Partnership Manager

About Malala Fund

Registered in the U.K., U.S. Nigeria, and Pakistan, Malala Fund is working toward a world where all girls can learn and lead. Malala Fund advocates for resources and policy changes needed to give all girls a secondary education. The girls we serve have high goals for themselves and we have high expectations for leaders who can help them. We invest in local education leaders and front-line organizations, the people who best understand girls in their communities in regions where most girls are missing out on secondary school. We give girls the tools they need to advocate for education and equality in their communities and a platform for the world to hear their voices. We believe girls should speak for themselves and tell leaders what they need to learn and achieve their potential.

About the position

As a core member of the Grants Team, the Partnership Manager is responsible for vetting, awarding and managing a portfolio of grants focusing on policy change and implementation related to girls’ education in Ethiopia. As the primary point of contact for grantees in their portfolio(s), the Partnership Manager will invest time and effort in building relationships that are impactful and trust-based, ensuring that organisations’ own growth and programmatic objectives are met while aligning with Malala Fund strategic priorities. The Partnership Manager will lead on managing all aspects of the grant’s life cycle, including: suitable partner identification and selection, grantee relationship management, support of successful programme delivery, reporting and grant renewal or closeout. 

The ideal candidate is a highly organised self-starter with experience and connections to local and national organisations in their country / region of focus.  

Location: Washington, DC Office/Hybrid

Responsibilities

Grantee Selection 

• Assess grant proposal applications against funding calls for appropriateness, effectiveness, design quality and organisational viability. Support grant applicants in refining proposals, budget and monitoring, evaluation and learning plans.
• Cultivate advisory relationships at the country level to facilitate new partner scoping and introductions and to seek inputs on proposal review committees as appropriate. 
• Prepare recommendations for grant approval for Malala Fund’s CEO and/or Board of Directors.  
• Develop and continually refine, based on feedback, an onboarding plan for new grantees to make them aware of Malala Fund touchpoints, policies, expectations and opportunities, fostering a relationship based on trust and mutuality.  

Grants Management and Oversight

• Establish and follow through on a regular schedule of site visits to current grantees; focusing on deepening both relationships and connections, and Malala Fund’s understanding of grantees’ contexts and communities.
• Identify grantees’ organisational strengthening and/or technical needs, providing direct advice where possible, and connecting grantees to relevant resources such as other funders and organisations or internal Malala Fund experts as appropriate.  
• Provide input on the content and frequency of reporting requirements in order to meet Malala Fund’s and grantees’ needs; monitor financial reports, confirm that impact data is tracked appropriately, and that high-impact stories and wins are captured.  
• Identify and resolve grant implementation issues and recommend grant modifications, extensions, or renewals as needed.  
• Serve as the main point of contact within Malala Fund for questions on grantees in portfolio of responsibility; liaising with and responding to the Communications and Development Teams as needed; and coordinating with the Global Advocacy Team on relevant advocacy opportunities for grantees.  
• Coordinate with Grants Team staff working on non-monetary support offerings to establish collaborative learning opportunities for grantees to share ideas, best practices and leverage learnings from each other. 
• Ensure robust safeguarding policies and practices are in place, ensuring a duty of care for all grantees and the girls and gatekeepers they work with.  
• With support from a Grants Officer, ensure that grants-related due diligence and compliance requirements are met, grantee records are accurate and complete, and reporting and payments are completed to schedule.

Strategy Development and Collaboration

• Work closely with the Director, Grants to design and deliver grantmaking in-country that aligns with Malala Fund’s Strategic Plan and Priorities, funder identity and value system.  
• Contribute to the development of Country-Level Strategic Frameworks to identify the key access and completion barriers for girls’ secondary education to ensure contextually relevant grantmaking.  
• Build networks and cultivate relationships with potential grantee partners at the country level. 
• Represent Malala Fund at country and global level education networks, with peer funders and other external stakeholders to share best practice and increase knowledge of the girls’ education space. 

Other

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Essential

• At least 5 to 7 years of experience in grantmaking, grants management or programme design. 
• Extensive experience in leading on grant proposal reviews, grantee project monitoring, relationship management and troubleshooting.
• Understanding of civil society space in Ethiopia and ability to support grantees with programme management and capacity issues.  
• Fluency in Amharic.
• Bachelor's degree in social/political science, international development, human rights, gender studies, education or a related field.  
• Financial management experience including reviewing budgets and financial reports.
• Prior grantmaking and/or relevant lived experience in Ethiopia. 
• Strong interpersonal skills to liaise and communicate effectively with grantees and build trust-based relationships.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities and skilled at synthesising large amounts of information clearly and concisely. 
• Strong project management skills, managing multiple complex projects with high levels of interdependency and tight timelines. 
• Ability to think creatively and respond to rapidly changing country operating environments. 
• Solid judgement and problem-solving skills with the ability to think critically.
• Ability to travel to Ethiopia at least twice a year for site visits and/or new partner scoping.    
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Desirable

• Experience with grantmaking focused on policy related change and implementation.
• Fluency in an additional language spoken in Ethiopia.
• Master’s degree in social/political science, international development, human rights, gender studies, education or a related field.

Living our Values

We aim to center girls in all we do and create a supportive environment where people excel in their craft while never compromising our organizational values:

We aim high. Inspired by the girls we serve, we set ambitious goals for ourselves and push others to do the same. We focus on impact and delivering tangible, purposeful results.

We dare to be brave. We speak truth to power and hold leaders accountable to their commitments to girls. We have the difficult conversations, say yes to tough projects and aren’t afraid to take risks

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We value differences. Our best work happens when we bring many voices to the table. We embrace diverse perspectives and open dialogue. We strive for equity in all we do and are always learning from others. 

We think creatively. Getting all girls in school requires innovative thinking and solutions. We are resourceful and seek unconventional approaches to overcoming challenges. 

We act with integrity. The relationships we build are grounded in trust and accountability. As an organization and with each other, we endeavor to do what’s right and respectful.

If challenging the status quo that limits girls’ potential excites you, we might be the perfect fit!

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Please note that due to the very high number of applications we receive when positions are posted, we may only be able to respond directly to candidates who we wish to move forward in the interview process.

Malala Fund is an equal opportunity employer and inclusive organization who welcomes applications from under-represented and intersectional groups including BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and persons with disabilities. We are seeking people with different backgrounds, cultures, ages, experiences and identities to provide a wide range of experience, ideas, views and insights into the strategy, policies, culture and ambitions of Malala Fund.

Malala Fund is also committed to ensuring the safety of those involved in our work. Our first priority is protecting everyone who comes in direct or indirect contact with our organization.

Malala Fund has a zero-tolerance approach to abuse and exploitation by any of our staff, representatives or partners. We commit to ensuring that those who work with Malala Fund or on our behalf are able to work in an environment that is free from harm. To this end, Malala Fund reserves the right to conduct background checks on prospective and current employees.