What we are looking for:

NRC is searching for a seasoned and strategic Institutional Partnership Adviser to drive high-level engagement with institutional donors and build a strong, sustainable portfolio that fuels NRC’s resource mobilization and global influence. 

In this role, you will support NRC’s partnership engagement with the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and other potential development banks (50%); lead NRC’s partnership work with key UN operational agencies such as UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, IOM, and others (25%); and contribute to global policy and advocacy initiatives focused on addressing the system-wide funding gap (25%).

You will join the Institutional Partnership team within the NRC Geneva Representative Office, working closely with the Global Policy and Advocacy Section (PAS) under the Partnerships and Policy Department (PnP). PnP leads NRC’s global donor relations, sets the organization’s policy and advocacy agenda, and oversees public communications - providing vital support to NRC’s Regional, Country, and Representative Offices worldwide.

This is a remote role, open to candidates who have the right to live and work in Norway, Germany, the U.K., or potentially in another location upon negotiation. If based in Oslo, Berlin, or London, the candidate can be hosted in NRC’s Head Office (Oslo) or in one of NRC’s Representative Office (Berlin, London).

What you will do:

The IPA is NRC’s adviser for institutional donors and their relations with NRC:

• Supports NRC’s strategic engagement with the donor at the global, country and regional levels

• Analyses and shares information internally in NRC on the policies and priorities of the donor

• Establishes and maintains close relations with key staff in the donor HQ 

• Advises NRC colleagues on NRC’s relations with the donor, relevant funding opportunities, and compliance issues

• Maintains an overview of NRC’s past and present engagement with the donor

• Sets up, prepares, and participates in donor meetings 

• Maintains updated donor records

The IPA also assists with resource mobilisation:

• Tracks and shares information about new funding opportunities 

• Undertakes “donor mappings” as part of the annual Donor Trend Analysis and upon request from NRC country offices and departments 

• Undertakes prequalification or due diligence processes to access donor funding

• Manages relevant prioritisation processes for internally competing proposals 

The IPA provides help-desk support and capacity building on fundraising and donor rules:

• Ensures that information about donor conditions, rules, and regulations are updated and available to NRC staff to support compliance 

• Provides advice on donor priorities and requirements in proposals and reports 

• Provides advice on conditions and specific clauses in grant agreements, commercial contracts and consortia agreements 

• Facilitates and promotes learning and good practices related to the individual donors across the organisation

• Develops and delivers trainings on donor-related issues

The IPA networks and advocates for improved financing conditions and donor alignment with NRC’s priorities:

• Represents NRC in strategic partnership forums and other networks to influence donors to improve donor conditions and grant management approaches

• Advocates for and negotiates improved conditions with the donor, whenever relevant 

The IPA liaises with other NRC units on donor-related issues:

• Stays updated on NRC‘s priorities and funding needs

• Ensures that NRC’s donor relations are adequately reflected in external communication

• Establishes or participates in donor-specific internal working groups or other regular meeting points to facilitate sharing of information, capacity building, learning, etc.

The IPA periodically reviews strategic engagement to inform NRC’s longer-term plans:

• Explores NRC’s engagement with new partners to assess alignment of opportunities and recommend continued proactive engagement or reduced/reactive engagement

• Maps partnership opportunities with 'explore’ donors and tests engagements

• Re-evaluates NRC’s strategic donor engagements based on internal and external conditions

The IPA also supports policy and advocacy work related to the system-wide funding gap:

• Engages on global and institutional discussions around humanitarian financing reforms, including on multi-year, flexible, and predictable funding

• Provides donor intelligence and policy inputs to strengthen NRC’s global advocacy on improved financing for displacement and protracted crises

• Contributes to NRC’s analysis and positioning on how to bridge the gap between humanitarian and development financing in FCV contexts

• Contributes to NRC’s position related to the use of pooled funds, grant agents, and NGO-led crisis-response mechanisms

• Supports the development of NRC policy and advocacy products, talking points, and briefing materials related to donor financing trends and reforms

• Supports representation in relevant donor or inter-agency working groups on financing policy issues, sharing field evidence and lessons to inform global policy debates

Please download the detailed job description to learn more about the position. 

What you will bring:

• Advanced university degree or equivalent qualification

• High degree of knowledge and expertise in the humanitarian and development sectors, including on funding mechanisms, and humanitarian policy/advocacy work

• Minimum 5 years of experience from a humanitarian/development organisation and/or from a donor administration, either at Head Office/capital or field/embassy level 

• Professional experience with institutional donors on business development and resource mobilisation

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including negotiation skills

• Strong analytical and representation skills

• A conscientious and structured person with strong planning and administrative skills, including computer skills (MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint)

• Fluency in English, both written and verbal

• Expert knowledge of UN humanitarian agencies

• Knowledge of the World Bank and/or development bilaterals, including mandates, strategic priorities, organizational setups, and funding mechanisms 

• Extensive knowledge of NRC

What we offer:

• Duty station: NRC’s Head Office in Oslo, the Rep Offices in Berlin or London or potentially in another location upon negotiation. The ideal candidate would have the right to live and work from one of these countries. 

• Contract: 2 years.   

• Travel: 10%.

• Salary/benefits: Grade 8 on NRC’s Resident salary scale, with accompanying terms and conditions. 

• NRC is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability.

• We think outside the box, encourage ideas, and give responsibility to all employees at all levels. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative.

Find out more about the benefits of working for NRC

Important information about the application process

• For Internal candidates: To apply as an internal candidate, log in with your official email or click on Opportunity Market Place.

• When creating your profile, include your full name as given on your passport. Complete all the system-required fields for experience, employment history and education.

• Submit your application and CV in English, taking care to attach your latest CV.

• Applications that do not meet the minimum standards in terms of experience or qualifications will generally not be considered. Unsolicited applications not related to this specific job advertisement will not be considered.

• We receive many applications for each vacant position and so only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

If you have any questions about this role, please email ho.recruitment@nrc.no with the job title as the subject line.

Why NRC?

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. Our 15,000 staff work in crises across 40 countries, providing life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of people every year.

Watch this short video to see NRC in action.

We are looking for people who are passionate about helping refugees and people forced to flee. Are you one of those people? If you are, NRC offers you the opportunity to:

• do demanding and professional work, often in challenging contexts.

• join a work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility.

• be part of a welcoming and supportive community committed to human dignity.