (both internal and external) are not required to pay any fees at any stage of the recruitment process.

If anyone asks you for any financial or non-financial favors to help you secure a job at IRC, kindly report to iraq.hr@rescue.org.

ملاحظة لكل الباحثين عن وظيفة

تعتمد لجنة الانقاذ الدولية سياسة فرص عمل متساوية وان عملية التوظيف لدينا تعتمد على الجدارة .

لايتوجب على المتقدمين لاي وظيفة او المؤهلين للمقابلات (سواء كانوا موظفيين حالين او متقدمين من خارج المنظمة) دفع اي مبلغ مالي خلال اي مرحلة من مراحل التوظيف.

اذا قام اي شخص بطلب اي خدمة مالية او غير مالية لقاء مساعدتكم في تأمين فرصة عمل داخل المنظمة ،يرجى الابلاغ عن ذلك الى iraq.hr@rescue.org