Job ID
46005
Job Title
Partnership Officer
To work for
International Rescue Committee
Country
Syria
City
Rakka
Field of Work
Administrative
Job Type
Full time
Military service
Not Specified
Minimum Education Level
Bachelor/ License Degree
Responsibilities
Background/Context:
The IRC has operated in Syria since 2012, providing protection, health, economic recovery, and early childhood development programs in Idleb, Aleppo, Ar-Raqqa, Hassakeh, and Deir ez-Zor, with new programs expanding into Hama, rural Damascus, and Homs. With a team of 350 members, the IRC has established trust and strong community relationships, ensuring access and effective service delivery. It plays a significant role in Syria’s NGO, donor, and coordination forums, holding key positions and adapting to the evolving context.
Our longstanding experience in the country to date provides a strong foundation for the IRC to further adapt and expand its programming across Syria, in order to respond to the new realities, with a greater focus on resilience and recovery initiatives. Alongside this, the IRC also plays a significant role in Syria’s NGO, donor, and coordination forums, holding key positions and actively engaging in advocacy efforts, adapting to the evolving context.
Job overview:
The Partnerships Officer plays a crucial role in supporting the International Rescue Committee's partnership efforts in Syria. Working closely with the Partnership team based in Syria, the Partnerships Officer will be responsible for developing and maintaining strong relationships with local partners on the ground, capacity sharing initiatives, and ensuring effective coordination and collaboration with IRC’s partners. The officer will assist and contribute to the overall success of IRC's programs through effective partnership management and support.
Responsibilities:
Follow IRC’s Partnership Excellence for Equality and Results System (PEERS) that sets out efficient and responsive processes, delineates clear roles and responsibilities, and articulates IRC’s strategic approach to partnerships. Assist the partnership team for quality sub-award management, including sub-award start-up, sub-award implementation monitoring, capacity sharing, and appropriate sub-award close-out.
Partnership Facilitation:
• Assist in identifying, assessing, and developing potential partnerships with local national NGOs.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with partners, ensuring regular communication and collaboration on the ground.
• Monitor partner performance, provide technical support and guidance through the partnership team as needed, and address any partnership-related issues or challenges.
• Support the team to develop stakeholder analysis and update on a regular basis.
• Lead the pre-award due diligence process with respect to all sub-awards, including through appropriate vetting, analysis of risks associated with the award, and the identification and implementation of appropriate measures to manage those risks, working with other departments as appropriate.
• Draft sub-award agreements and follow the IRC internal review process of all sub-award documentation, and coordinate to get all necessary approvals.
• Assist in monitoring the project activities, including visits to partner organizations, to ensure that project activities are implemented in accordance with the work plan and budget.
• Develop agenda and materials for grant opening meetings, in coordination with support functions and program staff, to ensure projects start with clear expectations of both parties. Brief sub-award partners on agreements, as well as IRC’s and prime donors’ rules and regulations, in coordination with the Senior Partnership Finance Manager.
• Assist the partnership team to draft and follow up on the partners' agreement with coordination with all internal relevant units and completing the OTIS flow.
• Record the IRC’s internal Partnership Working Group meeting minutes, and follow up on the action points with relevant assigned team members.
Partner Support and Capacity Sharing
• Lead in organizing and conducting PCM meetings with partners, ensuring inputs from program, finance, and compliance staff are received and included, meeting minutes taken, filed, and disseminated to Program Coordinators and partners. Follow up on the implementation of action points agreed upon during these meetings. Prepare close-out letters and ensure that all requirements of the sub-award agreement have been met and that sub-award funds have been properly settled.
• Conduct monitoring visits and coordinate support for partners to address any concerns or issues that may arise. Ensure response and support plans are implemented.
• Conduct capacity assessments of partners.
• Assist in organizing training sessions, workshops, and mentorship programs to enhance partners' organizational and programmatic capabilities.
• Provide assistance for technical support and guidance to partners, sharing best practices and ensuring adherence to IRC and donor requirements.
Documentation and Reporting:
• Maintain partner files, including filing all appropriate communication and maintaining the Sub-Award Tracker, capturing all requirements throughout the sub-award life cycle (such as scheduled payments, partner deliverables, and special requirements).
• Record the meetings with current and potential partners, share with relevant colleagues, and store in the IRC system for future use.
• Create a monthly progress report, share with the Partnership team, record the agreed action points, and follow up with assigned team members.
• Assist the partnership team in working with the partnered project responsible and other partnership staff to review monthly/quarterly internal reports and support the drafting and compilation of partner reports into overall donor reports.
The IRC has operated in Syria since 2012, providing protection, health, economic recovery, and early childhood development programs in Idleb, Aleppo, Ar-Raqqa, Hassakeh, and Deir ez-Zor, with new programs expanding into Hama, rural Damascus, and Homs. With a team of 350 members, the IRC has established trust and strong community relationships, ensuring access and effective service delivery. It plays a significant role in Syria’s NGO, donor, and coordination forums, holding key positions and adapting to the evolving context.
Our longstanding experience in the country to date provides a strong foundation for the IRC to further adapt and expand its programming across Syria, in order to respond to the new realities, with a greater focus on resilience and recovery initiatives. Alongside this, the IRC also plays a significant role in Syria’s NGO, donor, and coordination forums, holding key positions and actively engaging in advocacy efforts, adapting to the evolving context.
Job overview:
The Partnerships Officer plays a crucial role in supporting the International Rescue Committee's partnership efforts in Syria. Working closely with the Partnership team based in Syria, the Partnerships Officer will be responsible for developing and maintaining strong relationships with local partners on the ground, capacity sharing initiatives, and ensuring effective coordination and collaboration with IRC’s partners. The officer will assist and contribute to the overall success of IRC's programs through effective partnership management and support.
Responsibilities:
Follow IRC’s Partnership Excellence for Equality and Results System (PEERS) that sets out efficient and responsive processes, delineates clear roles and responsibilities, and articulates IRC’s strategic approach to partnerships. Assist the partnership team for quality sub-award management, including sub-award start-up, sub-award implementation monitoring, capacity sharing, and appropriate sub-award close-out.
Partnership Facilitation:
• Assist in identifying, assessing, and developing potential partnerships with local national NGOs.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with partners, ensuring regular communication and collaboration on the ground.
• Monitor partner performance, provide technical support and guidance through the partnership team as needed, and address any partnership-related issues or challenges.
• Support the team to develop stakeholder analysis and update on a regular basis.
• Lead the pre-award due diligence process with respect to all sub-awards, including through appropriate vetting, analysis of risks associated with the award, and the identification and implementation of appropriate measures to manage those risks, working with other departments as appropriate.
• Draft sub-award agreements and follow the IRC internal review process of all sub-award documentation, and coordinate to get all necessary approvals.
• Assist in monitoring the project activities, including visits to partner organizations, to ensure that project activities are implemented in accordance with the work plan and budget.
• Develop agenda and materials for grant opening meetings, in coordination with support functions and program staff, to ensure projects start with clear expectations of both parties. Brief sub-award partners on agreements, as well as IRC’s and prime donors’ rules and regulations, in coordination with the Senior Partnership Finance Manager.
• Assist the partnership team to draft and follow up on the partners' agreement with coordination with all internal relevant units and completing the OTIS flow.
• Record the IRC’s internal Partnership Working Group meeting minutes, and follow up on the action points with relevant assigned team members.
Partner Support and Capacity Sharing
• Lead in organizing and conducting PCM meetings with partners, ensuring inputs from program, finance, and compliance staff are received and included, meeting minutes taken, filed, and disseminated to Program Coordinators and partners. Follow up on the implementation of action points agreed upon during these meetings. Prepare close-out letters and ensure that all requirements of the sub-award agreement have been met and that sub-award funds have been properly settled.
• Conduct monitoring visits and coordinate support for partners to address any concerns or issues that may arise. Ensure response and support plans are implemented.
• Conduct capacity assessments of partners.
• Assist in organizing training sessions, workshops, and mentorship programs to enhance partners' organizational and programmatic capabilities.
• Provide assistance for technical support and guidance to partners, sharing best practices and ensuring adherence to IRC and donor requirements.
Documentation and Reporting:
• Maintain partner files, including filing all appropriate communication and maintaining the Sub-Award Tracker, capturing all requirements throughout the sub-award life cycle (such as scheduled payments, partner deliverables, and special requirements).
• Record the meetings with current and potential partners, share with relevant colleagues, and store in the IRC system for future use.
• Create a monthly progress report, share with the Partnership team, record the agreed action points, and follow up with assigned team members.
• Assist the partnership team in working with the partnered project responsible and other partnership staff to review monthly/quarterly internal reports and support the drafting and compilation of partner reports into overall donor reports.
Qualifications
Education & Work Experience:
• At least bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as international development, business administration, or social sciences, or equivalent years of experience.
• At least 3 years of progressively demonstrated experience working with NGO/ INGO in grants management or partnership or program management.
• At least 2 years’ experience in working with ECHO, GFFO, BMZ, FCDO-funded projects is a plus.
• Experience in developing partnership proposals and conducting partner capacity assessments.
Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:
• A commitment to IRC’s mission, vision, values, and IRC Way – Professional Code of Conduct.
• Strong understanding of stakeholder analysis and partner mapping techniques.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a team and with partners from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities under tight deadlines.
• Credible written, presentation, and verbal communication skills.
• Validated sense of professional discretion, integrity, and ability to handle complex situations diplomatically and to achieve effective resolution.
• Validated ability to plan long-term, organize priorities, and work under administrative and programmatic pressures with detail orientation and professional patience.
• Highly collaborative and resourceful; ability to establish positive working relationships with senior-level management and all other partners to maximize cooperation and productivity.
• Curiosity, a desire to continually learn and develop, is a must.
• Analytical ability in creating effective solutions to complex matters.
Language/Travel:
• Fluency in Arabic and English required.
• Travel: 30% to field sites
Key Working Relationships:
Position Reports to: Partnership Manager
Position directly supervises: N/A
Indirect Reporting: Partnership Coordinator
Key Internal Contacts: IRC Program Teams
Key External Contacts: Partners
• At least bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as international development, business administration, or social sciences, or equivalent years of experience.
• At least 3 years of progressively demonstrated experience working with NGO/ INGO in grants management or partnership or program management.
• At least 2 years’ experience in working with ECHO, GFFO, BMZ, FCDO-funded projects is a plus.
• Experience in developing partnership proposals and conducting partner capacity assessments.
Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:
• A commitment to IRC’s mission, vision, values, and IRC Way – Professional Code of Conduct.
• Strong understanding of stakeholder analysis and partner mapping techniques.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a team and with partners from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities under tight deadlines.
• Credible written, presentation, and verbal communication skills.
• Validated sense of professional discretion, integrity, and ability to handle complex situations diplomatically and to achieve effective resolution.
• Validated ability to plan long-term, organize priorities, and work under administrative and programmatic pressures with detail orientation and professional patience.
• Highly collaborative and resourceful; ability to establish positive working relationships with senior-level management and all other partners to maximize cooperation and productivity.
• Curiosity, a desire to continually learn and develop, is a must.
• Analytical ability in creating effective solutions to complex matters.
Language/Travel:
• Fluency in Arabic and English required.
• Travel: 30% to field sites
Key Working Relationships:
Position Reports to: Partnership Manager
Position directly supervises: N/A
Indirect Reporting: Partnership Coordinator
Key Internal Contacts: IRC Program Teams
Key External Contacts: Partners
Specific Vacancy Requirements
https://rescue.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/59503?c=rescue
Salary and Benefits
IRC salary scale
About us
The IRC has operated in Syria since 2012, providing protection, health, economic recovery, and early childhood development programs in Idleb, Aleppo, Ar-Raqqa, Hassakeh, and Deir ez-Zor, with new programs expanding into Hama, rural Damascus, and Homs. With a team of over 700 members, the IRC has established trust and strong community relationships, ensuring access and effective service delivery. It plays a significant role in Syria’s NGO, donor, and coordination forums, holding key positions and adapting to the evolving context.
With the new realities under the new government, as of December 2024, the IRC has deployed a team to Damascus to set up operations and engage in coordination structures for newly accessible areas across Syria—including parts of NES, NWS, and other previously unreachable locations in South and Central Syria, adjusting operations to maximize coverage and efficiency.
Healthcare
Since 2012, the IRC has provided comprehensive primary and secondary healthcare through hospitals, clinics, and mobile medical units (MMUs). Ensuring access to vital services like sexual and reproductive health, clinical psychosocial support, and other specialized care. Working alongside our partners, we’ve helped secure a steady supply of medicines and medical equipment into the country, trained healthcare providers, and deployed health personnel to maintain services in even the most challenging conditions.
Protection
The IRC has been delivering protection programs in the northwest since 2013 and in the northeast of Syria since 2014, focusing on Protection/Rule of Law (PRoL), Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE), and Child Protection (CP). These efforts include specialized case management, PSS, protection monitoring, service mapping, and advocacy. Collaborating with partners, IRC improves access to protection services, raises community awareness, and strengthens referral pathways. Protection capacity building, community outreach, and rapid response through mobile protection teams have also been provided since 2017.
Economic Recovery and Development (ERD)
IRC has over 10 years of experience in Syria implementing cash, agriculture, and livelihoods programming, and was one of the first organizations to use cash transfers, supporting vulnerable communities with MPCT since 2014 in the northwest, and 2015 in the northeast.
Early Childhood Development (ECD)
The IRC, in partnership with Sesame Workshop, is implementing the 'Ahlan Simsim' program to provide early learning and nurturing care to children and caregivers affected by conflict and displacement across the Middle East. Our goal is to create inclusive environments where all children, regardless of their background, can reach their full potential, especially in communities that have experienced the brunt of the conflict.
With the new realities under the new government, as of December 2024, the IRC has deployed a team to Damascus to set up operations and engage in coordination structures for newly accessible areas across Syria—including parts of NES, NWS, and other previously unreachable locations in South and Central Syria, adjusting operations to maximize coverage and efficiency.
Healthcare
Since 2012, the IRC has provided comprehensive primary and secondary healthcare through hospitals, clinics, and mobile medical units (MMUs). Ensuring access to vital services like sexual and reproductive health, clinical psychosocial support, and other specialized care. Working alongside our partners, we’ve helped secure a steady supply of medicines and medical equipment into the country, trained healthcare providers, and deployed health personnel to maintain services in even the most challenging conditions.
Protection
The IRC has been delivering protection programs in the northwest since 2013 and in the northeast of Syria since 2014, focusing on Protection/Rule of Law (PRoL), Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE), and Child Protection (CP). These efforts include specialized case management, PSS, protection monitoring, service mapping, and advocacy. Collaborating with partners, IRC improves access to protection services, raises community awareness, and strengthens referral pathways. Protection capacity building, community outreach, and rapid response through mobile protection teams have also been provided since 2017.
Economic Recovery and Development (ERD)
IRC has over 10 years of experience in Syria implementing cash, agriculture, and livelihoods programming, and was one of the first organizations to use cash transfers, supporting vulnerable communities with MPCT since 2014 in the northwest, and 2015 in the northeast.
Early Childhood Development (ECD)
The IRC, in partnership with Sesame Workshop, is implementing the 'Ahlan Simsim' program to provide early learning and nurturing care to children and caregivers affected by conflict and displacement across the Middle East. Our goal is to create inclusive environments where all children, regardless of their background, can reach their full potential, especially in communities that have experienced the brunt of the conflict.
Required employees number
1
Posted On
Dec 22, 2025
Expiry Date
Jan 06, 2026
CV Language
English
