Institutional Partnership Advisor (ECHO)

Save the Children is the world's leading independent children's organization and child protection professional. We secure every child's right to life, protection, learning and participation in Finland and around the world. We have more than a hundred years of experience in promoting children's rights. We bring children and adults together to build a permanently better future. Because the children's future starts now.

We are now seeking a new ECHO Partnership Advisor to our International Programmes Unit.

Job purpose:

Institutional Partnership Advisor (PA) has an overall responsibility for Save the Children Finland’s (SCF) relationship with given institutional donors on a national and international level. The job holder leads on the strategic engagement with key donors and partners and works proactively to establish, maintain, and develop the relationship with relevant institutional donors. This role contributes with donor knowledge to ensure quality in program activities as well as revenue to Save the Children's programmes and activities globally. The job holder works closely with partners and creates a good understanding of their challenges, visions, goals, and strategies and how these can be matched to SCF’s and SCI’s strategic priorities. The job holder explores and has an active dialogue about possible collaboration and new business development together with colleagues in Finland and at the Country, Member and Regional offices. The job holder brings in humanitarian focus, follows the latest donor intelligence in the humanitarian sector and supports the humanitarian focus in SCF’s International Programme.

The role includes flexibility, and it is expected that the job holder may need to step in for other Partnership Advisors (particularly INTPA) and colleagues in the team when extra support is needed.

The role includes some travelling in program countries. 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.

Main responsibilities

• Leads the identification of new funding opportunities for the assigned donor/s and ensures SCF capitalises strategic available funding opportunities from the donor as per SCF donor engagement strategy and Go No Go decisions
• Responsible for following up donor priorities and communicating donor policy changes within SCF and with relevant country offices.
• Leads the development of SCF account strategies for a given donor (ECHO) and targets with support from Head of Institutional Partnerships and implements those strategies.
• Responsible for strategic donor engagement, including supporting country offices in developing and implementing specific donor engagement strategies. Identifies and coordinates advocacy opportunities and efforts in liaison with the Advocacy Advisor.
• Leads negotiations with donors on specific funding and contract formulations.
• Provides expertise to SCF staff concerning humanitarian sector, donor requirements and compliance, shares knowledge and provides capacity-building support for programme managers and other SCF staff. Provides capacity-building support on donor policies, compliance, proposal development, reporting etc. for country offices.
• Acts as SCF representative in SCI donor account management forums and contributes to the development of SCI’s donor accounts and strategies through close cooperation with colleagues from other SC members and country offices.
• Liaises with relevant stakeholders related to assigned donors and represents SCF at key meetings and events organized by the donor
• Other tasks as assigned by the line manager.

Qualifications and experience that we require from you

• Strong experience in the humanitarian sector, understanding how the humanitarian sector works
• Proven track record in working with international cooperation and civil society
• More than 7 years of experience in designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating humanitarian and/or development projects
• Proven skills in proposal development and engagement across major institutional donors
• Knowledge in ECHO -specific donor compliance incl. budget rules, regulations, guidance, trends and practices
• Proven track record of fundraising success and strategic partnership development
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills with a strong attention to detail
• Networking experience - credibility to lobby, influence and represent Save the Children Finland at all levels
• A proven team player
• High level of flexibility and adaptation skills in changing situations
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles.

Experience that we would consider a strong advantage

• Previous experience in working with child rights and human rights
• Compliance knowledge of other donors (eg INTPA, UNICEF, MFA)
• Previous experience in a similar position for another INGO
• A good working level of French

We offer you

• Possibility to work in an International NGO, who is known for its work on enhancing child rights in Finland and globally.
• An interesting working environment, with a multicultural team, where you can utilize your experience and further develop your expertise.
• Possibility to support the fulfillment of child rights globally and advance our strategic partnerships with key institutional partners
• Permanent contract
• Flexible working arrangements. Based in Finland or in Belgium.

Kindly indicate your salary request in your application.

Deadline of applications 

21 May 2024

More information

More information from Päivi Anttila (Head of Institutional Partnerships) telephone enquiries +358 50 593 4990 on Wednesday 15 May 2024 at 12–13.00 am (EEST).