Institutional Partnership Adviser

Job Posting Organization:
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organization established to assist people forced to flee their homes due to conflict and disaster. With a workforce of approximately 15,000 employees, NRC operates in 40 countries worldwide, providing essential life-saving and long-term support to millions of individuals each year. The organization is dedicated to upholding human dignity and ensuring that the rights of displaced individuals are respected and protected. NRC's mission is to help refugees and internally displaced persons rebuild their lives and regain their independence, focusing on education, shelter, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security, and legal assistance.

Job Overview:
The Institutional Partnership Adviser (IPA) plays a crucial role in enhancing NRC's engagement with institutional donors, including development banks and key UN agencies. This position is pivotal in driving high-level partnerships that contribute to NRC's resource mobilization efforts and global influence. The IPA will be responsible for supporting NRC's strategic engagement with donors, analyzing donor policies, and maintaining relationships with key donor staff. The role also involves assisting with resource mobilization by tracking funding opportunities, conducting donor mappings, and managing prioritization processes for proposals. Additionally, the IPA will provide capacity building and help-desk support on fundraising and donor compliance, ensuring that NRC staff are well-informed about donor conditions and requirements. The IPA will represent NRC in strategic forums, advocate for improved financing conditions, and contribute to policy discussions on humanitarian financing reforms. This position requires a proactive approach to exploring new partnership opportunities and evaluating NRC's strategic donor engagements.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support NRC’s strategic engagement with institutional donors at global, country, and regional levels.
• Analyze and disseminate information on donor policies and priorities within NRC.
• Establish and maintain relationships with key donor HQ staff.
• Advise NRC colleagues on donor relations, funding opportunities, and compliance issues.
• Maintain comprehensive records of NRC’s engagement with donors.
• Track and share information about new funding opportunities.
• Conduct donor mappings as part of annual analyses and upon request.
• Manage prequalification and due diligence processes for donor funding access.
• Facilitate prioritization processes for competing proposals. 1
• Ensure compliance with donor conditions and regulations by updating relevant information for NRC staff. 1
• Provide advice on donor priorities in proposals and reports. 1
• Develop and deliver training on donor-related issues. 1
• Represent NRC in strategic partnership forums to influence donor conditions. 1
• Advocate for improved financing conditions with donors. 1
• Liaise with other NRC units on donor-related issues to ensure alignment with NRC’s priorities. 1
• Periodically review strategic engagement with donors to inform long-term plans. 1
• Engage in discussions on humanitarian financing reforms and contribute to NRC’s advocacy efforts.

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant field.
• Extensive knowledge and expertise in humanitarian and development sectors, particularly regarding funding mechanisms and humanitarian policy/advocacy work.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a humanitarian or development organization, or in donor administration at Head Office or field level.
• Proven professional experience with institutional donors in business development and resource mobilization.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including negotiation abilities.
• Strong analytical and representation skills.
• Highly organized with strong planning and administrative skills, including proficiency in MS Office applications.
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal.
• Expert knowledge of UN humanitarian agencies and familiarity with the World Bank and development bilaterals.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree or an equivalent qualification in a relevant field, such as international relations, development studies, or a related discipline. This educational background is essential to understand the complexities of humanitarian and development financing and to effectively engage with institutional donors.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in the humanitarian or development sector. This experience should include working with institutional donors, either in a Head Office or field capacity. Candidates should have a proven track record in resource mobilization and business development, demonstrating their ability to engage effectively with donors and secure funding for humanitarian initiatives.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, both written and verbal. Proficiency in additional languages relevant to NRC's operational contexts may be considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's ability to engage with diverse stakeholders and donors.

Additional Notes:
The position is based in NRC’s Head Office in Oslo, with potential hosting in Representative Offices in Berlin or London, or possibly in another location upon negotiation. The contract duration is 2 years, with an expected travel requirement of approximately 10%. The salary will be determined based on NRC’s Resident salary scale, and the organization is committed to providing equal opportunities for all employees, promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace.