Partnership specialist

Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for a highly qualified Partnership Specialist. 

About the job 

Under the direct line management of the Head of Programs, the Partnership Specialist will be based in the DRC coordination office in Tunisia and will support the implementation of DRC’s partnership strategy across Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya.  

The Partnership Specialist will serve as the primary technical focal point for communication with existing partners and those under assessment. The Partnership Specialist will be responsible for tracking the progress of partner-implemented activities, monitoring the evolution of partner capacity and plans, and coordinating the provision of technical and operational support in collaboration with relevant technical and support service teams. 

Your main duties and responsibilities will be: 

1. Context Analysis and Strategic Engagement   

• Contribute to developing the strategy of intervention/expansion of DRC Activities in ALT (Algeria, Tunisia and Libya)   

• In close collaboration with the Partnership Coordinator, support external engagement efforts by contributing to the presentation of partnership strategies and tools to stakeholders, ensuring alignment with organisational goals and partner expectations.  

• Monitor daily the evolution of the humanitarian context at the zonal, national and regional levels.  

• Contribute to the mapping of potential partnership opportunities in response to evolving protection dynamics, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities.  

• In coordination with the Area Managers, Partnership Coordinator, Team Leaders and sector leads, identify and assess new partnership opportunities with both international and local actors, contributing to the strategic expansion and quality of DRC’s partnership portfolio in the region.  

• Maintain a light-touch network of contextual information sources, including local partners, civil society actors, and relevant coordination platforms, to stay informed on key developments.  

• Alert the Line Manager promptly about significant protection or security events that may impact current or future partnership operations.  

• Provide regular input to weekly context updates or reports, offering relevant insights and analysis from a partnership perspective.  

2. Technical Protection Support  

• In collaboration with the Protection Manager and Protection specialist, lead the monitoring of activities and support the capacity-development process of partners and liaise with all internal departments to ensure effective follow-up on the capacity-building plan.  

• In close coordination with the Protection manager, provide technical guidance on protection-related topics to partners and internal teams, ensuring the quality and relevance of protection interventions   

• In close coordination with the Protection specialist and the protection manager, ensure the application of minimum protection standards in partners' protection activities.   

• Contribute to strengthening referral mechanisms by developing and maintaining relationships with relevant humanitarian actors.  

• Coordinate and participate in capacity building with partners in coordination with the protection specialist and in line with the capacity development plan  

3. Operational Support and Representation   

• Participate in the organisation of field visits for visitors/partners under the supervision of the Line Manager and in line with DRC principles & image.  

• Attend external coordination meetings related to activities implemented in the given area of intervention upon request and whenever available.  

• Ensure the general presentation of DRC activities in ALT, upon the request of your line manager.  

4. Partnership Management  

• Track the progress of partner-implemented activities, ensuring alignment with objectives and targets through regular field visits.  

• Properly manage and support DRC’s partnership process from the assessment stage through to the closure of ongoing partnerships, in collaboration with relevant technical focal points.  

• Participate in partnership reviews, SGA revisions/amendments, and the preparation of partnership closure reports.  

• When relevant, support the Partnership Coordinator in raising PRs, initiating HR requests, and monitoring budget consumption for agreed SGA lines.  

• Collaborate with the Area/Program Manager to update partners’ procurement plans and identify operational needs (e.g., procurement, recruitment, or activity scale adjustments).  

• Liaise with support service teams (Logistics, HR, Finance) to address any operational issues of partners requiring DRC intervention.  

• Participate in the regular mapping of humanitarian actors operating in the same areas of intervention, identifying both current and potential future partners.  

• Maintain and regularly update the partnership contact list and ensure proper archiving of all partnership-related documentation in line with DRC procedures.  

• Participate in strategy revision processes by contributing inputs and supporting the tracking of the partnership roadmap and its implementation.  

• Report bi-weekly or monthly to the Protection Manager on the progress of partner activities, highlighting implementation challenges and providing recommendations to improve project quality.  

• Report any compliance concerns, irregularities, or incidents observed in the field that may require further investigation by DRC  

Note that this job description must remain flexible, to respond to additional tasks or changes as identified by the line manager 

About you 

To be successful in this role, we expect you to have at least 3 years’ experience in the field of working for international or national humanitarian organisations in complex mixed migration settings, in the area of protection. 

Moreover, we also expect the following:  

• Excellent technical knowledge of protection standards and principles and demonstrated capacity in capacity building including training and supervision in protection  

• Previous experience working with NGO Protection team is compulsory (5 years minimum of following Protection activities) 

• Knowledge of project cycle management and tools is an asset 

• Previous working experience in Libya, Tunisia or Algeria is compulsory  

• Previous working experience with DRC is a strong asset  

• Proven networking experience 

• Ability to properly communicate with different kinds of audiences (partners, authorities, humanitarian stakeholders, etc.) 

• Ability to work flexibly in a diverse team  

• The capacity to collect information and analyse it 

• Motivated, dynamic, able and willing to take initiative 

• Time and work management abilities, as well as autonomy 

• Willing to travel (including to those considered as hardship duty stations) with at least 70-80% of their working time 

• Commitment to integrate gender, conflict sensitivity and accountability into programming 

• Demonstrate ability in thinking creatively and practically to improve the quality of programming and achieve greater impact 

• Fluency in written and spoken English  

• Fluency in French and Arabic 

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’s five core competencies:   

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.   
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.   
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.   
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.   
• Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. 

We offer 

• Contract length: 12 Months  
• Band: NMG2 
• Designation of Duty Station: Tunisia  
• Start date: 1st November 2025 

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for national employees; please refer to our website. For questions regarding the vacancy, please contact sonia.turki@drc.ngo. 

Application process 

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. Applications sent by email will not be considered. 

Closing date for applications: 22 August 2025  

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo.