Partnership Manager

The purpose of this role is to support and promote the partnership approach in CARE’s Program. This includes advising on and facilitating specific partnership processes, as well as institutional development, with a focus on expanding CARE’s ability to implement programs through partners.  The partnership manager will contribute to fulfilling CARE’s strategic priority of providing support to the development of Civil Society. The Partnership manager will lead on the identification of potential new partners, coordinate the selection of new partners according to CARE policy and procedures, lead on partner capacity development, and support CARE’s own organisational development as we continue to strengthen our own partnership processes, create deeper and more strategic partnerships, and work towards becoming a ‘partner of choice’ for local and national NGOs.  The position requires strong relationship management skills, experience in humanitarian programming, a good knowledge of the contextual operating environment, and experience with capacity assessment and capacity building.  Detailed Responsibilities & Tasks: Job Responsibility #1:  Partner identification and selection Identify potential new implementing partners for the CARE Program. Conduct and document initial discussions with potential partners to assess their strategic suitability as implementing partners for CARE’s Program, triangulating information between multiple sources. Chair CARE’s internal Decision Making Committee, which makes decisions on the go-no-go process for due diligence on potential new partners and the selection of implementing partners for specific grants.  Coordinate organizational capacity assessments (which include financial, governance, programmatic, gender, security and other aspects) for all potential and current partners, working closely with the Grants and Contracts Manger on the due diligence aspects.  Job Responsibility #2:  Coordination of partner capacity building Work closely with partners to develop organizational development plans for each partner, based on the organizational capacity assessment and tailored to each partner’s long-term strategic priorities (as well as the needs of the specific project). Coordinate, monitor and document the implementation of organizational development plans, with support from program managers and program support heads. Work with program and program support staff to ensure informal capacity building (such as coaching and mentoring) provided to each partner is adequately documented. Establish links and build relationships with organizational capacity development providers in and outside Lebanon including consulting firms and NGO support centers. Develop a ‘resource kit’ for capacity building (training resources, guidelines, etc) Work with program teams to identify and assist in the recruitment of technical specialists to build partner capacity, where appropriate. Direct capacity building where appropriate, including training and mentoring approaches. Facilitate 6 monthly reviews of partner capacity building plans to ensure they are appropriate and tailored to partner needs. Job responsibility #3: Monitor, support and strengthen CARE’s partnerships, with a particular focus on partner relationships Support the development and socialisation of partnership principles for CARE program. Coordinate quarterly partnership review meetings for each partner, with particular attention given to the relationship aspects of partnership collaboration and the partnership principles. Organise informal monthly lunches and/or other opportunities for CARE and partner staff to get to know each-other and strengthen relationships. Act as a focal point for partners to raise any concerns/complaints they have about the partnership with CARE, and set up a way for partners to share feedback anonymously, if appropriate.  Make relevant contributions to the settlement of partner disputes and the management and close-out of suspected or confirmed mismanagement cases and subsequent partnership termination if/when relevant Conduct regular meetings internally with CARE program and program support staff and with partners to discuss the challenges, development and other major things that are affecting the partner. Identify challenges that are common across multiple partners (such as on-time reporting), and coordinate with the program and program support teams as appropriate to develop effective solutions/action plans.  Work with program and program support teams to ensure that communication between CARE and partners is clear and issues are solved in a timely manner. Support the PQ Coordinator to periodically review partnership strategies, approaches and tools. Job responsibility #4: Work towards becoming a ‘partner of choice’ for national and local NGOs Roll out a scorecard system for implementing partners to regularly rate CARE’s performance as a partner Develop, implement and monitor an action plan based on internal and external scorecard exercises Support PQ Coordinator in harmonizing partnership approaches with Jordan and Turkey teams Develop MoUs with key strategic partners, as part of a commitment to longer-term partnerships. Facilitate greater partner participation where possible throughout the project cycle, particularly in project design, as well as in other CARE activities (such as strategy development). Where appropriate, advocate internally for partner interests and requests, such as duty of care policies and streamlined reporting processes. Identify and facilitate opportunities for CARE to act as a ‘door opener’ and link partners to coordination forums, donors, advocacy opportunities, etc. Liaise with CARE media, communications and advocacy staff to ensure CARE’s advocacy work highlights partner priorities where possible, and partner organizations are promoted in CARE’s media and communications  work (where partners have requested this and security considerations allow).  Job responsibility #5: Information management  Maintaining full partner contact database Refinement and regular update of partner database including definition of key information to be tracked (e.g. key issues/agreements) Maintaining 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 Job Responsibility #6:  Emergency Response / Staff Security (5% of time)          Take a lead role in facilitating timely, quality administrative support function delivery in the time of emergency response Guides and supports management on staff security concerns Ensure security operational guidelines well established for the CO and field offices following CARE USA Security Guidelines, and all staff are aware (in coordination with the area manager)  Competencies Respect - Behaving in a manner that reflects a true belief in and appreciation for the dignity and potential of all human beings. Gaining other people’s confidence and setting an environment of trust and openness. Integrity - Maintaining social, ethical, and organizational norms; firmly adhering to codes of conduct and ethical principles inherent to CARE. Commitment to Service – this competency is woven throughout all aspects of the employee’s performance. Excellence - Setting high standards of performance for self and/or others; assuming responsibility and accountability for successfully completing assignments or tasks; self-imposing standards of excellence rather than having standards imposed; ensuring interactions and transactions are ethical and convey integrity. Diversity - Promoting, valuing, respecting and fully benefiting from each individual’s unique qualities, background, race, culture, age, gender, disability, values, lifestyle, perspectives or interests; creating and maintaining a work environment that promotes diversity. Facilitating Change Building Relations across Work Units Communicating with Impact Planning and Organizing Innovation