Humanitarian Leadership Academy
Partnerships & External Relations Manager
Academy Centre Office | Nairobi, Kenya
Position Code: PART-EXTR-02-15
Background: The Humanitarian Leadership Academy is a new global start-up networked organisation whose mission is to empower people around the world to prepare for and respond to crises in their own countries.
The Academy will work with organisations from across the not-for-profit, public, technology industry, private sector and universities to help local communities across the world to become more resilient in the face of disaster by promoting and developing existing and new humanitarian preparedness and response focused learning and development opportunities.
The role: The post holder will provide leadership for the partnerships & external relations functions at the Kenya Academy Centre.
S/he will ensure the Academy’s cooperation with other institutions and professionals, as well as visibility of the Academy’s activities, through establishment and continuation of collaborative relations.
The Partnerships & External Relations Manager will specifically provide strategic guidance to the Academy in the development, delivery and management of public relations, engagement activities plus communications, including but not limited to the Academy Centre.
S/he will manage external communications and implement engagement strategies to achieve the Academy’s goals and through this to influence decision making in the humanitarian sector.
Within Eastern Africa the Partnerships & External Relations Manager will also be responsible for developing regional partnerships, brokering collaborative relationships for the Academy Centre and initiating cross-country initiatives and activities.
The position will work to expand and diversify the Centre’s funding base, leading financial and in kind donor relationships on a local and regional strategic level to provide sufficient resources to allow the Centre to meet its current targets.
Scale and scope of the role
Two (2) year fixed term contract
Reports to Kenya Academy Centre Director
Budget monitoring responsibilities
Line management of a team of up to three officers Budget responsibility to be confirmed
Responsibilities include:
- Leading on the development and implementation of the Academy Centre’s Partnerships & External Relations Strategy, consulting appropriate stakeholders and regularly reviewing this to ensure it meets the Centre’s requirements. Leading on the Centre’s marketing and communications strategy and activities to increase the engagement of local, national, regional and global users, and promoting the Academy Centre as a go-to platform for knowledge and learning on effective and efficient humanitarian response in the region.
- Scoping out and offering innovative ideas for reaching out to key stakeholders and delivering effective messages that enhance discussion, debate and decision making on the effectiveness of the humanitarian response.
- Developing and implementing strategies for engagement and resource mobilization, including the mapping of existing and new donors with relevance to the humanitarian sector and their potential interest in funding and/or supporting implementation of the Academy Centre’s strategy.
- Working with the Global Partnerships Team and other Academy programmes with a view to sharing key learning and creating linkages that facilitate the achievement of local and global goals.
- Spearheading the establishment of networks and linkages with like-minded learning, knowledge-management and capacity-sharing institutions, as well as accounting and managing relationships with key partners with a view to effectively delivering for and with other stakeholders.
- Initiating, developing and maintaining local and regional level relationships, in close coordination with the Global Academy Office, and specifically focusing on key donors, corporates and foundations.
- Leading on developing and nurturing relations with the media as necessary, managing the Academy Centre’s social media platforms, and other key communications opportunities.
Requirements
Minimum:
- Solid, strategic business development experience in a charitable and/or social enterprise on a comparable scale.
- Demonstrable success and expertise in building and managing complex relationships, often through others, with a variety of donors from institutional to corporate and local to global.
- A proven track record of setting, delivering and tracking strategic direction that supports financial decision-making at executive level.
- Market leading approach to progressive and innovative revenue generating initiatives and funding strategies
- Significant experience of influencing and lobbying at a senior level
- Familiarity with the development and humanitarian funding environment with in-depth knowledge of the interests, compliance and requirements of many of the major donors
- Experience of team management, motivating and developing others in a leadership position
- Fluency in the English language
Preferred:
- Experience of subsidiary and international franchise business set up, also guiding scoping studies into new markets.
- Knowledge and ability to employ new technologies to improve knowledge and performance measurement.
- Experience of running market campaigns in different cultural contexts across different countries.
- Humanitarian operations, development work and/or commercial sector expertise.
Personal attributes:
- Proven leadership skills; empowering and motivating.
- Entrepreneurial approach with confidence and intellect to challenge conventional thinking and ways of working.
- Substantial levels of personal resilience to operate and lead a team in highly complex and unstructured work environment.
- Outstanding decision maker who operates with integrity.
- Established communicator, impulsive networker and constantly collaborative in approach.
- Passion and energy to work in pursuit of transforming humanitarian response globally and making a reality of true collaboration.
- Ability to manage ongoing engagement with contacts methodically and link to strategic priorities
- Experience of presenting to senior stakeholders at short notice and with confidence
- Adept at spotting opportunities and working with colleagues to follow up
- Experience of working within government or in a political office in the role of an advisor
- Excellent written and spoken English is essential with strong attention to detail, the ability to communicate succinctly, accurately and rigorously, using evidence persuasively
- Management experience in the area of external relations and resource mobilization
- A good understanding of the African development sector and the policy environment and how change occurs within this environment through effective communications and engagement.
We look for people who not only have the required skills and experience but who also fit our culture, based on our organizational values.
Child Safeguarding: Level 1 – this post may have limited access to children or to sensitive data on children, however, this access will be infrequent. A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) standard check or equivalent overseas police check will be obtained for employees at this level.
How to Apply
To apply for these positions visit the SCI Kenya Website: https://kenya.savethechildren.net/jobs.
The system allows CVs & Cover letter as One(1) document.
The Deadline is on 4th February 2016 by COB.
Indicate the title of the position on the Subject line Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.