Partnership Manager (PsM)

Position title:

Partnership Manager (PsM)

Department/Project/Country:

Development and Humanitarian Cooperation (DHC), Ukraine

Line manager:

Programme Manager (PM)

Responsible for line managing:

  National staff

Job purpose:

   The Partnership Manager (PsM) leads and strengthens engagement with civil society and other key stakeholders within the Development and Humanitarian Cooperation Locally Led Programme. This role ensures that partnerships are built, managed, and sustained in ways that enhance programme quality, accountability, and long-term impact.

  The PsM will focus on developing and implementing partnerships, cultivating relationships with existing and new partners, and ensuring that collaboration is inclusive, equitable, and aligned with the programme’s strategic goals. A central priority of the role is to empower local actors, foster meaningful participation, and promote locally led approaches that contribute to sustainable development, humanitarian response, and community resilience.

      The PsM assists the PM in the programme’s consolidation and growth in terms of partnerships and resources. As such, the PsM will work closely with the PM to develop and design timely, high-quality, and relevant concept notes, project proposals, and reports, covering both the financial and programmatic aspects.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Management

• Support the PM in the strategic planning, implementation, monitoring, and adaptation of the programme in line with organisational strategies and local priorities;
• Ensure programme design and delivery promote local leadership, community ownership, and alignment with humanitarian and development principles;
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and respectful team culture;
• Maintain awareness of the local and regional political, social, and economic context to ensure programme relevance and responsiveness;
• Lead coordination with community-based organisations, civil society, local government, and other stakeholders;
• As per the authority assigned by the PM, closely coordinate with all relevant stakeholders, local and national authorities and provide effective representation of NPA to donors and other relevant stakeholders.
• Standing in for the Programme Manager when required, ensuring continuity in leadership and external engagement.

Programme and thematic responsibilities

• Ensure participatory approaches are embedded in programme design, implementation, and evaluation;
• Build, maintain, and expand strategic partnerships that support programme delivery and long-term impact;
• Assist in development and maintenance of the programme document hierarchy, including, but not limited to, proposals, reports and annual plans (for internal management, implementation and monitoring) and Standard Operating Procedures;
• Ensure that partners are implementing projects in accordance with overall plans, Standard Operating Procedures, Humanitarian Principles and Do no Harm approach;
• Contribute to the development of tools, methodologies, and capacity-building initiatives that strengthen local partner leadership;
• Monitor programme performance and identify opportunities for learning, adaptation, and innovation.

Grant and donor management

• Develop detailed knowledge and understanding of all existing donors and projects;
• Assist the PM in resource mobilisation, including donor strategies and fundraising, and drafting of all proposals and reports.

Policy, advocacy and relevance

• Actively engage on NPA advocacy with national authorities, donor community and all relevant stakeholders to promote NPA values and foster change in the sector, in line with organisational and HO guidelines;
• Promote locally led development and humanitarian action principles;
• Advocate for inclusive and sustainable practices with partners, donors, and government stakeholders.
• Provide leadership and oversight in partnership management practices, offering technical guidance and mentoring to colleagues.

Safety and security

• Contribute to safety and security policies and procedures that protect staff, partners, and assets;
• Ensure transparent communication, resource alignment, and shared accountability across partnerships.
• Promote a culture of safeguarding and ethical conduct.

Competence and qualifications:

Required:

• Minimum two years’ experience at senior position level in development and/or humanitarian programmes, preferably in locally led or partnership-based initiatives;
• Minimum Master's degree in a relevant field;
• Strong track record in programme strategy, implementation, monitoring, and learning;
• Experience in capacity strengthening of local partners and fostering equitable partnerships;
• Proven ability to manage diverse teams and partners;
• Strong relationship-building skills with community actors, civil society, donors, and authorities;
• Knowledge of donor requirements and funding mechanisms as well as understanding of relevant institutional donors (NMFA, CDCS, GFFO, EU, FCDO, etc.);
• Understanding of, and commitment to, humanitarian and capacity development principles;
• Written and spoken proficiency in English;
• Good literacy, numeracy and IT skills.

Desirable:

• Experience in post-crisis recovery, resilience building, or locally led humanitarian response;
• Understanding of relevant national and development contexts of the programme;
• Previous work experience with local CSO’s is an advantage.

Personal Competencies:

• Commitment to locally led development and humanitarian principles;
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and negotiation skills;
• Strong organisational and problem-solving abilities;
• Demonstrated adaptability and ability to work in dynamic environments;
• Strategic thinker with a collaborative approach;.
• Strong writing skills to write strategy, proposals, business plans, budgets and reports;
• Innovative, creative and proactive with an analytical and solution-oriented approach;
• Ability to meet deadlines and work calmly under pressure;
• Self-motivated, flexible and enthusiastic approach to work;
• Ability to represent and promote NPA at a senior level;
• Ability to work independently and operate alone.

About the Recruitment Process

We work continuously for more diversity and inclusion throughout Norwegian People's Aid. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply.  

Please note, that only applications submitted through our career site will be considered. Applications and resumes sent via e-mail will not be reviewed.

We kindly ask you to carefully read NPA’s Code of Conduct, Safeguarding Policy and Anti-Corruption Policy, before you submit your application. If you are the selected candidate for this position, you will be asked to complete and sign a Safeguarding self-declaration as well as our Code of Conduct. All policies related to ethics can be found on our website.

We look forward to hearing from you!