Search is an international non-profit organization that promotes the peaceful resolution of conflicts. With headquarters in Washington, DC, and Brussels, Belgium, Search’s mission is to transform how individuals, organizations, and governments deal with conflict away from destructive approaches toward cooperative solutions. With more than 900 staff worldwide, Search implements projects in more than 37 countries across the world. Search designs and implements multifaceted, culturally appropriate, and conflict-sensitive programs using a diverse range of tools, including media and training, to promote dialogue, increase knowledge, and determine a positive shift in behaviors. In mid-2019, Search opened its office in Afghanistan and was registered as an International NGO with the Afghan government.

Scope of Position:

The Senior Manager – Partnership will develop and manage the implementation of Search’s projects implemented in partnership with other national and international organizations in Afghanistan. The role involves oversight of both program quality and compliance, working in close collaboration with other departments and as part of the country’s senior management team. S/he will be responsible for the direct management of Search’s projects in Afghanistan, management of sub-awards and consortiums, and oversight and capacity-strengthening support to Project Managers and consortium partners.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

All Programs

• Manages project partnerships to ensure they follow Search’s Partnership Protocols and sub-award policies and contribute to effective programming;
• Facilitates national and international consultants in technical and project delivery by coordinating and managing  project resources in line with approved budget allocations;
• Serves as point contact to coordinate with key stakeholders and partner organizations;
• Prepares estimation of costs and costed work, and keeps the project PMT up to date;
• Prepares/reviews monthly, quarterly, and final progress reports of Search’s ongoing projects (Rain Not Thunder), and maintains performance monitoring frameworks;
• Identifies implementation challenges and manages solutions
• Directly oversees the portfolio of grants, working in collaboration with the regional and country teams responsible for implementing these grants;
• Provides technical assistance and advice to Project Managers. Advises and trains program teams and consortium partners on program quality and donor compliance requirements and strengthens systems, policies, and procedures to assure compliance;
• Compiles and renders usable and appropriate tools, tips, and guidance to help Search’s Project Managers to best comply with the relevant policies and procedures of Search’s donors as well as Search’s own standards;
• Leads project startups and closes out and positions the teams in a better technical position to implement and monitor compliance;
• Analyzes the potential risks related to Search’s current program implementation practices and articulates recommendations for mitigation of risks;
• Attends Search’s senior management team meetings and inputs into strategic decision-making processes for the country program;
• Leads reflection sessions with a view to developing action and corrective plans to be disseminated across the organization for better program implementation.
• Makes inputs to new business and proposal design and development processes;
• Collaborates with other team members in developing policies and standard operating procedures on program implementation processes;
• Collaborates with other team members to implement a learning agenda that informs policies, legislation, programming, and best practices;
• Foster productive working relationships with key stakeholders including civil society and community-based organizations, donors, government ministries, networks, etc.;
• Monitor project activity budget and ensure spending aligns with the work plans.

Safeguarding:

• Remain alert and responsive to any child safeguarding risks, acquire relevant knowledge and skills that will enable you to promote strong safeguarding practices, understand the child safeguarding policy and procedures, and conduct yourself in a manner consistent with the Child Safeguarding Policy.

As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.

Skills & Competencies:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in management, Media and communication, international development, peace and conflict studies, social sciences, social inclusion, public diplomacy, conflict prevention, and crisis response, or a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 10 years of working experience with national and international organizations in a similar role.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Proven program management skills, including budget monitoring, activity planning, evaluating, and managing human and other resources
• Existing relationships with relevant stakeholders in the civil society sector such as CSOs, NGOs, International actors, donor community, and duty-bearers of relevant sectors (MoEcon, MoIC);
• Strong interpersonal and networking skills, including the ability to build relationships internally and externally;
• Cross-cultural sensitivity & experience;
• Experience contributing to the development of technical proposals;
• Computer literate and experienced in using MS Office packages;
• Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with the ability to make sound judgments;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to write reports in English;
• Excellent knowledge of the local language;
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented;
• Ability to travel within and outside Afghanistan independently;
• Ability to communicate with and manage multiple relationships with multiple partners and skills of coordinating diverse activities;
• Thorough understanding of global security trends, national efforts on peace and conflict management, network with existing peace institutions, and understanding of the national legal and peace policy framework;

Behavioral Competencies

• Working with People:  The ability to respect the views and contributions of other team members; shows empathy, listens, supports; consults others and shares information and expertise, builds team spirit and adapts to the team.
• Flexibility:  The ability to adapt to changing circumstances and priorities, to tolerate ambiguity, to adapt personal style to different people and situations.
• Drive for Results and Efficiency:  The ability to set quality standards, monitor and maintain quality of work, and set goals to achieve continuous improvement.
• Relationship Management:  The ability to manage interactions, to provide service and to support the organization while building an effective internal and external network.
• Consultation (for managers and up):  The ability to provide guidance to organizational stakeholders while applying creative problem-solving to address business needs.
• Leadership and Navigation:   The ability to manage and contribute to initiatives and processes within the organization while making progress toward change and continuous improvement.
• Communication:  The ability to effectively exchange information with others, to effectively deliver critical information, to gather information and communicate with others.
• Global and Cultural Effectiveness:   The ability to value and consider the perspectives and backgrounds of all parties and be able to work cross-culturally.
• Ethical Practice:   The ability to integrate Search vision, mission and core values, integrity and accountability throughout all organizational and business practices.
• Critical Evaluation (for managers and up):   The ability to interpret information to make business decisions and recommendations based on keen analysis, best practices and an understanding of preferred outcomes.
• Business Acumen:   The ability to understand and apply information to contribute to the organization’s strategic plan.
• Developing others (for people managers): The ability to provide support to enhance performance and professional growth.

Commitment to Search Values and Safeguarding Policy:

• All Search Employees must adhere to the values: Collaboration- Audacity – Tenacity – Empathy – Results.  In accordance with these values, Search enforces compliance with the Code of Conduct and related policies on Anti Workplace Harassment, Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Conflict of Interest, and Anti-fraud. Search is committed to safeguarding the interests, rights, and well-being of children, youth, and vulnerable adults with whom it is in contact and to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for children, youth, and vulnerable adults

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