International Rescue Committee
The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Today, 13.4 million people in Syria – more than half of the country’s population – are in need of humanitarian assistance with needs increasingly being exacerbated by economic decline. Of these, 6.8 million are refugees and asylum-seekers who have fled the country. This is no short-term humanitarian episode. The devastating human consequences to huge numbers of people will endure for decades. The destruction of relationships, communities, livelihoods, homes and infrastructure will take years to repair.
IRC is offering a robust humanitarian response to the Syria crisis a rapidly expanding portfolio, supported by more than 1000+ staff in Syria Country Program. IRC is undertaking programs in Syria and the neighboring countries of Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan in the fields of health, child protection, early childhood development, education, women’s protection and empowerment, non-food items and food distribution, cash assistance, water and sanitation, protection and rule of law, and livelihood programming. Our work in these challenging settings gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, security, funding and coordination. Partnerships with local actors are central to IRC’s Syria response, with a target of 60% of funding allocated through partners and a marked increase in strategic partnerships, in line with partnership principles, as a part of its 2022-2024 Strategy Action Plan (SAP).
Scope of work
The Partnerships Director, Whole of Syria is responsible for the strategic direction, management and implementation of IRC’s approach to partnering with local and national civil society, private sector and other local organizations in Syria and Turkiye, establishing IRC as a leader in its engagement with Syrian civil society across the entire Syria country program to produce better outcomes for the people we serve in Syria.
Under the guidance of the Deputy Country Director for Programs, WoS, and in close collaboration with the Syria CP senior management teams (SMTs) and extended senior management team, the Partnerships Director, will lead the Syria Partnerships Unit to establish the core building blocks of partnership success, and ensure that we ‘Partner First and as Equals’ in accordance with the Strategy Action Plan. The Partnerships Director will be responsible for Partnerships thought leadership, including forwarding partnerships commitments made in the Strategy Action Plan, as well as ensuring the implementation of the highest quality partnerships approaches across the Country Program to ensure that IRC is a “partner of choice”.
The Partnerships Director will oversee the implementation of IRC’s Partnership Excellence for Equity and Results System (PEERS – IRC’s partnership management system), ensuring that IRC:
• defines our role in collaboration with local actors based on how we can best support, reinforce, and complement local actors and systems;
• promotes long-term, principled partnerships that share power, resources, and learning and elevate the knowledge and expertise of each partner;
• maximizes power and resources for people impacted by crises and the organizations closest to them to respond and drive lasting change;
• collaborates with partners to identify and manage risks to program outcomes, communities, the partner, IRC, and the donor;
• promotes the core partnership principles of equality, complementarity, mutuality, solidarity, results-orientation, and humility in all aspects of our partnerships;
• and appropriately identified and effectively mitigates programmatic, operational, financial and reputational risk.
The Partnerships Director will lead IRC’s external engagement with SNGO, INGO and UN actors with respect to local partnerships, will collaborate closely with the Deputy Country Director, Programs to establish and maintain strategic partnership relationships, and will drive business development as it relates to partnerships. The Partnerships Director will also be a leader in fostering and promoting a culture, attitudes, values and skills conducive to collaborative partnerships throughout the Syria teams, based on a clear and shared understanding of IRC’s strategy, role and approach, and core partnership principles.
Major responsibilities
Strategic Leadership on Partnerships
• Together with the Deputy Country Director, Programs, lead the definition and implementation of IRC’s Strategy Action Plan in Syria as they relate to partnerships with civil society organizations, ensuring we define our role based add value to local actors and systems, collaborating with SMT and ESMT for Syria to integrate effective partnership approaches into sectoral strategies, taking into account gender equality at every step.
• Collaborate with Deputy Country Director, Programs, Program Director for Implementation and Quality (PIQD), and program leads to drive processes that ensure IRC develops and maintains a detailed working knowledge of the civil society landscapes in Syria, and establishes, builds and maintains a network of Strategic Partner relationships, consistent with Strategy100, SAP commitments and targets.
• Work with the Deputy Country Director Programs, PIQD, program leads, and the Grants Coordinators to ensure that partnership is appropriately integrated into all new business development, and support the development of new business development concepts that prioritize partnerships, and more broadly, to drive progress toward Syria’s SAP partnership spending target.
• Facilitate systematic partner feedback on IRC’s management of and performance in partnerships, as well as appropriate action in response to the feedback.
• Define and contribute to research and learning opportunities with respect to local partnerships.
• Lead responsibility for IRC’s engagement in and support to CSO, INGO and UN partnership networks and coordination forums, including contributing leadership to forums (where that aligns with IRC’s strategy), and promoting the localization of the Syria response.
• With the Deputy Country Director, Programs, advocate with donors to promote approaches and requirements that are appropriate and responsive to the priorities and realities of local partners, and that promote the localization of the Syria response.
• Identify and promote local partner capacity strengthening and sharing initiatives within the country program and with local partners, through line management and coordination with programs and operations leads.
• 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.
• Represent partnerships as a member of the Senior Management Team Plus (SMT+) and Extended Senior Management Team (ESMT).
Partnership Internal Management
• Lead responsibility for establishing the six core building blocks of partnership success – self-assessment, working group, defined and resourced role, training, stakeholder analysis and collaborative design – in the Syria country program in collaboration with the Syria ESMT.
• Work closely with Syria SMT members to build a coherent, inter-departmental, ‘one IRC’ approach to partnerships across all aspects of the Syria team with clear roles, responsibilities and management structures to ensure efficient and responsive processes with respect to partnerships, consistent with PEERS.
• Serve as a technical resource for partnership-focused staff in sector and operational teams to promote an effective, responsive and coherent approach.
• Foster and promote a culture, attitudes and values conducive to collaborative partnerships throughout the Syria teams, based on a clear and shared understanding of IRC’s strategy, role and approach, and IRC’s core partnership principles.
Partnership Management
• Lead and facilitate the effective implementation of PEERS, and actively contribute to the continued development and improvement of the system, across all aspects of partnership life cycle management – from identification, development, risk management, project and agreement development, sub-award management, monitoring and accountability, through to closure – ensuring cross-collaboration with partnerships team and all program, operations and finance components.
• Coordinate comprehensive due diligence processes that enable IRC and the partner to identify and appropriately manage or avert any significant program, finance, operational or reputational risk associated with the partnership.
• 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 due diligence and in line with IRC policy, appropriately analyzing and mitigating risks, in collaboration with SMT and program leads.
• Lead responsibility for developing and maintaining a risk matrix that identifies and tracks the allocation of risks as they relate to sub-award partnerships (for communities, the partner and IRC), ensuring appropriate allocation and mitigation of risk.
• In collaboration with Grants, maximize partner collaboration in project cycle management processes, including in program design, and ensure effective program and finance reporting, monitoring and reflection, and external audits – to address areas of non-performance and donor compliance as they arise through a process of progressive performance improvement.
• Coordinate with Partnership Finance teams to facilitate timely processing of all partnership agreement payments.
• Coordinate effective partnership agreement close out processes, incorporating reflection and lessons learned.
Partner Support and Capacity Sharing
• Through line management of the WoS Partnership Capacity Sharing Senior Manager, lead IRC’s delivery of organizational capacity strengthening support, appropriately coordinated and integrated with technical capacity strengthening support.
• Establish appropriate internal capacity, and foster strategic collaboration with regional service providers, to enable IRC to offer effective capacity strengthening support to partners.
• Ensure partners have collaboratively developed project support plans in place where relevant and oversee the delivery of timely and effective support, in close collaboration with SMT.
• Collaborate with outcome leads to integrate technical capacity strengthening approaches with institutional strengthening support as appropriate.
• 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 to ensure that the impact of IRC’s support to partners is effectively tracked and measured.
• Work to ensure IRC identifies and takes opportunities to learn from partners.
Human Resource Management
• Direct management oversight of the Syria Partnership Unit, including ensuring that the unit is appropriately resourced and structured, and the recruitment, performance management, and professional development of all unit staff. Supervise the NES and NWS Partnership Coordinators, WoS Partnership Capacity Sharing Senior Manager, with dotted line support to all partnerships functions (e.g. in finance, HR, supply chain, safety & security, etc.). Identify opportunities to expand partnerships support within functions.
• Manage partnership team budget to ensure team is appropriately resourced
• 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.
• 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.
• Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff.
• Work with regional HR staff to identify and implement recruitment and retention strategies.
• Travel regularly to Gaziantep, Turkiye and Northeast Syria to support the above with hub-based partnerships teams.
Key working relationships
Position reports to: Syria Deputy Country Director, Programs
Position directly supervises: Syria Partnership Unit: NES Partnerships Coordinator, NWS Partnerships Coordinator, WoS Partnerships Senior Officer and WoS Partnerships Capacity Sharing Senior Manager; Indirect Reporting (If applicable): Dotted line management of partnerships focused team members within other departments
Other internal: Program Quality and Implementation Director, Program leads, Deputy Director Operations, Deputy Director Finance, Senior Grants Coordinator, MEAL Coordinator, Regional Partnership Director.
Other external: Syrian NGOs, INGO and UN actors with respect to partnerships, as well as donors.
Job requirements
• Graduate degree or equivalent in International Development or Affairs or related field; advanced degree an asset.
• At least 7-10 years of progressively responsible professional experience managing complex multi-sectoral humanitarian programming, inclusive of a partnership or grants portfolio in development or humanitarian context, required.
• Extensive 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.
• Significant experience managing a sub-award portfolio of at least $7m in value required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of U.S. Government rules and regulations required; experience working with FCDO, ECHO and other European donors preferred.
• Conversant in best practices in humanitarian interventions across programmatic sectors. Strong familiarity with IRC’s core programming areas in Syria, including Protection, Health, Economic Recovery and Development, and Early Childhood Development
• Demonstrated experience in strategy development and leadership
• Proven experience in project proposal and M&E development, with BHA, GFFO and ECHO experience highly desirable.
• Proven experience in development, implementation and monitoring of programming in remote context and high-risk areas.
• Experience and skills in reading and reviewing financial reports.
• Demonstrated ability for rapid, accurate analysis of complex issues, strong decision-making, and translation of programmatic priorities into operational strategies.
• Experience living and successfully working in a remote, complex, unstable environment, while maintaining a focus on program outcomes, preserving calm and a sense of humor.
• Proven ability to work well in and promote teamwork, thrive in a multi-cultural environment, be flexible and handle pressure with professional grace.
• Ability to respond to multiple priorities in a timely manner, producing high-quality outcomes.
• Superior 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.
• Strong commitment to IRC’s vision, mission and core values.
• Proven ability to design and lead training engagements with staff and partners to enhance skills and adapt to changing program demands.
• Experience managing staff and a commitment to team building, mentoring and staff development.
• Excellent written and spoken English required, with Arabic skills a strong asset.
• Experience working in the Middle East, with Syria response experience highly desired.
• Ability to Travel 40% to field sites as well as for regional and global workshops and meetings.
Professional standards: All IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles of Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability outlined in the IRC Way-Standards for Professional Conduct. 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.
Working Environment: The position is based in Amman with standard office work environment. Individual housing allowance is provided in Amman, including internet connection, water and electricity. Living standards are good and the security situation is calm and stable but this could change. Medical, life, and repatriation insurance and retirement package provided. Travel to/from post and Annual Leave. This position is an accompanied post.
Returning National Candidates: We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a citizen of the Country in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possess over two years of international work experience, the Middle East Region has introduced an attractive remuneration package. The package includes competitive compensation, return flight to post, shipping allowance, temporary housing and a relocation allowance. Certain restrictions may apply. IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs.
Accountability to Clients: IRC staff must adhere to the commitment of contributing to the sustainability and development of its (CR) Client Responsiveness Mechanisms, preserving the culture of prioritizing the needs of our clients and affected communities by systematically listening to their perspectives and using their feedback to make programmatic decisions and give them greater influence over program design and delivery.
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 parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.
Diversity and Inclusion: at IRC MENA, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Organizations that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, nationality, and perspective are validated to be better organizations. More importantly, creating a safe workspace environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best is the right thing to do. So, bring your whole self to work.
How to apply
https://rescue.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/42242?c=rescue