Job Description

Background:

The International Rescue Committee, one of the world’s largest humanitarian international NGOs, provides relief, rehabilitation and development support to vulnerable people and communities over 30 countries. We began work in Ethiopia in 2000 in response to severe drought in Ethiopia’s Somali region and are currently providing assistance to Ethiopians and refugees in six regions in Ethiopia, implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response.

scope 

We are hiring a Partnership officer. Join the team!

The Partnerships Officer is responsible for helping to identify and assess new partners, facilitating and tracking sub-projects and agreements, and highly involved on sub-grant monitoring and evaluation. A large portion of IRC Ethiopia’s partnerships/sub-grants portfolio falls within the emergency response program but includes other sectors and projects as well. The position is based in Addis Ababa but will require travel to the field in Ethiopia and occasional travel overseas for conferences and trainings. The position will report to the Partnership Manager. The Partnerships Team sits in the Grants and Partnerships Unit of IRC Ethiopia.

Essential Functions

Partnerships/Sub-Grant Processes:

• In collaboration with the Partnership Manager, institutes the global PEERS policy. Includes supporting efficient and responsive processes, sound recordkeeping systems and sub-award management.
• Participates in and supports in all Partnerships meetings, including weekly team meetings, monthly Finance & Partnership Coordination Meetings.
• Maintain an up-to- date partnership tracker, and monitoring schedule – for respective portfolio of sub awards.
• Contribute to the mapping of potential partners for emergency response, with a particular emphasis on local organizations.
• Take part in updating of IRC’s database that catalogues all past and potential future partners on a continual basis.
• Support the operational and technical staff as needed in the organization and facilitation of capacity and risk assessments for potential partners.
• Coordinate the internal sub-award proposal review and approval process as needed.
• Assure high-quality implementation by supporting sub-grant opening, review, and closing meetings.
• Support the development of partnership templates and contracts/agreements in conjunction with the Supervisor.
• Work closely and coordinate with IRC Operations, Finance and Grants & Partnership Departments to ensure compliance with grant/sub-grant requirements.
• Lead and facilitate capacity building of partner NGOs and local community organizations. Contribute to development of training materials.

Partner Monitoring

• Support emergency response and other internal teams in supervising sub-grantees/partners for donor compliance and progress against objectives, contributing to monitoring tools development as needed.
• Liaise with sub-grantees for timely submission of accurate financial and activity reports.
• Collaborate closely with relevant departments so that all reporting templates are updated and shared with sub-grantees on a timely basis.

Documentation and Reporting: 

• Maintain comprehensive electronic files for the projects, as well as general partner files, ensuring they are streamlined and well organized.
• Collaborate with the relevant technical teams, review monthly internal reports, compile and submit partner reports into overall donor report, and support government reports/agreements as needed/requested.
• Support data analysis of existing sub-grant portfolio and potential partner commitments.

Representation and Special Tasks:

• Support the Partnerships Coordinator and Partnership Manager as needed to ensure all deadlines are met on time and that all products are of high quality.
• Take responsibility for miscellaneous projects not falling under responsibilities underlined in this job description, as requested by the Partnership Coordinator and/or Partnership Manager.
• Support the Partnership Manager in communication with relevant HQ departments including finance, compliance, and regional programs units. 

Job Requirements

• Excellent Amharic and English writing & speaking skills are required and are the most important requirement for this position.
• Proven experience in coordination of multiple partners (internal and external).
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration or relevant field from a recognized university with a minimum of three years of relevant experience.
• Strong preference will be given to candidates with previous experience in partnership management, consortium/network management or sub-grant/partner identification and management.
• Experience facilitating sub-grants, including proposal review, agreement development, and monitoring strongly desired.
• Familiarity with USG (e.g. USAID/OFDA, PRM) and ECHO rules and regulations.
• Program development experience, including development of key project documents such as logical frameworks, monitoring tools, etc.
• Experience drafting and implementing capacity building programs is a plus.
• Computer literate (MS Word, Excel, PPT). Budgeting experience required.
• NGO experience in similar position is preferred.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.

Personal Specification: 

• Able to work under pressure, long work hours, and high workload.
• Ability to independently coordinate work and prioritize tasks.
• Self-motivated, honest, highly responsible, and punctual.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team. 

How to Apply

Candidates meeting the above qualifications are encouraged to apply only through the below IRC On-line recruitment website: 

External link

Internal link

Please include 3 references from current and former employers. Applications will not be returned. IRC discourages phone calls or personal visits.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply. Only applicants meeting the minimum qualification will be short listed and contacted.

Your application letter/cover letter must include the following information:

• Name of the position you have applied for
• Date of application
• Summary of your qualifications and experience
• Motivation/objective of why you have applied for the job
• Permanent Address and present address (if different from permanent) and telephone number if possible also email address
• Disclose any family relationships with existing IRC employees. 

Are any of your relatives employed by International Rescue committee (IRC)? If answer is “yes”, give the following information:

 YES         NO

NAME

Relationship

Position

Office/field office

IRC is an equal employment 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 or disability.

Professional Standards: 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 Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons

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

Equal Opportunity Employer: 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, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.