HEAD OF PARTNERSHIP UNIT

Purpose of the post

The Head of Partnership Unit guides ICRC on increasing humanitarian impact through working in partnership with National Societies and the International Federation.

Building on ICRC’s and partners experience and general good practice, the Head of Unit leads a team that guides, facilitates and supports the implementation of a collective vision to reach more people in need by better partnering. This includes overseeing the adjustment or development of appropriate working practices, tools and strategies. Thematically and closely related, the Head of Partnership oversees ICRC’s work on ‘Safer Access’ and National Society Development’ including the new joint ‘National Society Investment Alliance’.

Reporting to the Deputy Head of Movement division, he/she closely connects with all relevant divisions in house and works hand in hand with the Movement Operations, SMCC Head of Project, the policy advisor and other relevant colleagues in the division.

Main duties and responsibilities

• As a member of the extended management team, the file holder is the key driver on ICRC partnerships, providing vision and direction on ICRCs partnership with National Societies
• Leads the partnership team to work transversally in Headquarters and in close collaboration with relevant colleagues in the field, who feel empowered and supported in guiding and implementing ICRC partnerships
• Strategically guides and accompanies the development of new, innovative partnership initiatives, and oversees the partnership advisors to assist relevant stakeholders in their partnership endeavors
• Together with colleagues in the partnership unit creates a more enabling environment and promotes and supports the development of clear decision making mechanisms and easy-accessible guidance for establishing and managing partnerships between ICRC and NS
• Works closely with colleagues responsible for planning, monitoring and data collection to generate evidence based decision making on partnerships
• Manages a team of 5 thematic advisors including those working on Safer Access, Health Care in Danger, and National Society Development topics such as the National Society Investment Alliance managed jointly with the Federation, as well as two Partnership Advisors; in guiding and overseeing their work, particular attention is paid to

- Promoting multi-year investment in National Societies’ capacity to respond to humanitarian needs (NS development)

- Strategically overseeing and guiding smooth and inclusive collaboration on the ICRC/IFRC National Society Investment Alliance

- Advocating for the allocation of resources within ICRC and the Movement to boost implementation of the ‘Safer Access Framework’ , and ensuring smooth collaboration with SCMS especially in strengthening ONS security management capacity

- Ensuring ICRC’s Rapid Deployment mechanism strategically builds on National Society capacities

• Links closely with the REM and other divisions that are developing external and mixed (ICRC-NS-external) partnerships, to learn from such initiatives but also to connect as necessary the operational with financial aspects of partnerships (business approach) and ensure best possible overall coherence when partnering with NS.
• Ensures a qualitative knowledge and information management related to operational partnerships with NS to proactively draw and learn from relevant external partnership initiatives;
• Guides the team in collecting and promoting best practice and learning from ICRC partnership experiences and adjusts guidance/support accordingly

Education and experience required

• Minimum of 8 years of experience working in the Movement (ICRC, Federation, National Society)  in developing and implementing partnership approaches, including a minimum of 2 years of working experience for the ICRC.
• Headquarters and field experience, with redline experience being an asset.
• Team Management and/or strong coordination experience is required.
• Strategy and policy development.
• Managing in complex environments involving multiple stakeholders with diverging interests.
• Excellent written and spoken English. French an asset.

Desired profile and skills

• Strategic thinker with a good sense of pragmatism.
• Inclusive team manager.
• Good communicator with excellent listening and interpersonal skills.
• Customer oriented.

Additional information

• Location :                          Geneva
• Type of contract :              Open-ended
• Activity rate :                     100%
• Length of assignment :     4 years, extendable
• Estimated start date :        ASAP
• Application deadline :    Sunday, 29th April 2018