Partnership Manager Uganda Kampala Full Time

The purpose of the Partnership Manager position is to lead the implementation of NRC Uganda’s Partnership Strategy, ensuring alignment with NRC’s vision, strategic objectives, and policies. The role involves overseeing the entire lifecycle of Project Implementation Agreements, including due diligence, capacity assessments, and compliance audits, while fostering relationships with government entities, NGOs, civil society, and the private sector. Additionally, the Partnership Manager enhances partner capacity, integrates feedback for continuous improvement, and supports grant applications and reporting in multi-partner collaborations. The following is a brief description of the role.

The ideal candidate must have the right to live and work in Uganda.

Females are highly encouraged to Apply.

What you will do:

Some of your specific responsibilities include:

Partnership Strategy

• Contextualize the framework that clarifies the different nature of relationships and types of actors with whom strategic partnerships can be sought. The framework will outline various operational models for engaging with National/Local actors (including local CSOs/CBOs, academia and research institutions, as well as local and international NGOs), the private sector, and public authorities (line ministries, city authorities and districts).
• Lead the development of the NRC Uganda Partnership Strategy by adapting the global NRC partnership policies and toolkit
• Lead and facilitate the continued development and improvement of NRC Uganda’s partnership Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and tools, based on lessons learned and feedback.
• Lead the identification and assessment of civil society, the private sector and public authorities’ actors
• Build a network of key partners and stakeholders, keeping abreast of evolving trends (social, economic, and political), applying innovation approaches to partnership and project development.
• Lead in developing and implementing partnership RACI with clear roles of grants team, CC leads, country office and area/field offices

Partnership Unit Management

• Liaise and coordinate with other functions when applying NRC Uganda partnership SOPs, and tools throughout the project cycle.
• Lead a structured approach to partnerships, including the development of tools for identifying, assessing, capacity building, monitoring, and evaluating partnerships.
• Contribute to meetings ‘objectives and engagements with relevant actors
• Proactively solve conflicts and address issues and misunderstandings that could occur between NRC and various partners.
• Conduct field visits to partner activities and provide coaching and mentoring when possible and relevant.

Project Implementation Agreement Management

• Collaborate with the grants unit and finance to ensure that donor requirements/procedures are reflected in the PIAs and modification requests.
• Support in negotiating new projects and programs with partners, including coordinating technical and financial requirements in line with donors’ requirements/procedures
• Supervise or directly draft partnership agreements and/or contractual documents required for implementation of new projects.
• Work actively with the Core Competency and program support unit teams (CC leads, MEL, digital and grants) to ensure strong mainstreaming of core NRC ways of working across operational partners.
• Provide technical support to partners, particularly on MEL, grants, HR, financial logistics management and compliance in close coordination with relevant staff
• Provide technical guidance to staff working across areas on topic related with partnership
• Ensure the adherence of the partnership interventions with NRC’s Project Cycle Management (PCM) approach.

Capacity Sharing

• Assess the partner’s priority needs in terms of capacity development.
• Provide and oversee necessary assistance to partners to ensure smooth implementation of partnership agreements and foster partners’ overall development
• Actively integrate partner feedback, suggestions and complaints into NRC programs
• Lead the partner evaluation and learning events
• Facilitate peer-to-peer learning among relevant internal staff and partners and develop an exchange network that can share best practices in relation to partnerships.

Please download the JD Partnership Manager 202502.docx to learn more about the position.

What you will bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant area. Master’s degree would be advantageous
• Minimum 4 years of relevant senior level experience with NGO and/or international organisation, preferably leading grants management and/or partnership-related duties
• Experience from working in complex humanitarian contexts
• Experience working with (inter)national and local civil society organizations
• Experience of a leading tasks and processes successfully, managing and prioritizing a high and diverse workload;
• Knowledge about own leadership skills/profile
• Fluency in English both written and verbal
• Knowledge of the Uganda refugee especially refugee hosting districts
• Good cultural awareness and sensitivity
• Knowledge of localization agenda, Charter 4 Change desirable
• Experience working with others in consortia desirable
• Familiarity with systems-thinking approaches and tools for localization efforts
• Experience in team capacity building and facilitation skills
• Excellent coordination, communication (verbal and written) and networking skills
• Advanced computer skills, especially in MS Office; Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook

What we offer

• Duty station: Kampala – Country Office
• Contract: national contract, 10 months (extension possible, dependent on funding)
• Travel: Frequent travel to the project sites
• Salary/benefits: grade 9 on NRC’s national salary scale.
• 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

• Internal candidates only: please click on the suitcase icon labelled “I am an employee” to be redirected to NRC’s internal careers site.
• Application is online only; Qualified Ugandan Nationals only.
• 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.

Please Note:

1. NRC does not at any stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind. Further, NRC has not retained any agent to conduct recruitments on behalf of the organization.
2. NRC is committed to protecting staff and the people we serve within our programmes from exploitation and abuse and any kind of misconduct. NRC has specific policies, including our Code of Conduct, PSEA and Child Protection, which outlines the expected behavior and the responsibility of all staff, beneficiaries, Suppliers, consultants and other stakeholders and has Zero Tolerance towards any breach. Any candidate offered a job with NRC will be expected to sign NRC’s organizational Policies and Code of Conduct as part of their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents.
3. NRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
4. NRC is committed to a diverse workforce through Diversity Equity and Inclusion; therefore, Qualified Female Candidates, Refugees and Persons with Disability are encouraged to apply.

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.

NRC’s programme in Uganda has a community-based approach and uses protection analysis to inform the response and target the most vulnerable refugees and host communities. The programme is multisector and anchored mainly on market-based interventions, with expertise in education, protection, livelihood and food security (LFS), water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) promotion, shelter and information, counselling and legal assistance (ICLA). NRC is present in all larger refugee hosting districts. Scaling up our activities with the hard-to-reach populations is our priority, resulting in an integrated urban programme, among other activities.

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.

About Us

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a global humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee.

Join us in assisting millions of people in areas where others cannot, tackling some of the world’s most dangerous and difficult crises. Bring your skills and dedication to an organisation recognised for providing high quality aid and for defending the rights of refugees and internally displaced people.

At NRC, we give responsibility to employees at all levels and foster professional growth and innovative teams. You can expect a supportive culture and an open dialogue with management. We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Together, we save lives and rebuild futures.

Safeguarding is central to NRC’s work. We expect all employees to:

• treat everyone with respect and dignity

• contribute to building a safe environment for all

• never engage in any form of exploitation, harassment and specifically sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment (SEAH)

• always report. NRC has a zero-tolerance approach to inaction against exploitation, abuse and SEAH

Tagged as: Norwegian Refugee Council, Uganda