Partnership and Business Coordinator

The Partnership and Business Support Coordinator (PBSC) holds overall responsibility for supporting the Business Development Advisor to develop a strong partnership establishment and management including due diligence process, partnership assessment and on-going engagement. This position will ensure the CARE Laos partnership principles and strategy are practiced across the organization.

In addition, the PBSC will work closely with the Business Development Advisor to provide a high standard business development procedures including regular Resource Mobilisation Working Group (RMWG) meetings, pipeline design, tracking and application opportunities.  The PBSC will extend working closely with the Asia Regional Management Unit (ARMU) and CARE Member Partners (CMPs).

This position is based in Vientiane, with some travel required to other sites.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategy and Leadership:

• Lead the development of partnership strategy/review in line with CARE locally led approach;
• Support the development of market-based approaches;
• Ensure CARE Lao PDR’s partnership strategy has a strong focus on gender equality and women’s empowerment and that CARE strengthen its engagement with Women Rights Organisations;
• Hold accountability on partnership principles practice and strategy implementation.

Partnership

• Familialise with CARE partnership strategy and its engagement with core partners: government, private sectors, CSOs and UN agencies
• Work closely with the Business Development Advisor to develop criteria and guideline for core partners selection;
• Lead the Partnership team standards Including:
  • Participatory partnership assessment tools with particular focus on strategic organisational capacity;
  • Work with partners to develop and implement partnership development plans based on partnership assessment results;
  • Provide mentoring and accompaniment support to civil society partners;
  • Facilitate concrete capacity development activities/training within priority areas;
  • Identify and refer partners to relevant capacity development opportunities;
  • Where relevant organise joint learning events for civil society partners;
  • Monitor and evaluate capacity development progress of CSO partners;
• Ensuring partnership tools and grant guidelines are updated based on the contextual changes;
• Support to Network and Networking to strengthen the collaboration between organizations and with the government at provincial and national level;
• Ensure timely and quality delivery of capacity development for partners;

Business support

• Facilitate regular internal Resource Mobilisation Working Group (RMWG);
• Provide with recommendations on donor relationships (maintain, strengthen, withdraw, engage) and identify strategic partnership opportunities based on CARE core mandate vs. donor priorities.
• Support the business development functions in managing the partnership portfolio;
• Developing a strong knowledge of the donors dynamics in Lao PDR, and monitor closely the donors landscape;
• Support the development and review of the program design including analysis, theory of change, developing program concepts and sourcing funding and partnership opportunities;

Strengthening CAPACITY AND COORDINATION:

• Ensure timely and quality delivery of  capacity development for partners;
• Ensure the team develops, refines, and compiles  technical  training materials for partners

PARTNERSHIP, ADVOCACY, AND REPRESENTATION

• Participate in networking-related forums, workshops, government meetings, or other events as required;
• Provide support to the partners through mentoring and on-the-job training including the explanation of CARE Lao PDR policies and procedures;
• Promote and identify advocacy opportunity among partners and/or with CARE Laos including support strengthening capacity of partners around advocacy and policy dialogue.
• Coordinate with, strengthen and maintain relations with relevant Government authorities at Provincial and National level and other International and Non-Government Organisations;
• Have a key role in donor positioning and engagement that links to the business development.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Engage in emergency preparedness, assist in any emergency response as required;
• Promote a safe and secure work environment; foster a culture of safety and security awareness and ensure compliance with the safety and security policies, procedures;
• Demonstrate an ongoing commitment to gender equality, diversity, sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse (PHSEA) and child protection;
• Comply with CARE Lao PDR’s financial and operational requirements, foster strong communication between operations and programs teams and uphold high standards of honesty and integrity in personal conduct.

Selection and Required Criteria

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Marketing, social and development field or equivalent and/ or a minimum 2 years relevant work experience,
• Preferably in NPA/CSOs capacity development or support and/ or management for an International Non-Government Organisation (INGO);
• Proven knowledge and understanding on the development context in Laos;
• Some facilitation, analytical and strategic skills;
• Demonstrated understanding of gender equality and a commitment to CARE’s approach and values including ethnic diversity and cultural sensitivity;
• Proven understanding of working with an International Non-Government Organisation (INGO) and a willingness to learn about CARE, gender equality and women’s empowerment activities;
• Demonstrated leadership, decision making, problem solving, planning, analytical and influencing skills;
• Proven ability to foster commitment to pursue a clear and compelling vision, stimulating high performance;
• Demonstrated experience in effectively leading, people management and motivating a team;
• Demonstrated characteristics in honesty, reliability, trustworthiness with the ability to maintain confidentiality;
• Representational skills including developing networks and relationships with key stakeholders;
• Oral and written communication skills in both Lao and English; and
• Fully conversant in Microsoft Office with knowledge in Microsoft Word, Power Point and Excel.