Partnership Management Specialist

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected. 

Working together with children, young people, supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges girls and vulnerable children face. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood and we enable children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

For over 85 years, we have rallied other determined optimists to transform the lives of all children. Plan has vast experience and works in more than 75 countries across the world.

We won’t stop until we are all equal.

ROLE PURPOSE

We strive for a just world, working together with children, young people, our supporters, partners and host government. Our work supports marginalised children and youth, especially adolescent girls, to grow up physically and mentally healthy and ready to shape their future. We create an enabling environment and empower girls to be active drivers of change in realising their rights.  Plan International has been working in Malawi since 1994 in 14 districts, aiming to reach 3.5 million adolescent girls and young women between 2022-2027 through different interventions.

This role exists to support the strategic growth and management of Plan International’s portfolio of partners in Malawi.  The incumbent will focus on building and maintaining strong relationships with organisations within Malawi, supporting partnership development, and contributing to the successful delivery of partnership initiatives that advance Plan’s mission.  The role will lead initiatives to increase Plan’s capacity to engage with strategic partners and promote and model effective partnership approaches especially with local actors.  The position will represent Plan with strategic partners and lead the implementation and mainstreaming of the Building Better Partnership principles and country strategic ambitions.  This includes mapping of NGOs and partners, promoting collaborative partnership management, as well as capacity sharing, training and support of partner organisations in project implementation.

Dimensions of the Role

The position reports to the Business Development Manager and works collaboratively with the Country Leadership Team, Specialists for Business Development and Grants, Technical Leads, MERL team, finance, supply chain, and programme area teams.  They also work closely with the MEESA regional partnerships team to align strategic approaches.  They have no direct reports and may manage a functional budget of not more than €100,000.

Accountabilities

Strategy and Partnership Approach

• Under the leadership of the country leadership team (CLT), facilitate and support the implementation of the Country Strategy’s partnership priorities including robust stakeholder analysis processes and informed decisions to assess the best collaboration approaches for working in partnership with local civil society, government and private sector actors
• Lead in the development of the Partnership Strategy to deliver the partnering ambitions of the Country strategy
• Promote and apply the Building Better Partnership principles, including the efforts to build a strong understanding and application of working with partners management standards, skills and approaches among all departments
• Manage the country-level Partnership Management Committee, including referral or escalation of issues to CLT as appropriate
• Promote and disseminate Plan’s vision, values, procedures and code of conduct to partners
• Facilitate systematic partner feedback on Plan’s management of the partnership relationship, including the documentation of, and response to partner feedback

Partnership Development and Management

• Collaborate with technical coordinators to proactively identify potential partnerships with local and national organisations, including those that are led by youth and by women and serve girls or women
• Co-facilitate and guide partner mapping and selection processes of new partners, including to identify women-led and women/girls serving organisations
• Ensure due diligence assessments are conducted for partners or sub‑grantees to identify and address risks to safeguard organisational and donor interests
• Contribute to the identification and implementation of appropriate measures to manage those risks
• Contribute to project and proposal design and Go/ No Go decisions and ensure that these are consistent with the partnership strategy
• Contribute to project start-up agenda and materials to ensure that Plan and partners have clear expectations
• Prepare, review, and amend sub-contract documents and partnership agreements using approved templates to ensure accuracy, clarity of terms, and alignment with organisational and donor standards
• Coordinate with finance to achieve timely funds transfers and robust financial follow up in support of partners and work with the department to address any disbursement challenges, including escalating related issues to the CLT
• Recommend and implement sub-contracting and partnership management process improvements to reduce approval timelines and strengthen consistency and quality of agreements

Relationship Management

• Act as focal point for all partners, providing clear guidance and timely responses on teaming, grant, partnership, and contract management matters
• Engage with project teams, country offices, partners, and sub‑grantees to resolve contractual, compliance, and implementation issues in a timely and constructive manner
• Liaise with partners or sub‑grantees on MoU or contract terms to ensure clear roles, responsibilities, and deliverables
• Participate in regular partner monitoring visits, review and reflection meetings, organised by project implementation teams
• Lead in organising and conducting annual review meetings with partners, ensuring inputs from programme, finance and compliance staff are received and included, meeting minutes taken, filed, and disseminated
• Proactively engage and communicate with partners in project development efforts, including supporting partner communications during proposal development processes
• Co-lead the review of the performance of partners (including based on partner feedback), and of the partnership, including successes, challenges and lessons learned

Knowledge Management

• Contribute actively to knowledge management initiatives through the sharing and dissemination of partnership approaches and lessons
• Stay abreast of new or updated partnership management policies, procedures, and standards from Global & Regional Hubs and support the rollout of these initiatives in-country
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date partnerships records including agreements, sub-contracts, MoUs, reports, etc on the Malawi Team Site
• Propose ideas for improving partnership management or other innovations
• Communicate feedback and suggestions on processes related to partners to the Regional Hub partnership team
• Collaborate with the MERL team on the measurement of partnership initiatives and partner-led delivery

Partner Support and Capacity Sharing

• Train key country office and partner staff on partnership processes
• Facilitate the collaborative development and delivery of partner organisational support plans, ensuring that they appropriately addresses issues identified in the due diligence process
• Understand partner capacity strengthening priorities to ensure Plan can develop and provide support
• Collaborate with technical leads to integrate technical capacity sharing approaches, including how Plan can learn from local partners
• Consistently monitor and analyse Plan's performance as a partner, making recommendations to CLT and adjustments as needed
• Organise and contribute to training and information sessions on partnership management requirements to strengthen compliance and shared understanding among project teams and partners

Safeguarding

• Ensure that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

Dealing with Problems

• Keep an eye on internal and external environment including government that have potential to affect programme planning and implementation
• Demonstrate flexibility and strategic thinking in working with and influencing national level government officials to gain support towards Plan’ programmes and approaches

Key relationships

Internal

• Head of Business Development and Business Development Manager
• Director of Programmes
• Technical Leads (IQE, SRHR, SOYEE, Child Protection & Gender Equality & Inclusion, Strategic Communication, Safeguarding, Sponsorship Communications)
• Programme Area Managers
• Business Development and Grants Management Specialists
• Project Managers
• Finance Teams
• Supply Chain Hub
• Other staff, including members of the Country Leadership Team and the Country Director

External

• Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, National and Local authorities, community leaders, sponsored families, sponsored children, community volunteers, community members etc.
• Partners organisations and other INGO
• Civil society organisations
• Sponsors, sponsored children/families, NOs, GH, RH

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

Self-Leadership

• Courageous in taking a lead, focused on PIM strategic ambition and making the most effective contribution within own work context
• Behaves in line with our values and safeguarding practices, inside and outside work
• Challenges own attitudes, unconscious bias and behaviour and speaks up when they see wrongdoing, especially by those who use their power over others to create fear or abuse
• Understand and adhere to the policies, processes, practices and standards relevant to own work and keeps their knowledge and skills up to date
• Honest and efficient in use of resources, including own time
• Takes responsibility for own performance and development: reflecting; seeking and listening to feedback; learning from mistakes; finding people or resources to help them learn
• Constructive and optimistic in facing setbacks, challenges and change, using own initiative to analyse issues and improve things
• Good team player, communicating effectively and being open and supportive towards those around them

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

 Qualifications & Experience

• A master’s degree in international development, social sciences, project management, organisational development or related field     

• 5 years of relevant project and/or grant management experience within development or humanitarian sectors
• Specialized knowledge of international development policies, international affairs, fundraising and corporate social responsibility are desirable
• Demonstrable experience working with national and international partners, including NGOs, government actors, and private sector entities
• Experience in staff training, coaching, and mentoring
• Experience in civil society strengthening and engagement

Skills & Knowledge

• Knowledge of rights-based approaches
• Sound conceptual and strategic thinking
• Demonstrated organisational skill
• Flexibility and ability to multi-task under pressure
• Negotiation at different levels and effective interpersonal skills, including the ability to build relationships with colleagues with diverse experiences
• Prior knowledge of donor and understanding of compliance requirements in the context of partnership.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including presentation and public speaking
• Knowledge and practical experience of engaging and partnering with youth movements, youth organising and influencing
• Ability to work well in frequently changing contexts
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Leadership analysis/coaching skills
• Strong team building and motivational skills

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

• Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
• Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
• Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
• Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
• Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact

• Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
• Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
• Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
• Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organisation to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering

• We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential
• We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge equality in our programs and our workplace
• We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives.

Physical Environment

Based at Malawi Country Office with significant in-country travel and periodic international travel.

Level of contact with children

Mid contact: Occasional interaction with children

Location: Lilongwe, Country Office

Type of Role: Fixed Term

Reports to: Business Development Manager

Grade: Level 14

Closing Date: 9 August 2026

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for. 

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk. 

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International's Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.