Strategic Partnership Manager

Programme - Strategic Partnerships

Fixed Term Contract - 2 Years

The purpose of this role is to:

• Nurture and develop ODI Global’s existing strategic institutional and funding partnerships with official donors, foundations and philanthropies.
• Manage external, cross team and inter-entity partnerships, to support the ODI Global's Network’s* strategic objectives and co-ordinate its business development
• Ensure alignment of strategic opportunities with ODI Global's objectives, principles and values.
• Identify and develop new opportunities for strategic institutional partnerships in line with ODI Global’s objectives and direction
• Create consistency in the ODI Global's Network’s approach to strategic partnership development
• Have oversight and responsibility for key strategic grants held by ODI Global

*The ODI Global Network refers to the four affiliated ODI Global's entities – ODI Global, ODI Global Advisory, ODI Europe and ODI Global Washington. 

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Business Development (50%)

• Pro-actively provide strategic input into deepening collaborative partnerships and maintain strong productive working relationships with all donor and partners.
• Manage and convene cross-organisational working relationships to ensure successful implementation of funding agreements
• Work with teams across ODI Global to identify and develop concepts and assist with drafting clear and compelling proposals
• Work with the Leadership Team to imbed and improve ODI Global’s proposal development processes
• Support the development of ODI Europe and ODI Global Washington business development capabilities and market position
• Evaluate competitors and articulate ODI Global’s USP for key strategic donor targets
• Monitor the funding environment and make recommendations for ODI Global's new business based on market trends/donor priorities
• Contribute to the preparation of bids and proposals, including developing budgets and tailoring technical documentation, using extensive knowledge of donors’ business model and budgeting requirements
• Work with the Public Affairs and Communications team to ensure strong communications products and outputs are developed to showcase the nature and impact of ODI Global’s strategic institutional partnerships

Knowledge Management (10%)

• Contribute to information sharing across ODI Global, with internal departments and other programmes.
• Contribute to championing and embedding the methodology at the organisational level. Contribute to ongoing improvement of internal PM procedures and manuals.
• Contribute to the development and functioning of internal and external communications and knowledge management systems, for example user/training manuals, donor/partner processes etc.
• Actively contribute to the development of junior PM staff by sharing knowledge and mentoring
• Create and maintain project worksites on the intranet (SharePoint)

 Project Management (35%)

• Coordinate and contribute to the development of project workplans with the project team (covering research, communications, Global Security and other activities, as relevant), establishing and monitoring project controls related to scope, schedule, budget, risk and quality.
• Set up internal milestones and monitor project deliverables against contractual requirements and invoicing schedules, negotiating delivery schedules with partners in collaboration with the Technical Lead.
• Facilitate information sharing and problem solving across the project team, including internal and external stakeholders where appropriate, to improve its implementation.
• Identify, manage and mitigate project risks. Escalate more complex issues to Operations Managers and/or Head of Project Management for resolution as needed.
• Coordinate the production and dissemination of project deliverables in collaboration with the project team and other ODI Global colleagues as necessary.
• Coordinate the production and submission of donor narrative reports, incorporating partners’ submissions as relevant
• Liaise with the donors on contractual matters, ensuring both compliance with donor requirements and the safeguarding of the interests of ODI Global, demonstrating a thorough understanding of the organisation’s needs and red lines
• Directly manage certain large and/or complex projects within the programme, to ensure projects achieve intended results with high quality.
• Engage ODI Global’s Leadership Team in the development, promotion and delivery of strategic institutional partnerships. 

 Line management (5%)

• Lead in the induction, development, and support of directly line-managed staff
• Review resource needs and implement strategies to meet changing workloads of direct line reports.
• Participate in interview processes for PM staff.
• Conduct appraisals, set appropriate objectives and team/institutional priorities, monitor and manage performance against these.
• Model and promote the application of ODI Global’s values within the team and with others 

Person Specification

Essential 

Knowledge and qualifications

• Education to Masters’ degree level or equivalent level of experience 
• Demonstrated experience of business development with official donors, foundations and philanthropies.
• Extensive knowledge of the project cycle management field and PM 
• methodologies 
• Excellent understanding of financial management as part of the project cycle  

Experience 

• Significant experience of working within complex business models and of managing projects to maximise their contribution to the organisation’s financial and strategic objectives.
• Significant experience in donor compliance and administrative procedures and donor relationship management, including reporting both financial and narrative reporting. 
• Proven experience of conducting contract negotiation independently 
• Significant costing and budgeting experience for complex multi-year, multi- partners, multi-donor projects. 
• Experience of participating in the development of proposals
• Experience in managing relationships with staff and partners, and coordinating integrated and multi-disciplinary project teams

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Proven ability to understand the business environment and balance the requirements of the projects with the needs of the organisation. 
• Proven ability to understand the needs of donors and partners and to make business-savvy decisions 
• Commercial awareness to assess product/service viability and profitability 
• Strategic thinker with clear verbal and written communication styles 
• Strong stakeholder and partner management skills 
• Excellent ability to build cross cultural relationships with partners and colleagues at various levels of seniority. 
• Ability to write well and to prepare reports with minimum supervision 
• Multitasking skills in a high-pressure environment 
• Ability to innovate to overcome obstacles
• Exceptional planning and execution skills
• Ability to work to own initiative with minimum supervision
• Advanced IT skills including Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and databases

Desirable

• Knowledge and understanding of development and/or humanitarian issues
• Experience working in a developing country or with developing country partner organisations
• Other relevant qualification or training in business management/development
• Experience of SharePoint document management system

Key Relationships and Contacts

• Senior Leadership Team and Directors of Entities 
• Leadership Team (including Directors of Programme) 
• External partners, including official donors, foundations and philanthropies 
• Researchers in Programmes 
• Project Management Team 
• Central Support Services (especially Finance) 
• Central Communications Tam 
• External partners and consultant

All Staff Are Expected to: 

• Positively support equality of opportunity both within ODI Global and externally
• Help maintain a safe working environment and take responsibility for own and colleagues’ Health and Safety
• Undertake such other duties within the scope of their post as may be requested by their Manager

Why should you work for us?

ODI Global is committed to developing and supporting diverse and inclusive teams of people who share our passion, where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. We welcome applicants from a range of diverse backgrounds including those who experience intersectional marginalisation on the basis of their class, race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious identity or belief, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. We also welcome applications from those living with disabilities.

Benefits

We prioritise the well-being of our employees and offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your personal and professional growth. Enjoy a generous annual leave allowance, including public holidays and additional time off during Christmas and New Year. We also recognise the importance of work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements, remote work options, and study leave to support your professional development.

Our commitment to employee well-being extends beyond annual leave. We provide comprehensive benefits such as maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental leave, competitive pension schemes and interest-free travel loans. We offer sick pay, an Employee Assistance Program, and staff events and social activities to ensure your physical and mental health.

For those relocating to the UK, we provide relocation assistance to help you settle in. We also promote sustainable commuting with our Cycle to Work scheme and offer union membership to protect your rights and advocate for your interests.

At ODI Global, we believe that a supportive and rewarding work environment is essential for success. Our comprehensive benefits package reflects our commitment to your well-being and professional growth.

For a full listing of benefits, please visit our Careers page.

To apply please click on the ‘Apply’ button above.

About ODI Global

ODI is a leading global affairs think tank. We inspire people to act on injustice and inequality. We focus on research, convening and influencing, to generate ideas that matter for people and planet.