Partnership Manager

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 worldwide, providing life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of individuals each year. The organization is committed to defending the rights of refugees and internally displaced persons, ensuring that they receive the support they need to rebuild their lives. NRC is recognized for its high-quality aid and innovative approaches to humanitarian challenges, making it a leader in the sector.

Job Overview:
The Partnership Manager position is a critical role within NRC's Syria Response Office, focusing on developing and implementing a strategic approach to partnerships with local actors. The successful candidate will be responsible for championing localization efforts and ensuring that all staff understand and adhere to the organization's partnership policies. This role involves guiding the identification and selection of new partners, overseeing the contracting process, and monitoring the effectiveness of these partnerships. The Partnership Manager will also facilitate capacity development discussions with partners and ensure their involvement in NRC's annual strategy process, fostering a collaborative and equitable partnership environment.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Contribute to a harmonized partnership approach between NRC's programmatic response and its partners, ensuring alignment with NRC's partnership policies and procedures.
• Support mapping efforts to identify potential partners conducted by Area Offices and the Country Office.
• Ensure partners adhere to NRC policies, tools, handbooks, and guidelines, providing compliance support through spot-checks and audits.
• Supervise the management of the full cycle of Project Implementation Agreements (PIA) with local partners, including Due Diligence (DD) and Organizational Capacity Assessments (OAT).
• Liaise and coordinate with other functions within the country office, region, and head office to address interdependencies.
• Lead the development, adaptation, and implementation of the NRC Syria Partnership Strategy.
• Foster a positive organizational culture that emphasizes collaboration with local partners.
• Collaborate with the grants unit to ensure donor requirements are reflected in PIAs and modification requests.
• Assess partners' priority needs regarding capacity development and provide necessary support.

Required Qualifications:

• A Bachelor's degree in a relevant field is required; a Master's degree is advantageous.
• A minimum of 4 years of relevant senior-level experience with NGOs or international organizations, particularly in partnership-related roles.
• Experience working in complex humanitarian contexts is essential.
• Proven experience collaborating with (inter)national and local civil society organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead tasks and processes effectively while managing a diverse workload.
• Strong knowledge of leadership skills and personal leadership profile.
• Fluency in both English and Arabic, with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Familiarity with the Syrian context is considered an added value.
• Good cultural awareness and sensitivity are crucial for this role.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess at least a Bachelor's degree in a relevant area, with a Master's degree being an advantageous qualification. The educational background should align with the responsibilities of managing partnerships and understanding the complexities of humanitarian work.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 4 years of relevant senior-level experience, particularly in roles that involve leading partnership-related duties. Candidates should have experience working in complex humanitarian contexts and a proven track record of successfully managing tasks and processes in such environments. Experience with both international and local civil society organizations is essential, as is the ability to prioritize and manage a diverse workload effectively.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Arabic is mandatory for this position, both in written and verbal communication. Knowledge of additional languages may be considered beneficial but is not explicitly required.

Additional Notes:
The contract duration for this position is 12 months, with the salary and benefits determined according to NRC's salary scale and terms and conditions. The duty station for this role is Damascus, Syria. Internal candidates are highly encouraged to apply, and the organization is also open to external applicants who demonstrate a commitment to NRC's mission. It is important to note that NRC may review applications before the advertised deadline, so early applications are encouraged. The organization emphasizes a supportive culture, professional growth, and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.