Senior Officer , Strategic Engagement and Partnerships SEP for Syria Delegation (Lebanese national contract)

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-member National Societies. The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

Job Purpose

The Senior Officer SEP will report to the Head of Delegation for Syria with a strong dotted line to the MENA Head of Strategic Engagement and Partnerships and work with various stakeholders to support and represent the IFRC Delegation. S/he will also take charge of developing and managing strategic partnerships and have grant management responsibilities. The post holder will be responsible for coordinating and leading on resource mobilization efforts inclusive of the Syria Earthquake Emergency Appeal and any other emergency and non-emergency operations within the country. The position is based in Beirut with occasional travel to Syria not to exceed 20% of the time commitment per month when and if required. 20% of the post holder time will be allocated to the regional partnerships portfolio as and when needed.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead Strategic Engagement and Partnership Development
• Undertake donor landscape analysis, mapping funding opportunities, funding cycles, timelines resulting in a comprehensive list of institutional donors, and identifying partners of strategic relevance to the IFRC.
• Contribute to the development of a Resource Mobilization Strategy for the Emergency Appeal and the IFRC Syria Delegation, including creating and maintaining a mechanism to track down new funding possibilities from institutional partners on a regular basis and disseminate, as needed.
• Prepare for and participate in donor consultations.
• In close coordination with the regional SEP team, support relations with Institutional partners, including: Regional and global development banks, specialized funds and corporate donors, governments and government aid agencies, UN agencies, the European Commission. 
• Represent the IFRC in discussions, events, and consultations with Institutional partners.
• Prepare briefing materials, talking points, and reports for high-level meetings and other strategic fora, and offer top management of the IFRC important strategic advice and assistance.
• Work across teams to develop customized collaboration proposals for institutional partners (including International Financial Institutions and other multilateral partners)
• Work in close collaboration with Regional SEP colleagues to develop strategic partnerships that extend beyond Syria leveraging the experience of IFRC Syria where appropriate (20% of the post holder time).
• Support the Syrian Arab Red Crescent engagement with important institutional partners.
• Identifying and maximising strategic income streams

Operational Planning

• Support annual operational planning, monitoring, and reporting,
• Support, assist and counsel in the development and improvement of operational and strategic programme conceptualization in all programmatic areas, including of theories of change.
• Ensure strong links with other Movement components and organize Movement coordination meetings for programme implementation and programme improvements.
• Capacity Building of National Red Cross Societies
• Harness, develop and direct expertise and know-how to apply it effectively to develop the fundraising and resource mobilization capacities of national red cross societies, working in close liaison with relevant colleagues.

Grant management and Proposal Development

• Track and record all grants, donor specifications, deadlines. Etc. making sure that regular updates are received and communicated as needed.
• Monitor and evaluate grant performance and impact, and provide regular feedback and recommendations to internal and external stakeholders:
• Work closely with the Regional Office and the SEP Team to ensure that concept notes, applications, and reports are of high quality and submitted on schedule.
• Monitor closely the implementation rate of pledges received, on time delivery of narrative and financial reports.
• Ensuring timely and accurate contract and pledge processing, validation, and extension.
• Work with the Communications Department to ensure that partners are given the proper amount of visibility in IFRC publications, on the website, in the media, and online.
• Identify opportunities from various sources to access new funds, and coordinate advocacy efforts for improving the possibilities of IFRC to access the funding.
• Write and submit high-quality grant proposals in compliance with donor requirements and deadlines.
• Coordinate and collaborate with internal teams to ensure alignment of grant objectives and activities with organizational goals and strategies.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with current and potential donors, partners, and other relevant actors in the field of resource mobilization.

Contribute to an effective, high quality IFRC team

• Assist the Syria Senior Management Team by providing regular updates on the fundraising results in relation to the goals and perform a regular risk analysis.
• Cooperate closely and create synergies with individuals from the SEP team in Beirut.
• Actively collaborate with other key IFRC Secretariat departments (such as audit, legal, finance, PMER (planning and Monitoring), procurement and others) to enhance and develop the tools needed to enter new partnerships.
• Actively work towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat’s goals.
• Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles.
• Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager.

Education

• Degree in International Development, Marketing International Relations, Law or other relevant fields or a professional qualification in resource mobilization. - Required

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of experience managing partner and resource development relations in a context of humanitarian and/or development programmes with an international organization. - Required
• Experience working with institutional donors to aid in humanitarian and development causes; experience in donor relations and grants management. – Required
• Experience in the creation of reports and proposals as well as dealing with a variety of donors. - Required
• Occasional travel to Syria not to exceed 20% of the time commitment per month when and if required. – Required
• Previous experience with the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement (IFRC, ICRC, NS). – Preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Experience in identifying and articulating strategic issues, risks and priorities that need to be brought to the attention of senior management. – Required
• Track record in producing high quality work within short deadlines and ability to make effective, timely decisions. – Required
• High degree of discretion, act, and sensitivity in dealing with internal and external donors and stakeholders at all levels. – Required
• Ability to work within a multi-cultural, multilingual, multidisciplinary environment. – Required
• Must be comfortable using Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and conducting desk research. – Required
• Highly organised with ability to manage multiple tasks in a result focused manner. – Required
• Fluently spoken and written English and Arabic. – Required
• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish). – Preferred.

Competencies, Values and Comments

Values:

• Respect for diversity.
• Integrity
• Profeessionalism
• Accountability

Core competencies:

• Collaboration and teamwork.
• Judgement and decision making.
• National society and customer relations.
• Creativity and innovation.
• Building trust

Functional competencies:

• Strategic orientation.
• Building alliances.
• Empowering others.

IFRC provides equal employment opportunities.