CARE International in Jordan Hiring for Partnerships Specialist at Amman, Jordan Full Time

CARE International seeks a world of hope, tolerance, and social justice, where poverty has been overcome and all people live with dignity and security. In Jordan, CARE will be recognized for its commitment to the

humanitarian protection and empowerment of communities especially women and girls, where rights are secured, and human potential fulfilled for all.

The purpose of this role is to support and promote the partnership approach in CARE-Jordan (“CARE”). The focus will initially be on 1) To expand and extend CARE’s ability to implement high quality programs with partners; and 2) Identification, assessment and due diligence processing of new partners. Specifically, the Program Manager will take a lead role in guiding the evolution of CARE’s programming approach from direct service delivery to working primarily through partners for direct service delivery to program participants. The Partnership Specialist will contribute to CARE’s programming principles and chosen approach to work with a wide range of partners from the public and private sectors and civil society.

The Partnership Specialist, with oversight and collaboration from/with the ACD – Programs, Business Development and Grants Manager, and Program Management Operations Manager (PMO), will lead a collaborative process to develop a Partnership Strategy, implement partnership review recommendations and contribute to strong internal processes, particularly partnership due diligence processes, to manage day to day tasks related to sub-granting to, collaborating with, and supervising partners and the quality of partners’ activities. The Partnership Specialist will work closely with the program teams, finance department, procurement, and program support units to elevate CARE’s partnership approach to a more strategic level and will directly engage partners to integrate their priorities, perspectives, and needs. Gender equality and accountability are core themes that should be embedded throughout all strategies, approaches, and procedures.

The Partnership Specialist will collaborate with partners and all departments to determine capacity development needs for partners, design/contextualize capacitation plans and other means to enhance partner efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability. The Partnership Specialist will support the implementation of formal and informal training by working with CARE’s Technical Specialists to design and deliver core training, ensuring the quality of coaching efforts and developing capacity development coordination mechanisms. Innovative and wide-ranging capacity development tools should be encouraged, to meet the varying needs of partners within CARE’s capabilities. 
 
The position requires superior knowledge of CARE programming principles, the contextual civil society environment, and an ability to identify partner skill strengths and weaknesses. Strong organisational development and training skills are required, as well as the ability to lead a collaborative framework development process and develop strong internal mechanisms that meet the needs of partners, CARE and other stakeholders. 

JOB RESPONSIBILITY 1: Identify, assess, and nurture potential partners; initiate/contribute to partnerships due diligence processes and support the Partner Decision Making Committee.                  ( 25% )

• In collaboration with the ACD-Programs and the Business Development and Grants Manager refine the mapping of potential partners, based upon CARE’s programmatic strategic direction and priorities. 
• Support the identification of new partners to meet program needs, and the assessment of their suitability to work with CARE. Assessments will include the analysis of mutual values, principles, governance, structure, operational capacities, contextual understanding, accountability, and management systems. In close coordination with the Partner Decision Making Committee, support the selection of RE’s new partners.
• Identify, assess, and engage potential partners for specific proposals and/or concept papers. Support the inclusion of partnership considerations in project design, proposal preparation and donor reporting, with an emphasis on promoting equal partnership, inclusive project design, identifying appropriate partners, strong capacity building and sufficient budgets.
• Continuously reach out to potential partners, assess their current capacities using CARE’s organizational capacity assessment tools to identity gaps in capacities, and if proven to be viable partners for CARE, initiate the required due diligence processes, in alignment with CARE Jordan’s specific requirements (such as those stated in CARE strategic program or partnership objectives) and Jordanian law. execute Memoranda of Understanding, (MoUs), Pre-Teaming Agreements and Teaming Agreements.
• Continuously update and maintain mapping of partners’ and potential partners’ geographical and sectoral coverage based on ongoing information-collection.

JOB RESPONSIBILITY 2: Develop an accountable partnership approach for CARE grounded in the country office and program strategies, the civil society environment and partner perspectives.               ( 25% )

• In collaboration with the ACD-Programs, Business Development and Grants Manager and PMO, strongly contribute to the development of a Partnerships Strategy s to ensure CARE Jordan’s approach to partnership is accurately reflected in all aspects, such as the situational analysis, the internal discussions, the final document, and the implementation plan. In collaboration with the program, finance, program support and program quality teams and with partners, outline a partnership approach that meets the long-term needs of the country office, and that includes strategic partnership procedures. It should include contextual analysis; goal and objectives; strategic partners and potential partners; monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning mechanisms; financial implications; implementation approaches; capacity building approaches; and risks and a risk management plan. Gender equality considerations need to be embedded throughout the strategy.
• Ensure full understanding and endorsement of the Partnerships Strategy and any associated procedures by CARE staff, partner staff and other relevant stakeholders.
• Develop deliberate accountability mechanisms for partners, including (but not limited to) project design participation protocols; communication standards; management, review, and monitoring protocols; partner feedback questionnaires; case studies; feedback and complaints mechanism; and partner information sharing tools.
• Develop and maintain coordination mechanisms for non-implementing partners, across the program and program support teams.

JOB RESPONSIBILITY 3: Develop effective, efficient, compliant, and reasonable mechanisms and protocols for the daily management of partnerships.                   ( 15% )

• In close collaboration with program, finance, program support and program quality teams, , prepare high quality standard operating procedures (SOPs) for pre-award, start-up, implementation, and close-out phases of sub-awards with partners. The SOPs should outline all related procedures, including associated tools, accountability mechanisms, M&E approaches, and detail roles and responsibilities. Where relevant, partners must be consulted, and challenges related to the operating environment should be considered.
• Train CARE and partner staff on the SOPs and support their implementation and periodic reviews. Contribute to resolving SOP-related disputes and taking corrective action.
• Develop strong due diligence mechanisms as a matter of urgency and undertake a review of existing partners. Lead due diligence with new partners and re-assessments, in coordination with key technical staff.
• Establish strong risk mitigation measures for all high-risk partners, in line with CARE requirements and in collaboration with the CARE program, finance and program support teams, considering the limitations relating to the operating environment.

JOB RESPONSIBILITY 4: Develop the capacity of partners to better work together with CARE and meet their organizational needs and goals.                ( 15% )

• Building on CARE’s existing experience and tools, develop innovative capacity development coordination, assessment, and planning mechanisms for strategic and non-strategic partners, which results in learning by both CARE and the partners. 
• Support the development of capacity development plans for strategic and non-strategic partners, based on assessed needs, due diligence, and risk mitigation actions. Take account of the operating environment, partner priorities and challenges, and develop innovative mechanisms to overcome these.
• Enhance and coordinate standardized project inception workshops for partners, in collaboration with, and taking account of the needs of, program, program quality, program support (which includes finance, procurement and admin).
• Coordinate with different teams (as required) to develop and deliver training in line with capacity development plans, in subjects such as gender equality, monitoring and evaluation, safeguarding, GBV risk mitigation and Core Humanitarian Principles (where applicable). 
• Serve as primary focal point between CARE and implementing partners for non-technical discussions.
• Participate in review meetings with partners, with particular attention given to the relationship aspects of partnership collaboration.
• Establish links and build relationships with organizational capacity development providers in and outside Jordan including consulting firms, NGO support centers and universities. 

JOB RESPONSIBILITY 5: In line with the SOPs, develop and maintain appropriate tools and mechanisms to identify, assess, track actions, and enhance sub-awards and partners.           ( 15% )

• In collaboration with the program and finance teams, facilitate tracking of partner management tasks, including awards, monitoring, reports, and close-out, using mechanisms that contribute to coordination of partner-related activities between program teams.
• Capture and disseminate lessons learned from experiences with potential and actual partners to inform the ongoing refinement of CARE’s approach to collaborating with partners and strengthening civil society.
• 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.
• Design timely, audit appropriate, and complete electronic and hard copy sub-award files, with program and finance teams, which will be readily available to all involved staff.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES AS ASSIGNED      ( 5% )

• Qualifications/Education/Training : 

  Required: Bachelor’s degree in development, social science, or public health, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
   Desired: MA/MSc. in development, social sciences, or related fields. 

• Experience/Technical Skills: 

​      Required:  • • At least five years as a development/humanitarian professional; at least two years in a senior position.
• At least two years of experience managing relationships with implementing partners.
• Experience of gender sensitive and empowerment approaches.
• Experience working with sub-grant management and partnership approaches in humanitarian and development environments.
• Experience with organizational assessment and development.
• Experience coordinating and delivering training.
 mitigation, due diligence, monitoring, and system tracking.
• Experience of incorporating gender equality, safeguarding and accountability approaches.
• Excellent communication and writing skills.
• Strong networking capability.
• Strong facilitation skills, including the design and management of effective training, workshops, and meetings with diverse participants.
• Sensitivity to cultural differences and the ability to work effectively across a wide variety of cultural contexts.
• Ability to develop capacity building frameworks and work plans.
• Fluency in English and Arabic.
• Detail-orientated.
• Organization and time-management skills.
• Ability to identify challenges and proactively apply solutions.

     Desired: • Five to ten years’ experience in non-profit organization(s) with experience in complex emergency environments.
• Proven skills in partnership building, influencing and negotiation with a range of humanitarian actors, including governments, UN agencies, academic institutions, networks, national/local NGOs, and community groups. 
• Experience with accountability mechanisms.
• Sound understanding of the concepts behind and practical application of humanitarian codes and standards such as SPHERE, the Core Humanitarian Standard and IASC PSEA commitments.
• Proven experience in establishing monitoring and evaluation systems and methodologies with partners.
• Skills and experience training staff to train others in core competencies.
• Experience implementing accountability mechanisms with partners.
• Experience with donor compliance concerns and applicable international accounting standards

Applications can be submitted until 17th January 2024, via the below link after that interviews will start for selected applicants.