Partnership Manager

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Position Title: Partnership Manager
Location: Kampala
Country: Uganda
Deadline Date:

Job Details

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 staff members, NRC operates in 40 countries, providing life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of people each year. NRC's mission is to ensure that displaced individuals receive the support they need to rebuild their lives and regain their dignity. The organization is committed to a community-based approach, focusing on the most vulnerable populations, including refugees and host communities, and aims to scale up activities in hard-to-reach areas.

Job Overview:
The Partnership Manager position is crucial for leading the implementation of NRC Uganda’s Partnership Strategy, ensuring that it aligns with NRC’s vision, strategic objectives, and policies. This role encompasses overseeing the entire lifecycle of Project Implementation Agreements (PIAs), which includes conducting due diligence, capacity assessments, and compliance audits. The Partnership Manager is also responsible for fostering relationships with various stakeholders, including government entities, NGOs, civil society, and the private sector. The position requires enhancing partner capacity, integrating feedback for continuous improvement, and supporting grant applications and reporting in multi-partner collaborations. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of the local context and the ability to navigate complex humanitarian environments effectively.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Partnership Manager will have a diverse set of responsibilities, including:

• Developing and contextualizing a framework for strategic partnerships with various actors, including civil society organizations, academia, and the private sector.
• Leading the development of NRC Uganda’s Partnership Strategy and improving partnership Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) based on feedback and lessons learned.
• Identifying and assessing potential partners and building a network of key stakeholders while staying informed about social, economic, and political trends.
• Coordinating with other functions to apply NRC Uganda partnership SOPs throughout the project cycle.
• Conducting field visits to partner activities and providing coaching and mentoring.
• Collaborating with the grants unit to ensure donor requirements are met in PIAs and supporting negotiations for new projects.
• Providing technical support to partners on various operational aspects, including monitoring, evaluation, and compliance.
• Assessing partners' capacity development needs and facilitating learning events to share best practices.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, with a Master's degree being advantageous. A minimum of 4 years of senior-level experience in NGOs or international organizations is required, particularly in grants management or partnership-related roles. Candidates should have experience working in complex humanitarian contexts and with both international and local civil society organizations. Strong leadership skills, the ability to manage a diverse workload, and fluency in English (both written and verbal) are essential. Knowledge of the Uganda refugee context, cultural sensitivity, and familiarity with localization agendas are also desirable. Candidates should have excellent coordination, communication, and networking skills, along with advanced computer skills, particularly in MS Office applications.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Bachelor's degree in a relevant area. A Master's degree would be considered an advantage, indicating a higher level of expertise and understanding of the complexities involved in partnership management within humanitarian contexts.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 4 years of relevant senior-level experience, particularly in roles that involve leading grants management and partnership-related duties. Candidates should have a proven track record of successfully managing tasks and processes in complex humanitarian settings, demonstrating the ability to prioritize and handle a diverse workload effectively.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position, both in written and verbal communication. Knowledge of additional languages 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 based in Kampala, Uganda, under a national contract for a duration of 10 months, with the possibility of extension depending on funding availability. The role requires frequent travel to project sites. NRC offers a competitive salary and benefits package, and is committed to diversity and inclusion in its workforce. The organization encourages applications from qualified female candidates, refugees, and persons with disabilities.