INTERSOS is an independent humanitarian organization that assists the victims of natural disasters, armed conflicts and exclusion. Its activities are based on the principles of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equality of rights and opportunities, respect for diversity and coexistence, paying special attention to the most vulnerable people.
Terms of reference
Job Title: Partnership Operations Specialist
Code: 00-9719
Duty station: Home-based, with frequent field missions (up to 60%)
Starting date: 01/03/2025
Contract duration: 4 months (renewable)
Reporting to: Localisation Advisor
Functional Supervisor: Deputy Finance Director
Type of Duty Station: Non-family duty station
General context of the project
INTERSOS wants to assist and support the affected communities, leaving them the leading role in their healing and empowerment process. For this reason, it is essential to recognize local actors’ unique identities, shapes, and needs, ensuring collaborations able to enhance both partners’ skills. The localization strategy employed by INTERSOS adheres to principles of equality and complementarity, with the ultimate aim of strengthening collective capacity to address the needs of affected populations. As part of its global work around localisation, INTERSOS is willing to improve its internal ability to systematically support local actors, from everyday implementation challenges to organisational empowerment. The Partnership Operation Specialist would play a key role in this process.
General purpose of the position
INTERSOS is seeking a dedicated and experienced Partnership Operations Specialist (POS) to join our team at INTERSOS HQ. This position will play a pivotal role in supporting our field missions in effectively managing all operational aspects related to partnerships, including administration, finance, logistics, and human resources. The Partnership Operations Specialist will be instrumental in developing tools for monitoring and capacity strengthening, conducting field missions to support the implementation of new systems and best practices, and ensuring the overall success of our partnership operations.
The POS will work under the supervision of the Localisation Advisor and in close collaboration with the Programme, Finance, Grants&Compliance, HR and Logistics&Supply Departments.
Main responsibilities and tasks:
- Partnership Management: Improving the quality of partnership identification and management. Through existing tools collaborate closely with field missions to empower internal skills related to partnership management, setting standard practices for overall operations compliance. Analyses challenges, identify suitable solutions to mitigate risks, and ensures the effective operational management of partnerships across all support areas. To do so, the POS will collaborate closely with the Support Departments, namely finance, HR, and Logistics&Supply, at the Missions, HQ, and Regional levels.
- Toolboxes: In collaboration with INTERSOS Support Departments, identify existing resources, adapt and develop new tools, templates, and policies to facilitate partners’ empowerment in financial, logistics, and human resources management.
- Capacity Strengthening: Support field missions and local partners to identify priority needs and plan adequate capacity-strengthening plans, considering both international compliance standards and partners’ institutional development. Collaborate with the Support departments to propose adapted solutions at the missions and project level for partners’ empowerment. Provide in-person or remote mentoring and training on financial and administration topics, and develop adapted resources.
- Risk analysis and mitigation: Support field missions in contextual analysis and in the operational assessment of new partners, from due diligence to the identification of adequate standards for partnership management. In collaboration with the country teams, support the assessment of new partners and implementation of internal control measures (reporting, spot-checks on Finance, HR and Logistics&Supply processes and documentation). Analyze needs and create tools and systems enabling successful partnerships, regularly conducting risk analysis exercises, and providing improvement recommendations.
- Field Support: Coordinate with the regional offices and HQ departments as needed to ensure cohesive support for field missions. Undertake field missions to provide hands-on guidance to country teams in the implementation of partnership-related systems and best practices in the areas of partnership administration, finance, logistics, and HR.
- Partnership financial dimension: Support the HQ Finance Team and Program team in better tracking and following up on financial information regarding funding to local partners. Collaborate with the ICT coordinator to ensure that the internal management platform effectively allows tracking of partnership components.
- Compliance and transparency: Collaborate with relevant local partners and with INTERSOS Grants and Compliance Unit and Support Departments, to ensure compliance with INTERSOS policies and donor requirements throughout the partnerships, including counter-terrorism regulations. Collaborate with the Finance Department and Grants and Compliance Unit on the overhead provision and standard application.
Required profile and experience
Education
- A bachelor’s or master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g.,international development, business administration, finance, management,logistics)
Professional Experience
- A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in NGO finance and administration management, and experience working with/for local actors
- Proven experience on humanitarian operations management
- Experience working with/for local actors in different contexts.
Professional Requirements
- Sound understanding of compliance with administrative and legal requirements, including standard NGO and donor policies.
- Strong knowledge of financial, logistics, HR and administrative processes related to partnerships.
- Proven experience in capacity strengthening and training development and delivery.
- Ability to implement operational strategies tailored to the context and needs. Able to support the development of individual and collective skills.
- Experience on Logistics/procurement and HR will be an advantage
Languages
- Proficiency in English and French is mandatory.
- Knowledge of an additional language (Spanish Arabic,or Italian) is an advantage.
Personal Requirements
- Takes the initiative, likes to innovate; leads and mobilizes teams around a common project; is motivated by equitable partnership and localization values.
- Good management and organization skills even under heavy work pressure, works well independently and remotely.
- Self-development, initiative, flexibility and adaptability.
- Willingness to travel to field locations as required.
How to apply
Interested candidates are invited to apply following the link below:
Please note that our application process is made of 3 quick steps: register (including your name, email, password and citizenship), sign-up and apply by attaching your CV in PDF format. Through the platform, candidates will be able to track their applications’ history with INTERSOS.
Please also mention the name, position and contact details of at least three references: two line managers and one HR referent. Family members are to be excluded.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for the first interview.