Partnerships Coordinator

Job description

School-to-School Zambia (STSZ) is a Zambian NGO in operation since 2020 committed to improving the lives and learning of girls and boys worldwide through thoughtful research, practice, and partnership.

Role: The primary role of the Partnerships Coordinator is to conduct a wide range of business development, project start-up and management, and staff capacity strengthening tasks to sustain and expand organizational funding in alignment with STSZ’s mission. The Partnerships Coordinator may be required to travel within Zambia to accomplish tasks.

Responsibilities:

1.        Strategy & Partnerships

Conduct and continuously update a value chain analysis to determine STSZ’s competitive advantage – through a mixture of consultations with STSZ staff, key stakeholders, and potential partners as well as desk research. Use value chain analysis as a tool for identifying partnerships and funding opportunities that have a high probability of success.
Monitor relevant online portals for new business development opportunities. Track and conduct analysis of donor trends.
Research and establish/maintain partnerships with critical and potential national and international partners. Represent STSZ at networking events and meetings to source business development opportunities and identify potential partners.
Register STSZ with relevant funders and ensure organizational eligibility/compliance with key funder requirements.

2.        Proposal Development

Lead preparation of proposals, including, but not limited to editing and review of proposal narratives, staffing and capabilities documentation, budget preparation, and annexes
Manage proposals from start to finish, including interaction with relevant STSZ staff, partners, and funders and ensure fully compliant proposal submissions
Lead recruitment of candidates for inclusion in proposals with assistance from STSZ staff, as needed
Create, update, and/or maintain databases of consultants and proposal candidates
Conduct research related to specific program thematic areas, as needed
Assist in the analysis of program budgets and expenditure data to ensure accurate proposal budgeting. Lead in analysis, dissemination, and use of proposal feedback received from funders.
Lead in knowledge management and recordkeeping for STSZ staffing and organizational capabilities and documentation related to proposals and partnerships

3.        Project Start-up & Management

Manage the programmatic and financial implementation of newly awarded STSZ projects and execute thorough handover process – sharing the key details and documentation of the proposal with the personnel who will implement the project long-term.
Manage the programmatic and financial implementation of STSZ projects on an ongoing basis, as assigned.

4.        Staff Capacity Strengthening

Document and disseminate key learnings and tools for successful STSZ business development with STSZ staff
Ensure STSZ staff are deeply involved in key partner and funder relationships

Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in international relations or other relevant field
5-7 years’ experience working with non-governmental organizations in the area of business development and/or project management in Zambia
Strong writing and editing skills
Strong computer skills and experience with Microsoft Office applications, especially Word, Excel, and Outlook; as well as Adobe Acrobat
Demonstrated ability to follow instructions and carefully review work for accuracy
Excellent organizational skills with the ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities and meet tight deadlines; ability to learn and adapt quickly
Ability to act independently to identify and analyze problems and recommend solutions
Successful experience forming partnerships, writing proposals, and developing budgets for major funders such as World Bank, United Nations, European donors, private foundations, and/or implementing partner organizations preferred
Honed interpersonal & negotiation skills
Spoken and written fluency in English required and professional proficiency in a second language preferred

Supervision and Oversight: The Partnerships Coordinator reports to the STSZ Executive Director and will receive support from School-to-School International’s VP of Business Strategy.

Location: The Partnerships Coordinator is a Lusaka-based remote position. Candidates will work remotely from the location of their choice and be available to attend in-person meetings and events in Lusaka and other parts of Zambia.

Duration and Status of Role: The Partnerships Coordinator will initially be contracted on a six-month consultancy basis, with the opportunity for extension and/or transition to full-time staff based on demonstrated success and available budget.