Partnerships Officer

Position Title: Partnerships Officer
Sector: Finance
Duty Location: Belgrade
Duration: 12 months
Type of Employment: Full- Time

BACKGROUND:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries, the IRC seeks to be an operational and inspiring leader in matters of resettlement, asylum, and integration, demonstrating its credibility and expertise as a leading service provider, partner and advocate across the arc of the global displacement crisis.

Across Europe, the IRC delivers programs that address acute humanitarian needs of asylum-seekers and other vulnerable migrants who are newly arrived, stranded or in transit, and programs that address their longer-term integration needs.

In response to the increased number of people on the move from 2015, the IRC began responding in the Balkans to assist vulnerable refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. Since the conflict in Ukraine started and consequent displacement into neighboring countries from February 2022, the programs are established to address the most pressing needs of people on the move across the South-east Europe. IRC continues to use its voice and expertise to increase safe and legal pathways, ensure protection and improve the quality of resettlement, asylum and integration services. The programs are implemented in close partnership with local non-governmental organizations and governmental institutions.

Scope of work:

Based in Belgrade, Serbia, the Partnerships Officer (PO) will provide support for the grants unit for Balkans and South-east Europe. Reporting to the Grants Manager, the PO will work closely with programs, finance, and administration to coordinate IRC´s ongoing partnerships with local CSOs, grant monitoring and reporting.

Responsibilities:

• Review and edit narrative and financial reports, consulting with and ensuring input from relevant staff, and coordinate their review with the relevant IRC HQ office
• Support the Grants Manager in ensuring that all IRC sub-grants or contracts are implemented in compliance with the relevant donor regulations and IRC procedures.
• Update sub-award information on the IRC’s Opportunity Tracking Information System (OTIS) and internal (sub)grant trackers are up to date.
• Track and document lessons learned from finalized projects
• Assist in the development of presentation and training materials, as required
• Ensure quality information management related to grants by overseeing the regular maintenance of grant files, reporting calendars, and updating of internal IRC documentation and grants management tools.
• Act as the IRC Balkans focal point and main contact for partnerships, communicating information with the team and escalating questions or concerns as needed
• Support the management of sub-awards in line with the IRC Partnership Excellence for Equality and Results System (PEERS) requirements, including partner identification, partner due diligence and partner’s project capacity review, agreement and budget reviews, coordinating timely OTIS approvals and finance coding requests
• In collaboration with the Programs team, track sub-award partners’ deliverables and ensure that partners’ contractual reports are reviewed and feedback is provided
• Process sub-award modifications in a timely manner ensuring that relevant IRC units provide their inputs and approve the modification

• Organize partnership opening, review and closing meetings with partners and IRC teams to ensure that partner projects are implemented according to the work plan and log frame approved by the donor

• Procure signatures on grant and partnership agreements, amendments, and other required documents

• Assist with the organization and note taking of meetings and events

• Assist the Communications team and the region in drafting, revising and updating summary information about the IRC Balkans partnerships, and help draft summaries

Key relationships:

• Position Reports to: Grants Manager
• Internal collaborations within IRC: All program teams; Finance; Supply Chain; M&E; HR; Refugee Info; Awards Management Unit; and Europe Communications team.
• External collaborations to IRC: IRC implementing partners
• Coordinate the review and approvals of grant agreements, partnerships, amendments and reports with the region and/or relevant IRC HQ functions, ensuring approvals are tracked on OTIS

• Maintain a strong relationship with the regional program support team, ensuring key communication is recorded and socialized within the team

• Liaise with technical units and other regional support departments, as needed.

Other:

• Provide back-up support for the Grants Manager, as required
• Support partnership working groups, business development and the coordination of proposals, as requested
• Participate in special projects and trainings

Requirements:

• University Degree in social sciences

• Minimum four years of professional experience in local CSOs or international organizations – program implementation support and partnership-building between different actors

• Strong interest in supporting refugees and vulnerable populations

• Demonstrated understanding of and ability to maintain confidentiality and respect for the beneficiaries and partners

• Value-driven, positive and professional attitude, including ability to lead and work well in a team setting

• Strong ability to maintain composure, prioritize work under pressure, and work in a difficult environment

• Personal qualities: Works well in and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure well.

• Strong knowledge of Office package (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, online collaboration tools, Internet Explorer)

• Fluency in Serbian and English

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This position will be based out in Belgrade, Serbia.

Disclaimer Clause: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skills, effort, duties and responsibilities associated with position.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability. **