Overview
The Deputy Director of Grants and Partnerships will provide strategic and operational direction for resource mobilization, lead grant management, and strengthen partnerships to achieve IRC's strategic objectives in Ethiopia.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the rollout of the Business Development Action Plan.
- Provide strategic guidance on funding opportunities, donor trends, and partnership models.
- Oversee the full grant lifecycle, ensuring compliance, quality reporting, and timely submissions.
- Strengthen systems for grant tracking and donor reporting.
- Build staff capacity in grants management, compliance, and donor relations.
- Drive proactive identification and engagement of new partners.
- Strengthen collaboration with local NGOs, government agencies, and private sector actors.
- Ensure partnership management follows IRC’s PEERS framework.
- Support resolution of partnership challenges.
- Lead a team of 11 staff across business development, grants, and partnerships.
- Provide coaching, mentoring, and professional development opportunities.
- Foster a culture of accountability, inclusion, and safeguarding.
Required Experience
- 8 – 10 years of substantial experience and a successful track record leading proposal team on complex subjects, multi-year, multi-partner proposals with minimal direction.
- At least 6 years’ senior level management experience in an INGO.
- Proficiency in developing and supporting humanitarian and development proposals for NGOs.
- Familiarity with strategies and proposal processes of key government/statutory donors–FCDO, EU institutions (ECHO, EUTF), US Government DoS, and other donors (GAC, Sida, Worldbank, GFFO, SDC, etc.).
- Experience in collaborating with and supporting national and community-based partners.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to effectively collaborate across a variety of relationships in a multicultural environment.
- Proven ability to collaborate equally effectively with colleagues in remote and diverse teams, including as team leader for proposals.
- Clear, compelling English writing skills, with previous experience in proposal writing.
- Ability to multi-task and prioritize effectively.
Qualifications
• Master’s degree in international Affairs, Social Sciences, or any related field of study
