Head of Partnerships

Head of Partnerships

ROLE PURPOSE:

As part of our humanitarian ambition and 2030 global strategy, Save the Children has implemented the Global Humanitarian Surge Platform (GHSP) to further improve the efficient deployment of high-quality surge staff to support the delivery of our Humanitarian Responses directly and in collaboration with SCI partners. This role will be rapidly deployed by the GHSP to support the response team in quickly developing and implementing a humanitarian-response.

In the onset of the conflict in Ukraine, over a million people have become displaced within the first 2-weeks. Save the Children is rapidly scaling up a multi-sectoral response with the primary response being delivered through partners. SCI is rapidly looking at increasing our partner portfolio in terms of funding, number of partners and systems and processes for delivering high quality capacity strengthening. Currently the projects are just getting established as Save the Children navigates the complex access dynamics.

This includes:

1. leading and providing strategic, operational and technical leadership in the development, implementation and follow-up of a common partnership workflow for effective partnership management across SC Ukraine response;
2. Ensure that the full partnership perspective and our objectives for partnership management are effectively included, captured and supported in all central processes and systems in SCI Ukraine;
3. To ensure mainstreaming of the partnership workflow across the entire organization; gathering and analysing partnership best practice, effective coordination of learning and capacity strengthening support; and coherence and alignment between the operational and strategic dimensions of the organization’s partnership work.

In the event of a major event, deadline, incident or risk related to partnership work, the role holder may be expected to work outside the normal job description and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

Reports to: Deputy Team Leader Operations

Role Dimensions: The Partnership Person works across multiple teams and functions and across multiple levels within the wider Save the Children movement including with Cos and RO(s),

• Partnership position interacts with the IP senior management team and other SCI function heads and humanitarian team
• Partnership position is owner of the partnership function, and represents partnership work within the SC Ukraine response
• Dotted line to regional focal points
• Dotted line to Programme quality team
• Has regular contact with SC partners, to gauge partner feedback, strengthen relationships.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Partnerships in all contexts:

Lead the partnership strategy, learning and reporting: articulate and communicate the role of partnerships as a critical enabler in line with our Vision 2030. Gather and analyse best practice on partnerships, monitor progress, including reporting on partnership results, and foster learning, particularly around strategic partnerships. Ensure partnerships are part of SC’s strategic thinking, especially linked closely to the breakthrough objectives; Improve process and visibility of CO strategic partnerships.

Oversee the partnership function: develop, monitor compliance with and update SCI’s partnership standard, procedures and tools within the Quality Framework. Engage with other function leads to ensure seamless coordination across functions, particularly Award Management, Humanitarian Response, Project Management, and Risk Management, including CSG and Fraud. Provide technical support to partnership focal points across country and provide support to overcome bottleneck in partnership implementation;

Strengthen work on partnerships in humanitarian contexts; follow up Grand Bargain. Localisation and CHS commitments. Provide technical input, support and backstopping to humanitarian response strategies, protracted crises, staff skills, partner capacity etc. Work closely with the Localisation Task Team.

Lead professional development of staff working with partners and partners themselves: develop training and coaching materials for key staff roles, including partnership focal points, partner relationship managers, humanitarian surge staff, award managers and functional staff interacting with partners. Strengthen resources for partner capacity strengthening. Monitor uptake of training and application of learning, and deliver training as needed;

Lead efforts to mitigate partnership risk: work with the Chief Risk Officer and other stakeholders to identify and monitor partnership risks. Devise and monitor the effectiveness of strategies to mitigate partnership risk. Participate in partner vetting and partner investigations as needed;

Raising the visibility of partners: working closely with COs and ROs and partners themselves to raise their visibility and voices globally.

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (VALUES IN PRACTICE):

Accountability:

• holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters

• values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength

• approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree/ Equivalent relevant experience.
• Strong experience managing field operations,
• Strong practical experience and knowledge of partnership work on the ground working with implementing and strategic partners, both in development and humanitarian contexts.
• Experience of managing organisational risks
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including the ability to influence others, to liaise with a wide range of people at all levels and across different cultures and to act with credibility, tact and diplomacy
• Excellent planning, management and coordination skills. Strong time management skills with an ability to plan ahead, anticipate requirements, problems and obstacles. Ability to juggle competing priorities successfully, and to work to tight deadlines with the capacity to organise a substantial workload comprised of complex, diverse tasks and responsibilities
• Excellent business partnering, communication and relationship building skills. Demonstrated ability to develop and manage productive relationships with SC member agencies and senior staff
• Experience of managing teams, including (geographically) remote relationships
• Strong and clear commitment to Save the Children’s values

Desirable

• A second language, preferably Russian, French, Spanish or Arabic
• Experience in change management, organisational development
• Experience of implementing continuous improvement or knowledge management initiatives in a large organisation

We offer a competitive package in the context of the sector. This Role is offered on the basis of International terms and conditions. Also, interviews will be held on ongoing basis, adverts will be closed once a person is identified.

For non- EU citizens; Visa is to be obtained.

The Organisation

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Application Information:

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application, and include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations. A copy of the full role profile can be found at www.savethechildren.net/careers

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.