Save the Children
Child Safeguarding Statement for Adverts
Save the Children is committed to ensuring that all our personnel and programmes are absolutely safe for children.
We undertake rigorous procedures to ensure that only people suitable to work with children are allowed to join our organisation and all candidates will be therefore be subject to this scrutiny.
CS positioning statement:
We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.
TITLE: Partnerships Advisor
TEAM/PROGRAMME: PDQA Team
LOCATION: Beijing/Shanghai/Kunming/Chengdu/Guangzhou/Urumqi
GRADE: Grade 3
CONTRACT LENGTH: 2 years
CHILD SAFEGUARDING:
Level 3: the post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.
ROLE PURPOSE:
Working in partnership is central to Save the Children’s Theory of Change on how to maximize our impact for children, and is a key element of the 2019-2021 Country Strategic Plan (CSP) for China.
To achieve this, Save the Children needs to define a Partnership Strategy for China that will be implemented in the coming 3 years. The Partnership Specialist will lead and coordinate this effort, working to develop and maintain a strategic framework and systems (building on Save the Children’s global partnership principles) to develop, review and strengthen our partnerships with civil society organisations, institutional partners, the private sector, research institutions as well as our collaboration with different levels of government. S/he will also lead strategic and project initiatives that build the capacity of partners and civil society organisations to increase their effectiveness in contributing to the realisation of children’s rights in China.
In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: Programme Development, Quality, Advocacy Director
Budget Responsibilities: none
Role Dimensions: The Partnerships Advisor is a senior level position that works across departments (Programme Operations, Donor Relations & Award Management, Communications & Campaigns, Program Development and Quality and Advocacy, Strategic Development, Finance and HR/Admin/IT) to support the Country Office in establishing and continuously improving systems to support our partnership strategy.
In collaboration with other departments, the Partnerships Advisor also engages externally, particularly in coordinating with institutional partners, civil society and business partners, to represent Save the Children, help to identify and pursue new partnership opportunities.
S/he engages in Save the Children’s global and regional partnership discussions/initiatives, contributing learning and leveraging best practices from other contexts.
Save the Children currently works with over 30 partners in China, including central and local government entities, as well as civil society orgainsations. There is also a need to further explore partnerships with the private sector, research entities and the media.
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY :
Partnerships Strategy
1. Lead the development of the Save the Children China’s Partnerships Strategy, informed by Global Partnership Framework and the Chinese context;
2. Stay abreast of current trends in partnerships in China and share learning with country Extended Senior Management Team (ESMT) and others, as well as linking with the Regional and Global Partnership Focal Persons;
3. Lead the Country office in developing systematic approaches to selecting partners, reviewing partnerships, and providing evidence and data to E/SMT for decision making;
4. Promote a ‘vision’ for partnerships, in line with the strategy, among Save the Children China staff;
5. Actively engage in the Global Partnership Working Group and other communities of practice, and disseminate best practices from donors, other NGOs, other Save the Children Country Offices, and apply/adapt best practices to the Chinese context;
6. Lead and support departments to identify and develop strategic partnerships, in line with the Partnership Strategy.
Partnership Management Systems and Policies
7. In collaboration with relevant departments, develop, implement and maintain the Country Office Partnership Management Manual (PMM), and ensure training and utilisation of the manual for all required staff
8. Support all departments to develop locally relevant systems and tools that are supportive of the Partnership Strategy and PMM, and ensure periodic review once they are in place – including, in collaboration with the MEAL Manager, the development and rollout of improved accountability, feedback, and response mechanisms for partners and CSOs.
9. Help ensure partners’ have a voice into Save the Children China’s strategic planning, program design and proposal/concept paper development;
10. Conduct periodic partnership audits to check on consistent application of core partnership strategy across projects and programs, and work with all other departments as relevant/required to maintain relevant partnership functions and compliance;
11. In collaboration with relevant departments, facilitate partners’ feedback on their partnership with Save the Children China and work with relevant departments to address feedback;
12. Work with the Director of Programme Operations to set up systems for working with partners in humanitarian preparedness and response, as per the Core Humanitarian Standards.
Capacity building
13. Establish and orient staff and partners on principles of partnership and partnership management; facilitate on-boarding of new partners; build capacity of SC staff to effectively work with partners;
14. Coordinate the strengthening of all implementing partners, taking into account their different natures, including on child safeguarding issues, capacity to deliver quality results for children and developing efficient organisational operations;
15. Along with Program Teams, carry out partner organizational capacity assessments – for new and existing partners. Analyse assessments to identify specific capacity building and organizational development needs, and ensure systematic follow up;
16. Plan a schedule of regular visits/meetings between SMT and key partners;
Networking and Civil Society Leadership
17. In collaboration with relevant departments, help establish, nurture and maintain strong partnership relations with the national government, civil society, private sectors, media and academic institutions;
18. Represent Save the Children China in civil society networks, and working groups as required, including China Development Brief and civil society networks on issues related to civil society strengthening and partnership;
Represent Save the Children China in external discussions on partnership and civil society strengthening in China, sharing our approaches and learning from others;
Engage in global and regional discussions on Save the Children’s approaches to partnership, contributing learning and leveraging best practices from other contexts.
QUALIFICATIONS
Master's Degree in social sciences, development, organisational leadership, international relations, or relevant field. Extensive and substantive relevant practical experience may be considered in lieu of a Master's Degree.
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Essential
A minimum of 5 years relevant work experience, including at least 1 year of management experience.
Demonstrated experience in developing and leveraging partnerships for strategic achievement of organizational goals, mutually beneficial relationships.
Track record of engaging civil society networks and non-government organisations in China
Ability to positively influence cross departmental and cross sector working; demonstrated understanding of basic departmental roles and functions.
Excellent communication, presentation, training and capacity building skills
Strong interpersonal and mentoring skills;
Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles including rights-based approaches;
Fluency in written and spoken English and Mandarin Chinese.
Desirable
Experience engaging positively with local and/or central level government at senior levels in China.
Demonstrated skills in systems thinking and policy development
Ability to design and implement programs, including development projects in China.
Ability and willingness to dramatically change work practices and hours, and work with incoming teams, in emergencies;
Additional job responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.
Equal Opportunities
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.
Child Safeguarding:
We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.
Health and Safety
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.
If you are interested in this position, please read the Child Safeguarding first, fill in the Application Form and send it back to beijingoffice.china@savethechildren.org before10 Mar, 2019.
