Partnership Technical Officer Jordan Amman Country Office

All NRC employees are expected to work in accordance with the organization’s values. To be dedicated, innovative, inclusive and accountable are attitudes and beliefs that shall guide our actions and relationships. 

Background

NRC Jordan is looking for a dynamic individual to work as the Partnership Technical Officer. This role requires a diverse set of skills including information gathering, an understanding of NRC’s current programming activities, and an ability to understand the developing context and space for local actors in Jordan. Ability to share knowledge and identify innovative ways of providing support to NRC partners. The successful candidate will be a strong networker with the ability to explain and share knowledge with a wide range of local actors and stakeholders.

1. Role and responsibilities

The Partnership Technical Officer works closely with the Grants unit, Core Competency Specialists, Programme and Support teams to achieve high quality and compliant programming among NRC partners in Jordan, through effective sub‐grants management and due diligence. The Partnership Technical Officer will support building a strong partnership portfolio with local actors in Jordan, support Programme team to monitor the activities of sub‐awards and ensure compliance with NRC’s Partnership Guidelines and Toolkit and relevant Codes of Conduct.

Generic responsibilities 

1. Ensure compliance with NRC policies, guidelines and standards.
2. Ensure compliance with Partnership handbook, guidelines and standards.
3. Partnership specific technical responsibility for implementation of technical activities of CC projects with partners.
4. Ensure proper documentation of partner activities.  
5. Provide specific technical support and capacity building towards project and partner staff
6. Assess, promote and document ideas for technical improvement and further partners development options.
7. Monitor and document the implementation of project activities done by implementing partners and/or contractors (plan of action activities, contracts, financial expenditures and project documentation).
8. Ensure quality control and provide technical support to implementing partners. 
9. Promote the rights of IDPs/returnees in line with the advocacy strategy.

Specific responsibilities 

Funding identification and Proposal Development 

1. In coordination with the Grants Manager and Core Competency Specialist, lead the coordination with respective partners throughout the proposal design and development process following the grant process workflow.
2. Work closely with finance and other NRC partner focal points to ensure that the partner budgets are aligned to the donor requirements.
3. Identify and communicate relevant funding opportunities and new calls for proposals for local actor.

Donor Reporting and Project Cycle Management (PCM)

1. Ensure the adherence of the intervention with NRC’s project cycle management approach.
2. Coordinate/organise the partner’s reporting schedule as per the Project Implementation Agreement (PIA) and ensure consistency of reporting. 
3. Focal point for all partner reporting as per the contractual reporting schedule and coordinate internally with respective core competencies units the feedback on submitted reports from partners for review, and share the feedback with partners. 
4. Schedule, organise and record PCM meetings with Partners in compliance with NRC’s PCM framework and in coordination with respective CC units. Review and ensure all mandatory documents are in place as per NRC’s Jordan PCM Standard Operating Procedures.
5. Maintain partner files, including filing all appropriate communication and maintaining the Partnership Tracker, assembling all requirements throughout the sub award lifecycle (such as scheduled payments, partner results, and special requirements).
6. Ensure the administrative management of sub-grants/partners documents by maintaining a standarised information management/filing systems. 

Due Diligence Assessments and Partner Agreements 

1. Support NRC’s due diligence assessment when and as required for existing and new partners.
2. Support programme teams in their organisational assessments of implementing partners as per NRC’s grants management procedures and relevant donor regulations
3. Ensure all key implementing partner documents such as signed project implementation agreements and modification requests- are filed under respective grant folders. 
4. Lead in collaboration with the relevant programme team the development of Partner Agreements and modifications such as PIAs, Amendments/Modifications, Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs), Consortium Agreements..etc. 
5. Supervise or directly draft partnership agreements and/or contractual documents required for the signature and implementation of new projects.
6. Provide technical support to partners, particularly on PIA management issues, and financial management and compliance.
7. Advice on the type of partnership agreement/contractual modality that better suits each specific request for partnership.

Capacity Assessments and Capacity Development

1. Lead with the support of Specialists and other relevant NRC departments the capacity assessment of partners and the design of capacity development plans.
2. Oversee, follow-up and monitor the implementation of capacity-building activities aiming at ensuring smooth implementation of the partnership agreements, but also at supporting the overall development of the partner in the areas of development identified in the Organisational Assessment Tool of implementing partners.
3. Ensure that NRC partnership tools, systems and capacity building of local partners, based on Lessons Learnt and feedback, are regularly shared with NRC Jordan staff, and act as help desk for partnership management issues.

Coordination

1. Support field teams in their engagement with implementing partners as per NRC’s Grants Management procedures and relevant donor regulations.
2. Build a network of key partners and stakeholders, staying informed on evolving trends and fostering innovation in partnership and project development.
3. Maintain effective coordination with the programme colleagues on partner’s programme activities.
4. Contribute to the mapping of national and local NGOs, Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), and civil society actors outlining partner capacity, influence, and alignment with NRC programming, and analyse ongoing partnerships to produce lessons learned for strategic decision-making.
5. Developing effective relations and communications with all partners, and supporting the Core Competency Specialists in establishing and strengthening partnership systems and processes that are contextually relevant to Jordan to ensure smooth implementation of project activities.
6. Support the Grants Manager and CC specialists as necessary, including representation and attendance at meetings as required, and coordination with teams to follow up on agreed action points.
7. Visit area offices to support with capacity building of staff and roll-out of Partnerships processes.
8. Regularly map partners in the relevant Area office following NRC partnership guidelines and sector best practices.

Critical interfaces

By interfaces, NRC means processes and projects that are interlinked with other departments/units or persons. Relevant interfaces for this position: 

• Grants Manager
• Head of Programmes
• Core Competency Specialists
• Area Managers
• Project Managers and Coordinators
• Grants Coordinator
• Government Liaison Coordinator
• Finance Department
• Monitoring and Evaluation Department
• Support unit (Logistics, HR, ICT, Compliance. Etc.)
• Regional Partnership Advisor 

1. Competencies 

Competencies are important in order for the employee and the organisation to deliver desired results. Competencies are relevant for all staff and are divided into the following categories:

1. Professional competencies 

Generic professional competencies: 

• University degree in relevant discipline
• Between 3-5 years of relevant experience within field of expertise
• Relevant experience from the project management in the humanitarian sector
• Experience in working and coordinating with a wide range of partners and stakeholders including INGO, LNGO, CBOs, Private Sector and Government institutions in Jordan. 
• Good understanding of donor rules and regulations 
• Skills and experience in report and proposal writing
• Strong Communication, Coordination and interpersonal skills
• Fluency in English and Arabic, both written and verbal 

Context related skills, knowledge and experience: 

• Knowledge of the context in Jordan
• Strong Organisational and team working skills
• Good cultural awareness and sensitivity
• Ability to work under pressure, independently and with limited supervision
• Knowledge of the NGO operations and the dynamics of the humanitarian sector
• Above average computer skills, particularly in Microsoft Windows Word and Excel

2. Behavioural competencies (max 6)

These are personal qualities that influence how successful people are in their job. NRC’s Competency Framework states 12 behavioural competencies, and the following are essential for this position:

• Planning and delivering results
• Working with people
• Communicating with impact and respect
• Managing resources to optimize results
• Influencing
• Handling insecure environments