Partnerships Manager - Generic Posting

1. Purpose

CARE is a leading relief and development non-governmental organization fighting global poverty. Established in 1946, it is now a confederation composed of 14 members and 4 affiliates. In 2016, CARE worked in 84 countries around the world, supporting development and humanitarian aid projects to reach more than 83 million people. While CARE is a large international organization with more than 11,000 employees worldwide, we have a strong local presence: 95% of our staff are nationals of the countries where our programs are run.

The Partnerships Manager will lead the development of CARE Lebanon’s partnership strategy and its operationalization. The Partnerships Manager will support the mapping and identification of new partnership opportunities, contribute to the assessment of partners’ organizational capacities, facilitate relevant capacity strengthening support, and provide ongoing support to the partner organization throughout the project cycle.  S/he will work with Program Department and the Grants Management Unit to ensure that partner agreements are in place and donor/CARE requirements complied with by the partner organizations.

2. Reporting Lines

Director of Program Development and Innovation

3. Organizational Relationship

Partnerships Officer (if applicable)

4. Specific Duties and Responsibilities

JOB RESPONSIBILITY 1: Partnerships Strategy (15% of time)

- Lead the development and implementation of CARE Lebanon’s partnerships strategy involving identified strategic partners (Local, International, and private sector partners).

- Ensure that the roll out of partnership‐related initiatives are adequately budgeted for.

- Facilitate appropriate technical input to the development of country strategy plans, functional review and other planning documents focused on issues related to partnerships.

- Conduct a partnerships workshop for CARE staff on key partnership standards and principles.

- Coordinate and schedule introductory meetings with different strategic partners.

- Maintaining partnership relations

JOB RESPONSIBILITY 2: Partnerships Establishment (35% of time)

- Assess and review the current partnership portfolio, with the aim of growing and diversifying it.

- Follow up the systematic launch of calls for Expression of Interest so to ensure a fair and transparent partner’s selection process, update the existing partner mapping and explore new partnership opportunities.

- Conduct the partnership committee selection (incl. program, finance, logs reps) to propose new partnerships opportunities, and conduct partners' assessment/due diligence and validate proposed membership with SMT.

- Participate in proposal development: coordinating with partners and completing the partnership sections within the proposal.

- Analyze opportunities and categorize potential partners into strategic and implementing partners and validate findings with SMT.

- Ensure high collaboration with Compliance Unit at CARE.

JOB RESPONSIBILITY 3: Collaborative Learning (25% of time)

- Identify priority gaps in partner capacity (sectoral, programmatic and institutional), take the lead in the development of Collaborative Learning plans for the partners and CARE and ensure that those plans are effectively implemented and resourced (liaising with logistics, HR, finance, technical Coordinators and program staff).

- Contribute to the development of Collaborative Learning strategies and approaches for partners and CARE.

- Develop simple self‐assessment tools for some of the partners to help them monitor their own capacity.

- Design and deliver training workshops when applicable.

- Build the capacities of field and support teams on partnership management / communication.

- Adapt and simplify the Organizational Capacity Assessment and Organizational Capacity Development Tools

JOB RESPONSIBILITY 4: Partnership Evaluation and Closeout (10% of time)

- Analyze results of ongoing partnerships, remote management and impact on the ground to produce lessons learnt and inform strategic decision‐making.

- Develop phase out plans and Key Performance Indicators for partners.

- Coordinate at the end of each project a partnership evaluation

JOB RESPONSIBILITY 5: Partner Information Management (15% of time)

- Maintain full partner contact database.

- Refinement and regular update of partner database including definition of key information to be tracked (e.g. key issues/agreements).

- Maintain partnership files as per CARE requirements, including documentation related to partner identification, selection, capacity assessment, capacity development, review meetings, etc. (All documentation relating to partnership, excluding documentation relating to specific projects).

- Regularly update SMT on key changes in partner structure, portfolio, programming and any other key information that senior management should be aware of.

- Capture lessons learned from experiences with potential and actual partners to inform the ongoing refinement of CARE’s approach to working with partners and strengthening civil society.

Other tasks:

- In case of emergencies, the Partnerships Manager will be the Focal Point to ensure Emergency activities are conducted with the appropriate partners, selected through the Emergency Selection Process, in line with the ERT requirements, participating in the quality and impact of the activities.

- Other responsibilities & duties as required by the Line Manager.

5. Qualifications / special skills or knowledge

a. Skills & knowledge:

• Experience in both emergency and development contexts, preferably with solid experience in partnership-based programming and with background in one or more of CIL’s priority sectors: Protection, GBV, Livelihoods, Food Security and Shelter.

• Extensive knowledge in all aspects of Project Cycle Management, Partnership Management, Project Coordination, Donor/NGO/Private Sector Engagement.

• Extensive experience interacting with and relating to professionals and international stakeholders at senior level.

• Team player with strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong internal and external relationships and networks.

• Motivated self-starter who enjoys working in a collaborative and international environment.

b. Experience:

Examples: languages; planning; budgeting; word-processing, basic accounting; advanced written communications; presentations; fundraising; training/facilitation, etc.

At least  3-5  years of relevant experience, especially at NGOs, academic organizations, standard-setting bodies, public agencies focused on development and humanitarian programming in the Middle East

c. Academic background:

Master’s degree in one or several of the following areas: business management, public policy, social sciences or any relevant field, or relevant bachelor’s degree with at least two to three additional years of experience in relevant field.

d. Languages: English and/ or Arabic are the working language of CARE International in Lebanon. Knowledge of other languages is an asset.

6. Other contract elements

Benefits: Social security/Health Insurance & Transport allowance.

The direct supervisor reserves the right to adapt this job description at any time during employment according to needs.

Any extension of this contract is dependent on performance review and budget availability.

PSEA and Safeguarding Child policy

CARE International in Lebanon is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

CARE International in Lebanon and its employees and stakeholders abide by the CARE International Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and Child Safeguarding Policies.