Partnerships Manager

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Partnership Manager will be responsible for:

• Supervising civil society partner selection processes
• Leading the overall capacity assessment process, as well as capacity building plans, ensuring partners have the tools and support to deliver on projects, strategy and services for children in Poland.
• Supporting program managers with the tools and approaches for partnership engagement for effective programming
• Advise all departments to ensure partner compliance/accountability.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Director of Programme Operations

Staff directly reporting to this post: Capacity Building Coordinator

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY

General:

• Participate in planning and developing a civil society partnership-based programme.
• Lead on the development of the partnership capacity strengthening programme.
• Support the Programme Managers in preparing revising and following up on project implementation plans, capacity building plans and reporting requirements.
• Coordinate with SC technical departments to provide training to partners and support them in implementing quality interventions in line with SCI standards and humanitarian principles.
• Support the Programme Managers and the partners in proposal and budget development.
• Maintain a well-structured filing system for all partnership projects, including: project reporting, photos, videos, and other means of verification, as well as detailed beneficiary records.
• Ability and willingness to dramatically change work practices and hours, and work with incoming surge teams, in the event of crisis or emergency.
• Manage the partners’ documents and beneficiaries’ records confidentially and professionally.
• Any other tasks assigned by their line manager.

Partnerships:

• Identify/assess potential new partners as per SCI standards and requirements
• Supervise Save the Children sub-grant allocation processes (negotiated agreements and call for proposals).
• Take the lead in reviewing civil society partner grant applications
• Manage Partner – SC – Donor reporting flow, including verification of Partner accountability documentation
• With the Programme/Field Manager, coordinate with different partners and stakeholders who are responding to guarantee better coordination by attending different working groups meetings.
• Prepare the terms of partnership/MoUs and any sub grant agreements with the verified and approved partners.
• Keep track of technical, operational, HR, financial and grants questions with partners and facilitate support from relevant SCI departments to ensure continuous support throughout the programme cycle.
• Follow up on partners payments and facilitate the process with SCI finance team and partners by providing all the needed documents as per SCI procedure.
• Work with other functional departments to participate in verification visits of partners throughout the project cycle.

Capacity Building:

• In coordination with relevant SCI functions, assess partners’ institutional capacity through a thorough assessment to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
• Lead on Developing and following up on SCI partners Capacity building plan and outcomes in line with the capacity building assessment results.
• Facilitate and follow up on the provision of technical advice by SCI technical / Support departments or external actors to provide capacity building and monitoring services to SCI partners.
• Support SCI partners in grants management and ensure that the partners meets SCI accountability, reporting and MEAL requirements.
• Review partners’ narrative and financial submitted reports and provide feedback to SCI programme Manager as well as on going coaching and monitoring to partners at all levels.

Strategy:

• Supporting with the development of and review of the partnership approach/strategy to ensure that SCI remains flexible to the needs in Poland.
• Where required support partners and SCI staff develop joint program strategies and approaches in order to be more effective in our work
• Contribute to strategic discussions around how the organization supports and collaborates with partners
• Ensure our commitment to ethical and responsible partnership is adhered to by all staff
• Ensure partnership activities are implemented in accordance with best practice as well as our policies and processes

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, EXPERIENCE AND ATTRIBUTES:

Essential

• Post graduate or Master degree in relevant field
• Minimum 5 years work experience in the humanitarian sector/with NGOs, with at least 2 years’ experience in partnership-based programming or community based programming
• Good skills and experience in all aspects of programme cycle management – design and development, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation
• Experience in organizational capacity development, training, mentoring and coaching
• Excellent training, facilitation and capacity building skills
• Proven experience in field level representation with key stakeholders and co-ordination with other NGOs/UN is highly desirable
• Proven commitment to participatory approaches
• Strong analytical and conceptual skills and the ability to think and plan strategically
• An excellent team player with good skills in team work and consultative approach to decision making
• Demonstrable experience of M&E and beneficiary accountability
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, including a good track record of report writing
• Excellent written and spoken English
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy
• The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.
• Commitment to the values, mission and principles of Save the Children

Desirable

• National level representation with key stakeholders and co-ordination with other NGOs/UN
• Fluency in Polish is highly desirable

In the case of a Category 1 and Category 2 response, the candidate must reflect the experience and qualifications of a Grade 2. This must include the following proven behaviour/experience:

• Demonstrate leadership and management skills in a complex international setting.

Previous experience as member of Senior Management Team.

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.