Senior Officer, Partnerships & Resource Development Syria (Based in Beirut)

Job purpose

Working closely with the Head of Country Office the Senior Officer Partnerships and Resource Development (PRD), Syria will ensure resources are available to support Syrian Arab Red Crescent as outlined in the Emergency Appeal for Syria (MDRSY003 Syria: Complex emergency) as well as in the 2020 Syria Operational Plan; will support research and development efforts including identification and cultivation of funding opportunities, building new partnerships, and contribute to the effective maintenance of strong and growing relations with existing donors, including through research and analysis, efficient reporting, pledge management, and relevant and timely information sharing.

Job duties and responsibilities
 

Partnerships and Relations Management
 

Establish and strengthen strategic partnerships across different income streams, including the following:

• Partner National Societies – with a Federation-wide approach, including multilateral and bilateral partners, and including those within the region.
• Government partnerships – in cooperation with respective partner National Societies; European Union including DG ECHO other EU institutions; private sector partnerships including global corporate partnerships and foundations in the region.
• Establish and maintain strong relations with key donors which include analysing key trends in individual donor policies and priorities and support the match between IFRC Syria priorities and donor priorities.
• Represent the Head of Country Office when delegated to do so in donors’ meetings and other relevant meetings with partners in Beirut.

Pledge and data management

• Ensure the management of all information/data related to partnerships/funding in Syria is kept fully up to date in accordance with MENA PRD practice.
• Ensure that all pledges are properly and timely registered and the same shared with the partners, pledge managers and relevant colleagues.
• Ensure that relevant updates in the Apple system are included, and pledges and grants reflecting agreed criteria are shared with donors and understood by relevant budget holders.
• Ensure that budget holders and Finance team are aware and receive information on MoUs and donor requirements in due course.
• In close cooperation with the budget, holders ensure that renegotiation of pledge requirements takes place on time as and when required.
• Ensure timely follow up on the pledge payment arrangements and follow up on any overdue pledge payments.
• Ensure that all prospect funding and hard pledges are duly registered on CRM.
• Support country office for amendments of grants and grants related contracts.

Resource Mobilisation
 

Resource mobilisation for the IFRC Syria Complex Emergency Appeal, including:

• Draft concept notes as needed to secure and cultivate opportunities with donors; work closely with technical and office leads to develop full proposals.
• Pledge management: ensure efficient processing of all pledges for the Appeal according to established guidelines/procedures.
• Grants management: working in cooperation with the MENA PRD team to ensure that all grants received through the IFRC secretariat for Syria are well managed.
• Donor reporting: working with PMER and Finance to ensure that all donor reports are prepared to quality standards, compliance and agreed donor conditions.
• Risk management: working closely with Finance to follow up on the grant implementation, identify risks and mitigation actions, and resolve any procedural or financial issues regarding grants.

Capacity Building

Provide advice and guidance as required to Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) officers to support SARC resource mobilisation and management efforts

Position Requirements
 

Experience of development and implementation of funding plans
Experience managing or using donor-related data to develop a fundraising strategy
Experience advocating/asking for funds for humanitarian and development programs
Experience of developing funding proposals for international donors, monitoring and reporting3 years relevant experience with the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement and knowledge of IFRC systems and processes in pledge management, planning, project proposals development, reporting systems and financial management-PPreferredreferred
 

Knowledge of and skills 

Expertise in proposal writing

Highly organised, with the ability to work as a strong team player

Excellent communications skills

Excellent networking and relationship building skills

Strong budgeting and financial management skills

Demonstrated skills in analytical and strategic thinking