Senior Partnership Officer

Position Overview

IYD is seeking a Senior Partnership Officer to strengthen our partnerships in Syria. This mid-level role (3–5 years of experience) will be pivotal in managing relationships with local and international partners to enhance the reach and effectiveness of our programs. The Senior Partnership Officer will report to the Partnerships Manager and will work closely with program teams, ensuring that our partnership strategy is aligned with organizational goals. This position is field-based, with the possibility of travel within Syria to foster partnerships on the ground.

Key Responsibilities

The Senior Partnership Officer will lead partnership development and management activities, including the following core responsibilities:

• Partnership Development & Strategy: Assist the Partnerships Manager in identifying and cultivating new partnerships with local and International NGOs, community-based organizations, and relevant stakeholders in Syria. Conduct organizational partner assessments and due diligence. Contribute to the development of the organization’s partnership strategy and localization efforts, ensuring a long-term, strategic approach to partnerships.
• Oversee, facilitate and coordinate all aspects of partnership life cycle, management, from stakeholder analysis, partner identification, due diligence, project development, agreement, start-up, implementation, monitoring through to close-out, coordinating effectively with all program, operations and finance components.
• Monitor new calls for proposals and Expression of interest and thoroughly review the ones published, identifying risks and constraints for each one as well as IYD’s eligibility and brief Grants Manager and other relevant staff accordingly.
• Agreements & Compliance: Review partnership agreements and Ensure compliance with donor and organizational rules by coordinating with finance, grants, and compliance teams. Oversee timely signing of agreements and receiving of funds
• Relationship Management: Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned partners, building and maintaining strong working relationships. Ensure regular communication and collaboration with partner staff, addressing any partnership-related issues or concerns in a timely manner. Represent the organization in coordination forums and partner meetings, advocating for effective partnership practices and our organizational priorities. Foster a spirit of mutual learning and continuous improvement with partners.
• Assist the Partnership Manager in Improving the partnership practices by periodically assessing IYD partnership management approach taking into account diverse perspectives, developing case studies to capture lessons learned and best practices, and making recommendations for improvement.
• Organize and lead grant opening meetings with the participation of program and support departments to develop a common understanding of the programmatic, operational, and financial aspects of a new grant as well as knowledge of our contractual requirements.
• Organize and lead grant closing meetings to facilitate a timely closeout of a grant, and ensure that all contractual obligations will be met (e.g. final report).

Qualifications and Skills

The ideal candidate will bring a strong combination of experience, skills, and personal qualities to excel in this role:

• Education: A Bachelor’s degree in International Development, Social Sciences, Humanitarian Studies, or a related field is required. A Master’s degree is a plus, but not mandatory.
• Experience: At least 3–5 years of relevant experience in partnership development or management. Experience working with local NGOs and communities in Syria. Familiarity with the Syrian context, including the operational environment and key stakeholders
• Language: Fluency in Arabic and English is essential (both spoken and written). Proficiency in Turkish or another local language is an additional asset.
• Technical Skills: Strong understanding of project cycle management, including proposal development, budgeting, and monitoring & evaluation. Familiarity with donor regulations and compliance requirements (e.g. from ECHO, UN, or other international donors) is required. Excellent organizational skills with attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, AI, and database management is expected.
• Interpersonal & Management Skills: Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse partners and stakeholders. Excellent communication (active listening, clear articulation) and presentation skills, both in one-on-one settings and group forums. Strong negotiation and diplomacy skills to navigate partnership dynamics and resolve issues. Ability to work collaboratively in teams and coordinate across departments, as well as to represent the organization professionally in external meetings.
• Personal Qualities: A commitment to humanitarian values and the mission of the organization. High integrity, discretion, and professionalism, especially when handling sensitive partnership information. A proactive, solution-oriented mindset and willingness to learn and innovate in partnership approaches.