Partnership Manager at The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) - Uganda, Kampala

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. 

• 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. 

• 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.

Click here to apply