Senior Officer, Partnerships

Job Title: Senior Officer, Partnerships

Reports to: Programmes Director

Job Location: Nairobi, with frequent travel to Concern Programmes field locations (Candidates must be legally entitled to work in Kenya at the time of application – National Position)

Contract Details: Fixed Term One (1) Year Contract, subject to availability of funds and performance

Job Summary:

The Senior Officer, Partnerships is responsible for managing Concern’s relationship with partner organizations in Kenya in coordination with partner focal points in each department. He/she will assist the programme teams in developing, managing, delivering and promoting the partnership approach in accordance with Concern’s partnership policies and procedures.

The Senior Officer, Partnerships will also lead the process of identifying and assessing new partners and following up on specific support actions with relevant departments.

Main duties & Responsibilities:

Programme Implementation:

• Facilitate coordination between sector teams and local/ national partner NGOs for preparation of concept notes, project proposals and budgets according to the programme design and donors’ call for proposals.
• Lead on arranging project start up and closure meetings with the partner NGOs.
• Provide guidance to (facilitate) partner NGOs (in coordination with Concern’s relevant departments) on project start up and implementation such as; staff recruitments, developing detailed implementation plans, financial plans, procurement plans, progress and financial reporting, field data and MEAL requirements, information management etc. in compliance with applicable contractual policies and procedures.
• Act as focal point for communication between Concern sector / department teams and NGO partners for regular communication and follow up on project implementation.
• Act as the primary Concern focal point for capacity building of partner organizations according to the capacity building plans.
• Ensure local partner NGOs receive all necessary support and technical advice required from different department of Concern Kenya.
• Support local and national partners in preparing narrative and financial reports and present partners’ activities for donors and key stakeholders.
• Jointly monitor projects implemented by the local partners to track progress, identify challenges and solutions for effective implementation.

Identification, Contracting and Compliance

• Lead on partner mapping, partner identification and assessments in line with Concern partnership policies and strategies.
• Coordinate with local partner NGOs on negotiations and signing partnership agreements or MOUs in consultation with Programme Director.
• Ensure partner staff are aware of Concern/donor guidelines and policies and that these are adhered to at all times, immediately raising any suspected non-compliance with the management.
• Proactively work with local partner NGOs on compliance requirement and facilitate support from relevant departments on corrective measures, as and where needed.
• Work with partners to identify gaps in policies and procedures, technical capacity gaps, facilitate development of targeted capacity development plans and ensure timely capacity building support from relevant Concern departments.
• Act as focal person for technical or other non-contractual partners engaged through MoUs or similar instruments.
• Maintain database of all potential or current partners, actively update with new information as necessary.

Learning and Capacity Building

• Undertake joint learning sessions between Concern and local and national partner organizations.
• Tracking progress on capacity building plans with local and national partners
• Promote cross learning between partners and Concern through various interactions.
• Promote, write reports and/or case studies on lessons learned in Kenya to be shared with other Concern country offices.

Responding to Emergencies:

• Participating and contributing towards Concern’s emergency response, as and when necessary
• Complying with Concern’s health, safety and security guidelines during emergencies

Concern Code of Conduct and Associated Policies:

• Adhering to the standards of conduct outlined in the Concern Code of Conduct & Associated Policies.
• Supporting and promoting the standards outlined in the Code of Conduct & Associated Policies to the team, partner organisations and beneficiaries, and being committed to providing a safe working environment.

Accountability

• In line with Concern’s commitments under the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS):
• Actively promote meaningful community participation and consultation at all stages of the project cycle (planning, implementation, M&E).
• Work with relevant colleagues to ensure that the Complaints and Response Mechanism (CRM) is functional and accessible, that feedback and complaints are welcomed and addressed.
• Work with relevant colleagues to ensure that information about CRM, safeguarding and expected staff behaviour is disseminated among programme participants and communities.

Education, Qualifications & Experience Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in development studies, sociology or relevant disciplines
• 5 years’ relevant work experience of working with partner organizations
• Good English Language skills
• Experience of donors compliance requirements (procurement, finance, HR etc.), contract management and project proposals development
• Strong inter-personal communication and facilitation skills
• Excellent report writing skills and MS Office skills
• Proven experience in project and resource planning, & budget management

Competencies

• Aware of self and adapts and uses abilities to work well with others.
• Systematically develops plans, makes clear, informed and timely decisions.
• Acts to inspire others, supports them to achieve excellent results.
• Engages with others inside and outside the organisation, gathers and shares a wider knowledge of issues relevant to Concern’s work
• Focused on continual improvement; seeks out, develops and successfully implements new ideas
• Creative and flexible in approaches to achieving results.

Safeguarding at Concern: Code of Conduct and its Associated Policies

Concern has an organisational Code of Conduct (CCoC) with three Associated Policies; the Programme Participant Protection Policy (P4), the Child Safeguarding Policy and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Policy. These have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation, and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organisation, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context, staff have a responsibility to the organisation to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Any candidate offered a consultancy opportunity with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Concern Code of Conduct and Associated Policies as an appendix to their consultancy contract. By signing the Concern Code of Conduct, candidates acknowledge that they have understood the content of both the Concern Code of Conduct and the Associated Policies and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these policies. Additionally, Concern is committed to the safeguarding and protection of vulnerable adults and children in our work. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to do consultancy work or volunteer with vulnerable adults and children are recruited by us for such roles. Subsequently, being hired as a consultant with Concern is subject to a range of vetting checks, including criminal background checking.

Concern’ is the trading name of ‘Concern Worldwide’, a company limited by guarantee, registered number 39647; registered charity number CHY 5745, registered in Ireland, registered address is 52-55 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Follow Concern online: www.concern.net