Grants and Partnerships Lead

theirc; Islamabad; On-site; PKR 3,000,000 - 4,500,000; Full time

Job summary

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) Pakistan invites applications for the Grants and Partnerships Lead. The role provides strategic leadership for business development, grants management, and partnerships portfolios, reporting to the Deputy Director Programs.

It oversees sub-awards, partner capacity building, and compliance with IRC and donor policies. Key internal and external relationships include donors, partners, and senior management.

Qualifications

• Lead the development and periodic revision of the IRC Pakistan Resource Mobilization and Partnerships Strategy.
• Collaborate with Provincial Heads, Technical Coordinators, MEAL and program teams to align strategy with funding and programming.

Responsibilities

• Lead post-award processes including contract reviews, amendments, and donor negotiations.
• Lead and ensure timely narrative and financial reporting in collaboration with finance and operations.
• Maintain donor compliance by keeping updated checklists and disseminating guidance to teams.
• Coordinate with Award Management Unit at HQ and Region on budgets and extensions.
• Provide guidance to program teams on grants, contracts and compliance as required.
• Ensure contracts, addenda and agreements are reviewed with relevant departments and feedback is consolidated.
• Engage donors, partners and consortium leads and cultivate strategic relationships.

Job description

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Job Summary

The Grants and Partnerships Lead will provide strategic leadership to IRC Pakistan's business development, grants management, and partnership portfolios. Reporting to the Deputy Director Programs (DDP), this role leads program design, oversees donor relations and compliance, and develops strong partnerships to support high-quality programming and funding diversification. The position also ensures effective oversight of sub-awards, partner capacity building, and compliance with IRC and donor policies.

Key working relationships:

• Position reports to: Deputy Director Programs (DDP)
• Position directly supervises: Grants, Partnerships and Reporting team
• Indirect/technical reporting: Regional Grants and Partnerships Advisor

Key internal contacts:

• Country Director, Senior Management Team, Provincial Heads, Technical Coordinators, MEAL, Finance, Supply Chain, HR, and the Regional and HQ Award Management Units

Key external contacts:

• Institutional donors, fund managers, consortium leads, local and international partners, government counterparts, and private sector actors.

Major Responsibilities:

1. Strategic leadership

Lead the development and periodic revision of the IRC Pakistan Resource Mobilization and Partnerships Strategy.

Collaborate with Provincial Heads, Technical Coordinators, MEAL, and program implementation teams to ensure alignment between strategy, funding opportunities, and programming.

Contribute to country-level strategic planning processes, ensuring integration of business development and partnerships.

2. Business development and fundraising

Ensure proposal processes are well managed, funding diversification goals are met, and funding efforts align with the country program strategic priorities.

Lead growth and diversification of funding in line with the country program strategy, developing and reviewing concept notes and proposals that advance IRC Pakistan's short- and long-term goals.

Ensure that technical staff provide input into proposals and proactively and regularly communicate planned requirements for program design and implementation to relevant Country Office departments/functions.

Working closely with the Technical Unit, provide leadership in the development of new program designs and proposals which fit within IRC Pakistan's strategic objectives.

Liaise with other humanitarian/development actors to identify possible areas for collaboration and develop joint initiatives/proposals.

Actively collaborate with the team at Country, Region and HQ working on private sector engagement to foster strategic partnerships and generate funding/support.

Serve as the primary focal point for IRC HQ and regional offices on new funding opportunities and strategic positioning.

Ensure proactive engagement with a diversified donor base, including institutional donors, foundations, and private sector partners.

Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with donors, implementing partners, and consortium leads.

Maintain a live opportunity tracker and funding pipeline, reporting quarterly on pipeline value, win rates and donor concentration to the Senior Management Team and the regional team.

3. Awards management and donor compliance

Lead post-award processes including contract reviews, amendments, and donor negotiations.

Lead and ensure timely and high-quality narrative and financial reporting in collaboration with finance, programs, and operations.

Oversee donor compliance by maintaining updated checklists and disseminating guidance to relevant teams.

Maintain effective coordination with the Award Management Unit in IRC HQs and the Region for any day-to-day requirements, including periodical realignments of the budgets, managing cost/no-cost extensions, etc.

Provide guidance to program and operations teams on issues related to grants and commercial contracts and compliance as required.

Ensure that contracts, addenda and agreements are reviewed with program, finance, supply chain, partnership and communication departments and collate feedback

Take the lead on timely flagging of any additional conditions laid down by the donor or fund manager and proactively negotiate with donors in the best interest of the organization.

4. Partnerships l