Senior Partnerships Manager

AKF(UK) Senior Partnerships Managers are part of the Global Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) Partnerships team tasked with identifying and cultivating new funding partnerships and strengthening existing ones to support our strategic goals. They engage with European, Asian and North American government and foundation donors to mobilise resources for ten multi-sector profit and not-for-profit agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) operating across Asia and Africa. In addition, Senior Partnership Managers are responsible for reporting and donor relations on a portfolio of select grants implementing across AKDN themes and geographies in close collaboration with field units, global teams, and our partners. This role will also include line management responsibilities. 

Resource Mobilisation

• Support the Partnerships team to broker and cultivate new relationships and strengthen existing ones with institutional (bilateral and multilateral) and foundations donors

• Lead the development and review of concept notes and proposals (solicited and unsolicited), including logical frameworks and budgets, in close coordination with the Global Programme Team (GPT) and country teams.

• Develop and contribute to positioning pieces and communication materials (e.g. presentations, narrative overviews) to enable regular and effective engagement with donors

• When needed, provide direct hands-on support at country level in design of concept notes, proposals, and budgets and conduct donor or field visits to support discussions with new and existing donors/partners.

• Coordinate processes of contracting and negotiation, engaging relevant stakeholders, and ensuring contracts ‘get over the line’ in a timely and efficient way.

• Contribute to management systems, such as the Award Information Management System (AIMS).

Donor engagement and positioning

• Research, source relevant information, and perform analysis of market trends on new donors, peer organisations, and funding opportunities to identify potential funding and partnering matches for AKF and AKDN priorities.

• Develop positioning materials (e.g. presentations, capability statements, briefs, talking points), collaborating with communications teams to enable effective donor engagement.

• Engage with new and existing donors and partners to identify solicited and unsolicited funding opportunities.

• Guide teams to make informed, effective decisions on which opportunities to pursue (including ‘Go No-Go’ requests).

• Identify, cultivate, and pre-position with partner organisations to form or join consortia focused funding bids.

• Conduct due diligence on new partners in coordination with finance and partnerships teams.

Grants management

• Manage grants through regular coordination with relevant AKDN agencies/country units and the finance department to ensure projects are delivered on-time and on-budget. Proactively support the resolution of challenges as they arise.

• Support the preparation, review and feedback process on donor reports to ensure reports comply with donor requirements and are produced on time and to a high standard.

• Be an interface with donors and communicate on a regular basis about the implementation of on-going grants to maintain a solid relationship and to address queries or challenges effectively. 

Networking and building public awareness

• Participate and actively engage in relevant networking events/conferences to build awareness of AKF/AKDN with the UK and European public more broadly.

• Interface with the Communications team to identify opportunities and support the planning of events either directly targeting or planned jointly with AKF’s institutional donors (e.g., FCDO, EC).

Leadership and People Management

• Play a leadership role in the unit by setting the example of consistently high standards

• Work with the Partnerships Officers to effectively manage grants and to develop and improve quality of concept notes and proposals

• Filter the team and unit's documents ensuring improvements in standards of writing, presentation, content and context.

Carry out any other duties as assigned by the Deputy Directors or Regional Director for Europe & Asia.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant field highly preferable

Skills

• Strong level of fluency in French is highly desirable

• Creativity, critical thinking and project management

• Entrepreneurial, pro-active self-starter with maturity and emotional intelligence

• Ability to problem-solve, work independently and multi-task in a fast-paced environment with numerous and competing deadlines

• Ability to handle complex relationships with colleagues, governance and external stakeholders in a professional manner

• Excellent writing, speaking and other communications skills, with thoroughness and attention to detail

• Ability to provide stable, consistent, reliable and courteous communication when dealing with external organisations and all colleagues (especially country units)

• Strong IT skills, including Office and Excel

Knowledge

• Strong proven understanding and knowledge of the European/Asian donor landscape to support programmes internationally

• Knowledge and commitment to international development and improving knowledge of these issues a distinct advantage

Experience

• At least a total of 6 years of professional experience with a minimum of 4 years working in international organisations (preferably, mid to large NGOs), including field-level implementation or management.

• Experience line managing or mentoring staff is highly desirable

• Experience in resource mobilisation and developing relationships, including direct experience with European (EU/EC, Germany, Switzerland, UK) or Asian donors. Experience with North American (USAID, GAC) donors highly desirable

• Experience in developing and writing complex proposals and arguments, business plans/cases, concept papers, briefs, executive summaries, as well as coordinating multiple inputs from a variety of sources, and simultaneously managing a variety of relationships

• Proven experience of managing relationships in complex organisations with numerous stakeholders

• Proven success in managing grants in complex organisations with numerous stakeholder

FURTHER DETAILS

• The role will involve travel to countries where we operate programmes, and where the candidate is supporting grants management.

• As well as a rewarding role with a global international development organisation, you’ll get access to a wide range of enhanced benefits including but not limited to flexible hybrid working, enhanced leave entitlement and access to several health and wellbeing programmes and benefits.

Application Details:

• Must include CV and a supporting statement that outlines why you want the role, why you want to work for AKF(UK) and how your experiences and skills to date make you the most suitable applicant for the role.

• Must have the right to work in the UK