VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Position:                       Partnership Coordinator  

Reports to:                   Senior Grant Coordinator

Location:                       Freetown

Grade:                           6A

Duration:                     Twelve Months Initially (Renewable Annually)

Deadline for applications: 6th September 2022 

(Only the applicants who have applied via the IRC Website Cornerstone and shortlisted for interview will be contacted). 

BACKGROUND 

The International Rescue Committee, one of the world’s largest humanitarian agencies, provides relief, rehabilitation and post-conflict reconstruction support to victims of natural disaster, oppression and violent conflict in 42 countries. The IRC has worked in Sierra Leone since 1999.  The IRC currently programs across three core sectors: 1) Health 2) Women and Girls’ Protection and Empowerment (WGPE), and 3) Education. The IRC is committed to supporting the Government of Sierra Leone in the strengthening of the country. We seek to build upon our programming experience and introduce new programs that are adaptive, collaborative, and evidence-driven, leading to a more educated, safe, healthy and empowered Sierra Leone.

SCOPE OF WORK:

The Partnership Coordinator will assist the Senior Grants Coordinator in the day-to-day management of IRC Sierra Leone’s existing and prospective partners, both national and international, across all stages of the grant cycle. This is a national position based in Freetown with frequent trips to field sites. The Partnership Coordinator will act as the focal point within the IRC Sierra Leone Country Program for the implementation and mainstreaming of the organization’s partnership principles and IRC Partnership Excellence for Equality and Results System (PEERS). The post-holder will work closely with the Grants Coordinator, Senior Administration Officer for Grants, and Grants Fellow to ensure the effective management of IRC’s partner portfolio. The Partnership Coordinator will work collaboratively with the IRC’s senior management team, the technical coordinators, measurement team, finance, programs and operations teams, and partners.

Main Responsibilities:

Partnership and Sub-Award Management

• Support and work closely with the grants team and program team for all partnership related issues.
• Prepare sub-award agreements and amendments and be the Country Program focal point for IRC internal review processes of all sub-award documentation at country and head office levels.
• Support the review and revision of partners’ reports, narrative and financial, and support the internal coordination and review process at country and head office levels.
• Support the development and revision of partners’ budgets, in collaboration with the partner, as required by the donor and/or the IRC.
• Co-facilitate and/or support project cycle meetings (PCM) with partners, namely opening, implementation, close-out, and learning meetings, where the IRC is the lead organisation.
• Represent the IRC at grant and project management meetings facilitated by partner organizations for grants in which the IRC is the sub-awardee. Provide timely meeting minutes to relevant IRC teams.
• Be responsible for ensuring partner monitoring visits are conducted by the IRC technical and finance teams, in line with partner contracts, special conditions, and due diligence commitments and processes. Where required, participate in partnership monitoring visits, including to field offices, to assess partners’ performance and compliance against their partnership agreement conditions, donor regulations, overall programme plans, and the IRC’s PEERS. This includes leading on tools development, preparing schedules with relevant staff and partners, coordinating inputs ahead of review meetings, ensuring that the IRC commitments to the donor are met, and working closely with programme and finance staff to ensure that partnerships’ monitoring schedules are rigorously followed and supporting documentation is prepared for review.
• Communicate effectively with partners regarding donor and IRC requests and requirements.
• Coordinate internally to respond to partner requests.
• Promote an atmosphere of mutual respect and development among partners, including facilitating information sharing between partners and establishing relationships based on the IRC partnership principles.
• In the event of partner issues, work closely with the Senior Grants Coordinator to agree the appropriate progressive corrective action, assisting in alerting partners’ Senior Management Teams/Boards and the IRC Ethics and Compliance Unit, as required. This includes promptly reporting any suspicion or ascertained case of violation of Do Not Harm and Child Safeguarding requirements that may arise from partnerships/sub-awards reviews meeting and/or monitoring visits.
• Ensure that all internal partner processes as outlined by PEERS and OTIS are followed.
• Be the primary point person for partnership in IRC Sierra Leone and the voice of the partners in the office.
• Support the Senior Grants Coordinator with any other tasks and responsibilities when and where required in relation to partnership management.
• Backstop relevant Grants staff where required and take on additional responsibilities as requested by the Senior Grants Coordinator.

Business and Programme Development

• Under the supervision and support of the Senior Grants Coordinator, support the implementation of IRC’s partnership strategy, as part of the organization’s Strategy100 (new strategic plan).
• Ensure IRC internal due diligence processes have been followed and completed in a timely manner for all partners with which IRC seeks to engage with on new opportunities.
• Develop and process Pre-Teaming and Teaming Agreements with partners as outlined in PEERS.
• Ensure sound knowledge management of all vetting and contractual documentation and that documents are filed appropriately.
• Support the IRC to run design workshops for prospective opportunities, where partners are engaged.
• Develop the terms of reference for and lead the IRC Sierra Leone’s Partnership Working Group.

Partner Capacity Building:

• Lead the assessment process of new IRC Sierra Leone partners and re-assessments of existing partners as per PEERS policies.
• Develop and/or review the capacity building and development plans of partners, based on the pre-award assessment result, and ensure that capacity building and development plans are tailored, targeted, and responsive to partners’ organizational needs and priorities and donor priorities and funding availability.
• Effectively monitor progress made against partner capacity building plans and to support partners in their organizational development.
• Review partner capacity building plans and support their execution in a timely manner.

Knowledge Management & Communication:

• Ensure all IRC partner files are maintained and filed on IRC Box system and in line with the set archiving system.
• Ensure all sub-awards are updated and maintained on IRC’s Opportunity Tracking and Implementation System (OTIS).
• Contribute to collate lessons learned in relation to partnership and disseminate these within the IRC to support the organization’s partnership processes, ways of working, strategy, and direction.

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in International Development, Social Science, Project Management, Organizational Development or related field.
• 3-5 years of relevant programme, partnership, and/or grant management experience.
• Demonstrable experience working with national and international partners, including but not limited to non-governmental organizations, government actors, and private sector entities. Experience working in consortia is desirable.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and ability to adapt language and tone to different audiences and needs.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills, sound judgment, planning, team working, and facilitation skills.
• Experience in financial management and working with budgets.
• Prior knowledge of donor regulations (UNICEF, USAID, EU, FCDO, Irish Aid) and sound understanding of implementation and management of different donor compliance requirements in the context of partnership.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to juggle competing priorities, meet demanding deadlines, and work under pressure.
• Keen learner, proactive, and solution-oriented.
• Sound understanding and use of Microsoft Office Suite.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing requirements.
• IRC experience is an asset.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT: 

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.  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.

IRC is equal opportunity employer, considered all the candidates on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran or disability.

Mode of Application: 

All applications must be done using the below link and should include a cover letter, updated CV, names of three referees and their active telephone and email contacts, copies of professional certificates and testimonial

APPLY

Please ensure that all attached files are less than 2 megabytes (2MB) for any one message that is sent.

A copy of your application letter, updated CV, labour card and all other supporting documents should be sent to the NGO Desk Officer, Ministry of Labour – New England or to the nearest Ministry of Labour office nationwide.

Please contact any of our offices captioned below for further information and/or detailed requirements or call on 076-471-796.  

WOMEN ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY