Partnerships Director – Syria (Based in Amman)

  • Contractor
  • Amman, Syrian Arab Republic
  • TBD USD / Year
  • Mercy Corps profile




  • Job applications may no longer being accepted for this opportunity.


Mercy Corps

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

The Program / Department / Team

Mercy Corps seeks to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression around the world. We recognize that instances of sudden change within a country or region are rare moments to enact significant, lasting change. Mercy Corps, with its global experience working in countries undergoing major transitions, brings knowledge, expertise and strong management skills to position the agency as a partner of choice for progressive change in Syria.

Mercy Corps has been responding to the conflict in Syria since 2008 by providing access to basic needs such as water, food, hygiene and household items, and shelter, as well as linking individuals and small businesses to economic opportunities and supporting protection and social cohesion.

Mercy Corps Syria recently revised its strategic approach in recognition of the protracted nature of the crisis, with an aim to partner with Syrian communities so they move beyond survival to productivity and self-reliance. To expand programming and holistically address the needs of communities, Mercy Corps has the following objectives across the Whole of Syria (WoS):

· Meeting immediate needs and improving coping mechanisms.

· Increasing economic opportunities.

· Addressing root causes and drivers of conflict.

Mercy Corps sees greater potential for impact in the response to the conflict in Syria if the strengths and contributions of both the international community and Syrian civil society groups are effectively leveraged. Globally, partnerships are at the core of Mercy Corps’ approach and critical to achieving Mercy Corps’ mission. We have evidenced and committed to this as a signatory to the Grand Bargain and incorporating increased support and funding tools for local and national actors.

The Partnership Director (PD) role is a new position within the Mercy Corps Syria structure, with responsibility for ensuring consistent and coherent partnership approaches across all hubs and leading on implementation of the Partnership ‘Roadmap’ and the Partnership Operational Plan, as contributes to MC Syria’s Country Strategy. The Partnerships Director will play a convening role across the Syria country program, serving as technical lead on capacity building and creating a culture of practice and an active network with colleagues across functions that are working with, or on, partnerships. This role will also engage with external networks, advocacy and representation to support a harmonized approach to MC Syria’s partnership programming approach.

As part of its programming, Mercy Corps has led the Investing in Syrian Humanitarian Action (ISHA) program (funded by USAID/BHA) which is designed to advise, support, and coach targeted Syrian civil society organizations to better and more efficiently serve conflict-affected communities. The project takes a demand-driven approach to capacity development, and utilizes creative methodologies for remote engagement, including both on- and off-line e-learning and broadening access to Arabic language resources for the wider Syrian humanitarian community. This partner-centered project takes a learning-by-doing approach to providing direct financial and capacity development support to selected partners delivering humanitarian assistance in the WASH, Shelter, Protection, and Livelihoods sectors in Syria.

The Position

Reporting to the Deputy Country Director, the Partnership Director will work in close collaboration with program leads and departments, including Area Directors/Director of Programs, PaQ, Sub-awards, Finance, HR and Operations. The Partnerships Director is responsible for harmonizing the MCS approach to partner identification, selection, and capacity strengthening. S/he will provide direct oversight of the MCS Subawards & Compliance team, as well as the Partnership Support Program (PSP) and ISHA program delivery, while providing indirect support to all other Hub-level partner programs.

This position requires strong leadership, communication, coordination and collaborative skills to work with teams at the strategic and operational levels, working with a wide range of stakeholders to facilitate consensus building, and to achieve harmonized partnership approaches and tools amidst competing priorities. S/he must be able to foster transition to more cohesive partnership approaches across hubs, while building on Mercy Corp Syria’s breadth and depth of partnership experience and supporting programming tailored to the various contextual needs and dynamics across geographic implementation areas.

Essential Responsibilities

STRATEGY AND PLANNING

● Lead on Mercy Corps Syria’s partnership strategic and programming direction in line with the MCS Partnership ‘Roadmap’, Operational Plan and Syria Country Program Strategy, and MC’s Global Localization agenda.

● Play a key convening role across the Syria country program, creating a culture of practice and active network with colleagues across functions, that are working with, or on, partnership.

● Serve as the technical lead for capacity building across all Mercy Corps Syria partnerships, learning from and consolidating practices from across hubs and programs to establish more coherent approaches and tools between programs/projects.

● Engaging with hub leadership to promote harmonized approaches to partnership focused program design and implementation across all implementation areas.

● Facilitate strategic alliances with partners across all hubs and set the process for engagement of partners into the Mercy Corps Syria Country Strategic cycle.

● Foster an enabling environment for collaborative, inclusive, and mutually accountable partnerships with local organizations.

● Contribute to the evidence-base for and debate around civil society engagement and partnership approaches in Syria as well as Mercy Corps’ own partnership approach.

● Provide input and/or lead on program design focused on or including partnership with Syrian civil society organizations.

● Review Syria’s partnership approaches, processes and tools across hubs and departments and in a collaborative manner develop a harmonized set of processes and tools for use across implementation areas.

● As a member of the Extended Senior Management Team, contribute to organizational strategy conversations, model the MCS culture and values, and promote a positive culture that prompts debate, creativity, accountability, ownership and teamwork.

MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT

● Responsible for strategic management and program quality for multi-hub partnership programs; and for coordination with the hub Area Directors and Director of Programs on partnership programming across Syria.

● Supervise PSP and ISHA awards and respective teams to ensure that overall program objectives are met in a way that is responsive to partners’ operating context, constraints, and realities while remaining on time and within budget.

● Ensure effective project and budget management of sub-awards budgets.

● Ensure effective coordination across hubs and different departments to ensure the provision of holistic project cycle management and capacity strengthening support to Syrian partners.

● Supervise the Sub-award & Compliance Managers and their team to ensure appropriate financial management and oversight of partners’ sub-grants; and coordinate with the Finance Director, with technical reporting line to the sub-grants team.

● In collaboration with the Sub-award & Compliance Managers, ensure the Mercy Corps team follows partnership compliance processes and guidelines, and are issuing, managing and monitoring sub-awards in accordance with subaward regulations and Mercy Corps Subaward Financial Management Manual, and approved exceptions for Syria context.

● Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.

CAPACITY BUILDING & ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING

● Identify areas of need for and support capacity strengthening opportunities for Mercy Corps staff working with partners – focusing on a combination of technical and ‘soft skills’ to promote quality outcomes and contribute to equitable relationships.

● Facilitate cross-hub and department learning and capacity strengthening on partnerships for staff and partners.

● Lead the roll out of the revised partnership approaches and tools, ensuring that there is a clear understanding of the concepts, processes and adaptations included within the guidance for all staff working on partnership programming.

● Provide capacity development team members with technical support and guidance to tailor approaches as relevant to specific partner relationships.

● Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and help them constructively identify problem solving options.

● Lead collaborative processes designed to harness learning from Syria’s partnership programming to inform Mercy Corps’ partnership strategies at the country, regional, and global levels as well as contribute to the growing global partnership sector.

● Facilitate and contribute to MC Syria’s learning and strategy related to partnership approaches and capacity strengthening (through workshops, participation in evaluation or studies, preparation/review of tool kits, collection of data and other measurement).

COORDINATION & REPRESENTATION

● Employ a participatory management style and encourage an adaptive environment that makes best use of staff resources, and a work environment of mutual respect.

● Foster shared commitment to partnership programming among the Syria team and how it contributes to the Syria Strategy across sectors and geographic areas.

● Represent MC Syria’s partnership approaches and programming to the wider INGO and donor community, and relevant coordination forums.

● Foster collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, service contractors, Syrian organizations, and other stakeholders.

● Develop internal and external networks to support effective advocacy and outreach across stakeholders to promote innovative partnership approaches within the Syrian context.

● Play a leading role in fundraising and business development for partnership and and/or other civil society development initiatives as necessary.

● Participate in sharing best practices with NGOs and governmental agencies working in a similar environment.

Supervisory Responsibility

The Partnerships Director line manages the PSP/ISHA Director of Programs and two Subawards & Compliance Managers. In the initial year of the role, the Partnerships Director also manages the ISHA Program Manager and Finance & Compliance Manager until the end of the award.

Reports Directly To: Deputy Country Director

Works Directly With: Mercy Corps Syria’s Deputy Country Director and other senior program leaders in Mercy Corps Syria as well as key HQ stakeholders. Key relationships will include: Hub-level Area Directors and Directors of Programs, PaQ Director, Grants Director, Finance Director, HR Director, Operations Director, Program Managers and Partnership Capacity Development staff, and TSU advisors.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

● BA/S or MA in relevant subject area: international politics, local governance, civil society development, international development, accounting, finance, law.

● Proven technical expertise in partnership approaches, civil society development and/ or capacity strengthening of local partner organizations.

● At least 10+ years of progressive program management experience, including supervisory experience or close collaboration with program, finance, sub-awards, and operations teams. Remote management is an advantage, as is management experience of complex, multi-dimensional programming including administering small grants in an international environment.

● Significant experience designing and delivering partner-driven programs.

● Demonstrated experience and ability to professionally and appropriately represent the organization and negotiate and defend Mercy Corps’ interests with a diverse range of international and local organizations and other groups.

● Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational, and prioritization skills are necessary.

● Proven ability to work collaboratively with colleagues in other departments or locations, as well as experience leading diverse teams.

● Experience with staff training and mentoring is preferred.

● Excellent oral and written English skills; proficiency in Arabic is advantageous.

● Experience living and working in the Middle East region is preferred, and Syria experience a plus.

Success Factors

A successful candidate will have demonstrated the ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving. They will be able to understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details and be able to balance upholding adherence with programmatic and operational standards with facilitating the implementation of complex programs. They have initiative, as well as high emotional intelligence, constructive mentoring skills and proven experience with capacity strengthening of local partners. They will be known for flexibility and creativity in project planning and building responsive systems, and are able to solicit and understand diverse perspectives, build consensus among a variety of stakeholders, and effectively and clearly communicate decisions.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is accompanied and based in Amman, Jordan and it requires travel to support country programs, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited. Housing for this role is in individual housing and staff will have access to good medical services and the living situation is of a high standard.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and

values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

How to apply

https://app.jobvite.com/j?cj=ozbEifwq&s=ReliefWeb


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