Officer, International Partnerships & Philanthropy – MENA

Background:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees made to flee from war or disaster.

The International Philanthropy and Partnerships (IPP) team leads on the Organisation’s engagement with corporations, foundations, international philanthropists globally. The IPP team maintains a growing portfolio of strategic partnerships in the U.S. and other markets, primarily in the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa, and matches funder interests with IRC’s extensive programs globally.

Job Overview:

The IPP Middle East and North Africa (MENA) team leads on the IRC’s engagement with high-value, strategic, and mutually beneficial partnerships with MENA-based donors (spanning the GCC/ Gulf nations, North Africa, and Eastern Mediterranean/ Levant) that strive to support the IRC’s clients around the world. The IPP MENA team operates under an ambitious strategy that prioritises new business, excellent relationship management, and cross-organisational business-critical initiatives.

The IPP Officer, MENA develops new business opportunities and leads a portfolio of Middle East-based partners with the capacity to give 6+ figure gifts. The Officer develops tailored strategies for collaboration with donors, with a focus on maintaining and growing existing partnerships and revenue and introduce the IRC to new prospects through innovative and outcome-based partnerships.

The Officer reports to the Director, International Philanthropy and Partnerships, Middle East and works closely with other IRC senior leadership, as well as program and communications colleagues to develop engagement plan for partners at a strategic level. The Officer coordinates with colleagues on IRC’s global programs, both at the headquarters and country office levels, maintains engagement with and knowledge of programs and acts as a collaborative and respectful colleague and liaison between funders and programs. They will be expected to understand the strategies, needs, and requirements of donors and prospects, think strategically, make recommendations, offer creative solutions, and run systems to continually grow and improve the IRC’s donor relationships and influence the organisation’s strategy for engagement in new and existing markets.

Responsibilities:

• Build lasting, high-value, and impactful partnerships with Middle East-based donors to support IRC clients worldwide;
• Cultivate and expand an individual portfolio of partners (private foundations, trusts, high-net-worth individuals, and corporations);
• Proactively identify and approach new donors through personal and peer-to-peer approaches and active networking opportunities;
• Contribute to and implement creative outreach, solicitation, management, and stewardship plans;
• Focus on external engagement, lead on partnership influencing, proposal submissions, and external pitches, and maintain open and regular communication with partners to achieve a collective team target;
• Monitor and analyse philanthropic trends and landscape in the MENA region;
• Collaborate within the organisation to develop positive, solution-focused relationships;
• Contribute to a growing knowledge base of resources, processes, and workflow for the organisation;
• Synthesise the IRC’s sophisticated programmes into clear, compelling presentations, proposals, and reports for high-value private sector audiences, and;
• Maintain clear CRM records for the portfolio to contribute to comprehensive tracking/ reporting on IPP’s client universe and impact.

Job Requirements:

Education: Bachelor’s Degree or higher

Work Experience: 3-6 years of dynamic non-profit fundraising experience and proven expertise in high-value fundraising, preferably in or focused on MENA.

Language Skills: English is mandatory; Arabic an asset.

Demonstrated Skills and Proficiencies:

• Extensive experience working with high-value donors and partners and securing gifts and targets, as well as participating in income growth projections, reporting, and scenario planning;
• Detailed knowledge of high-value giving planning processes and tools and the particular issues affecting the sector within the context of MENA;
• Experience working with institutional donors in MENA and/or with Islamic Charitable Giving entities and donors;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills including speaking with, presenting, and writing for high-value donors and crafting compelling and sophisticated proposals and pitch materials;
• Ability to translate an organisation’s strategy and objectives into compelling operational delivery and, at times, respond quickly to changes in short-term priorities;
• Understanding of the vital support processes needed to deliver effective institutional funder relationships;
• Well-developed analytical and problem-solving skills, with an ability to devise creative solutions to sophisticated problems and issues;
• Consistent track record of maintaining positive, collaborative, productive relationships with staff at all levels;
• Good judgement in maintaining confidentiality of donor information;
• Ability to analyse and interpret financial data with the facility to understand budget models;
• Ability to identify and create processes required to support effective partnerships;
• CRM experience – Salesforce preferred, and;
• Passion for the IRC’s mission and clients.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, colour, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Standard of Professional Conduct: IRC and IRC employees are required to abide by the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct which are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and implements policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowance.

Working Environment: Standard office work environment; regional travel would be required, with occasional travel to HQ, regional, and international.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform critical job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.