Job Overview:

The F&T Gulf team leads on the IRC’s engagement with high-value, strategic, bi-and-multilateral partnerships with Gulf-based donors (spanning across the GCC nations and Eastern Mediterranean/ Levant). The F&T Gulf team operates under an ambitious strategy that prioritises new business, excellent relationship management, and cross-organisational business-critical initiatives.

The Partnerships Advisor develops new business opportunities and leads a portfolio of Gulf-based partners with the capacity to give 6+ figure gifts annually. The Advisor 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 ideal candidate understands the needs and performance of Gulf-based donors and prospects, efficiently communicates and collaborates with colleagues and partners, offers creative solutions, and uses systems to continually grow and improve existing and new donor relationships.

The Partnerships Advisor reports to the Senior Director, Global Foundations & Trusts and jointly the Partnerships Lead for the Gulf and works closely with programme and communications colleagues to develop engagement plan for partners at a strategic level. The Advisor coordinates with colleagues on IRC’s global programmes, both at the headquarters and country office levels, maintains engagement with and knowledge of programmes and acts as a collaborative and respectful colleague and liaison between funders and programmes. The successful candidate 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:

• Be integral to the delivery of the IRC’s Partnerships Strategy in the Gulf and build long-lasting, impactful relationships with private sector partners through skillful and creative outreach, cultivation, and stewardship to support the IRC’s clients worldwide

• Solicit and secure contributions from Gulf-based donors (institutions, private foundations, HNWIs, Islamic finance institutions, and corporations);

• Proactively identify, generate, and approach new donors through personal and peer-to-peer contacts and active networking opportunities to support a growing funding pipeline;

• Focus on external engagement, contribute to and develop creative and comprehensive solicitation, management, and stewardship plans;

• Lead on partnership management including influencing, proposal submissions, and external pitches, and maintain open and regular communication with partners to achieve a collective team target;

• Monitor the philanthropic landscape in the Gulf to make sure the IRC’s proposition are compelling and driven, and contribute to a growing knowledge base of resources to respond to partnership opportunities efficiently;

• Liaise with other colleagues to establish bespoke donor materials, guidelines, and processes for partnering with Gulf donors such as engagement principles, due diligence, and contracting, and;

• Maintain clear CRM records for the portfolio to contribute to comprehensive tracking/ reporting on F&T’s client universe and impact.

Job Requirements:

Education: Bachelor’s Degree or higher

Work Experience: 3-6 years of dynamic non-profit fundraising experience, ideally in the Middle East region, and proven expertise in high-value fundraising, preferably in or focused on the Middle East and/or Gulf.

Language Skills: English is mandatory; Arabic an asset.

Demonstrated Skills and Proficiencies:

• Extensive experience working with high-value donors and partners and securing 6+ figure gifts and ambitious 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 the Gulf and a deepened understanding of the cultural and political landscape of Gulf donors and the region;

• Experience coordinating with multiple collaborators, and leading complex internal and external relationships;

• Excellent oral and written communication skills including speaking with, presenting, and writing for high-value donors and overseeing 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;

• Experience working with institutional donors in the Gulf and/or with Faith-based Philanthropy, including Islamic giving with a focus on Zakat;

• Understanding of the vital support processes needed to deliver effective institutional funder relationships;

• Ability to identify and create processes required to support effective partnerships;

• CRM experience – Salesforce preferred, and;

• Passion for the IRC’s mission and clients.

Please send your resume/CV