Partnerships Coordinator

Job Posting Organization:
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a global humanitarian organization established in 1946, dedicated to helping people forced to flee their homes due to conflict and crises. With a presence in around 31 countries and approximately 14,000 staff members, NRC employs a rights-based approach to uphold the rights of displaced individuals as outlined in national and international laws. The organization is committed to principles of humanity, neutrality, independence, and impartiality, striving to secure acceptance from local stakeholders for its activities. NRC engages with various actors to promote respect for the rights of vulnerable populations, ensure access for humanitarian operations, and work towards durable solutions for those affected by crises. NRC Geneva leads the organization's representation with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and UN agencies, coordinating donor engagement with Swiss and UN donors. The organization emphasizes safeguarding and has a zero-tolerance policy against exploitation and abuse, ensuring a safe environment for all stakeholders involved.

Job Overview:
The Partnerships Coordinator plays a crucial role in managing partnerships and enhancing the capacity of partners at the Country Office level, while also coordinating with Area Offices as necessary. This position requires close collaboration with Specialists, Area Programme Managers, Project Managers, and Finance teams to ensure effective partnership management. The Coordinator is responsible for keeping partners informed about donor compliance regulations, reporting deadlines, and NRC procedures, while also facilitating capacity sharing. This role is essential for achieving quality programming through effective partnerships, ensuring that all partners adhere to NRC policies and guidelines. The Coordinator will also represent NRC as the main point of contact for partners, ensuring timely communication and support for compliance with NRC and donor requirements. The position involves a significant amount of administrative work, including maintaining project documentation and tracking partner projects, as well as leading efforts to strengthen NRC's voice in localization and strategic partnerships discourse.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Partnerships Coordinator will have a wide range of duties and responsibilities, including but not limited to:

• Ensuring adherence to NRC policies, handbooks, guidelines, and donor requirements.
• Supporting the overview and maintenance of projects implemented with partners at the country office level, including providing helpdesk support on compliance issues.
• Maintaining relationships with a variety of partners and identifying local civil society groups for potential collaboration.
• Acting as the main focal point for partnerships-related issues at the country level, ensuring consistent communication between partners and NRC.
• Supporting the mainstreaming of safe and inclusive programming (SIP) into projects and activities.
• Providing timely and context-specific information to stakeholders.
• Coordinating the development of new partnerships and managing existing ones, including input into NRC Ethiopia’s overall strategy.
• Acting as the focal point for contracting and sub-granting issues.
• Coordinating organizational assessments and due diligence on potential partners. 1
• Ensuring that all key project and partnership documents are filed and maintained according to NRC’s systems. 1
• Leading the mapping of local potential partners and maintaining relations with existing partners. 1
• Monitoring partner compliance with NRC and donor requirements. 1
• Leading needs assessments for training and partner organizational development. 1
• Coordinating capacity strengthening efforts with NRC technical leads and external consultants. 1
• Performing any other tasks as delegated by the line manager.

Required Qualifications:
The ideal candidate for the Partnerships Coordinator position should possess the following qualifications:

• A university degree combined with relevant professional experience in humanitarian, recovery, human rights, or development contexts.
• A minimum of 3-5 years of experience in managing and implementing programs in humanitarian settings.
• A solid understanding of humanitarian principles and the ability to work independently and proactively.
• Strong prioritization skills to manage multiple competing deadlines effectively.
• Excellent networking, coordination, training, and facilitation skills.
• Proven results related to partnership relations, management, and coordination.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with fluency in English and Amharic.
• Excellent attention to detail, organizational skills, and discretion with confidential information.
• Previous experience in complex and volatile contexts is an asset, as well as a background in NRC thematic areas such as ICLA, Shelter, LFS, Protection, and Education.

Educational Background:
Candidates must have a university degree relevant to the position, ideally in fields related to humanitarian work, social sciences, or international development. This educational background should be complemented by practical experience in similar roles, demonstrating a solid understanding of the challenges and requirements of working in humanitarian contexts.

Experience:
The position requires 3-5 years of experience in working within humanitarian, recovery, human rights, or development contexts. Candidates should have a proven track record of managing and implementing programs effectively in these settings, showcasing their ability to navigate complex environments and deliver results under pressure. Experience in partnership management and coordination is particularly valuable, as is familiarity with donor compliance and reporting requirements.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Amharic is mandatory for this position, both in written and verbal communication. Additional language skills may be considered an asset, particularly if they are relevant to the local context or the populations served by NRC.

Additional Notes:
This position is full-time and based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The role may involve some travel to Area Offices and other locations as needed. NRC is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in its workforce and encourages applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds. The organization offers a supportive culture and opportunities for professional growth, with a focus on fostering innovative teams. Compensation and benefits will be discussed during the recruitment process.