Partnerships Manager

1. Purpose 

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 programme teams 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 

Senior Programme Development Manager

3. Organizational Relationship

Partnerships Officer (if applicable)

4. Specific Duties and Responsibilities 

JOB RESPONSIBILITY 1: Partnerships Strategy (20% of time)

• Lead the development of CARE Lebanon’s partnerships strategy
• 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.

JOB RESPONSIBILITY 2: Partnerships Establishment (30% of time)

• Assess and review the current partnership portfolio, with the aim of growing and diversifying it
• Update the existing partner mapping and explore new partnership opportunities
• Conduct the initial partnership assessment of potential partners alongside relevant colleagues from other departments, and validate findings with SMT.
• Provide the Senior PD Manager and the Director of Implementation with a Go/No Go recommendation
• Maintain and regularly update a database for all partners and potential partners.
• Lead the Decision-Making Committee and the Organizational Capacity Assessment.

JOB RESPONSIBILITY 3: Capacity Building (25% of time)

• Identify priority gaps in partner capacity (sectoral, programmatic and institutional), take the lead in the development of capacity building plans for the partners and ensure that those plans are effectively implemented and resourced (liaising with logistics, HR, finance, Technical Coordinators and programme staff)
• Contribute to the development of capacity development strategies and approaches for partners
• 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 teams on partnership management / communication

Responsibility #4: Partnership Evaluation and Closeout (20% of time)

• Analyze results of ongoing partnerships, remote management and results on the ground to produce lessons learnt and inform strategic decision‐making
• Develop phase out plans and Key Performance Indicators for partners

Job responsibility #5: Partner Information management (5% of time) 

• 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

Other : Other responsibilities & duties as required by 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, Livelihoods, and shelter
• Extensive knowledge in all aspects of programme cycle management and remote management/monitoring practices
• Extensive experience interacting with and relating to gender professionals and international stakeholders at senior level.
• Team player with strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong internal relationships and networks.
• Motivated self-starter who enjoys working in a collaborative and international environment

b. Experience: 

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 equivalent

1. Languages: English and/ or Arabic are the working language of CARE International in Lebanon.

1. 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 Save Guarding 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.