Job Title:
Programme and Partnerships Officer
Contract:
This is a two-year fixed-term contract. We welcome applications from candidates seeking either full-time hours (36.5 hours per week) or part-time hours (30 hours per week)
Cluster/Team:
Programmes, Partnerships and Advocacy
Location:
Hybrid – High Wycombe (minimum one day a month in the office, plus extra as required)
Job Band:
Full Time Salary: between £30,000 to £34,000 per annum (36.5 hours per week), depending on skills and experience
Part-time Salary: between £24,700 – £27,950 per annum (30 hours per week/ 0.82 FTE), depending on skills and experience
Reports To:
Programmes and Partnership Manager
Direct Reports:
None expected
Cluster Purpose: The Programmes, Partnerships & Advocacy team works with partners, churches, supporters and decision-makers to promote justice, dignity and inclusion for communities in the Middle East. The team supports Embrace’s Christian mission by connecting programme insight, advocacy, church engagement and supporter action.
Role Purpose:
The vision of Embrace’s programmes and partnerships is to bring hope and lasting change to some of the poorest and most marginalised communities across the Middle East. We work alongside local Christian-led organisations and churches, facilitating the delivery of high-impact programmes that address community needs, promote justice and inclusion, and enable people to realise their God-given potential.
The Programmes and Partnerships Officer plays a key role in supporting the effective delivery and management of Embrace’s partnerships and programmes across the region. Working closely with Programmes and Partnerships Managers and another Programmes and Partnerships Officer, the post holder will provide programme, administrative, communications and data management support, taking day-to-day ownership of agreed stages of the grant-management process, helping to maintain strong partner relationships, ensuring accurate programme information is available across the organisation, and contributing to the effective delivery of team projects and organisational objectives.
What success looks like: Success in this role means that programme activity is well organised, deadlines and reporting cycles are met, partner information is accurate and accessible, risks and issues are escalated appropriately, and colleagues have the information they need to make informed decisions.
Key Responsibilities:
Programme and Partnership Support:
- Provide programme support to Embrace’s Programmes and Partnerships Managers, supporting one or more of the portfolios for Israel and occupied Palestine (IoP), Lebanon and Syria, Egypt and Iraq.
- Assist Programmes and Partnerships Managers with the coordination and monitoring of partner relationships, including compliance (i.e. financial, safeguarding and governance), reporting requirements, adherance to key grant deadlines and grant project progression.
- Take day-to-day ownership of agreed stages of the grant-management process, ensuring documentation is complete, information is recorded accurately, deadlines and approvals are tracked, and outstanding actions are followed through. Escalate risks, exceptions and decisions to the relevant Programmes and Partnerships Manager.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date programme files and databases in accordance with organisational procedures.
- Assist in the preparation of programme updates, trustee papers, briefing notes, presentations and other materials as required.
- Carry out additional responsibilities as required.
Communication and Information Coordination:
- Coordinate the collection, organisation and transfer of programme information from partners to communications and fundraising colleagues.
- Work with Programmes and Partnerships Managers, Advocacy, Fundraising and Communication colleagues and partners to obtain stories, case studies, photographs, reports and other materials that demonstrate programme impact.
- Supporting fundraising, advocacy, supporter engagement and organisational communications, reviewing and preparing content within an agreed timeframe to ensure programme, partner and contextual information is accurate and compliant with internal policies and codes of conduct.
- Support the improvement of systems and processes to track content requests, submissions from partners and relevant compliance with GDPR and safeguarding policies.
Administration and Data Management:
- Provide administrative support and ownership across the Programmes and Partnerships team.
- Maintain programme, partner and project data within organisational databases and systems, ensuring partner and grant records are accurate and complete.
- Support meeting coordination, scheduling, agenda preparation and minute-taking where required.
- Assist with document management, filing, record-keeping and internal reporting processes.
- Support compliance with organisational policies and donor requirements through accurate record maintenance.
- Support the improvement and expansion of digital solutions for Embrace’s programmes and partnerships
Project Support:
- Support and own the delivery of departmental and cross-organisational projects, ensuring tasks are completed accurately and on time. Examples could include regional events, training opportunities for partners, developing digital due diligence processes and resources.
- Assist with project planning, monitoring and coordination activities.
- Track actions, deadlines and deliverables, following up with colleagues as required.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of programme and partnership management processes, systems, guidance and tools, helping to strengthen efficiency, compliance, consistency and organisational learning across the team.
Cross-team Collaboration:
- Work collaboratively with colleagues across Programmes, Partnerships & Advocacy, Fundraising, Communications, Finance, Supporter Experience and Shared Services.
- Build constructive working relationships, share information appropriately, and help ensure that programme knowledge is available to colleagues who need it for supporter communication, compliance, reporting and organisational planning.
- Support the organisation, administration and running of weekly staff prayer meetings.
- Organisation-wide Contribution: Model Embrace’s values of trust, respect, integrity, and compassion.
- Uphold safeguarding responsibilities and compliance with GDPR and charity regulations.
- Actively support organisational goals. Adhere to Embrace’s policies & procedures at all times.
KPIs you will own:
- Partner documentation, grant records and programme files are complete, consistently stored and accessible to authorised colleagues.
- Partner due diligence records are up to date and well organised. Outstanding documentation is flagged with Programme and Partnerships Managers promptly and any follow up carried out in a timely manner.
- Finance and payment administration is supported accurately, with queries and missing information followed up promptly.
- Colleagues in other clusters receive, factual and timely programme information to support communications, fundraising, advocacy and governance.
- Support to team projects is efficient and well organised.
- Safeguarding, data protection and confidentiality requirements are followed consistently.
- All activity is carried out in a manner that reflects the values of Embrace the Middle East and its relational and responsive approach to partnerships.
3/6/12‑month milestones:
3 Months
- Understands Embrace’s strategy, key programme areas, partners, partnership approach, systems and approval routes.
- Carries out activities in line with Embrace’s organisational and team values.
- Maintains agreed goals set up in monthly supervision.
6 Months
- Coordinates routine programme administration confidently with a broad knowledge of the programmes and partner context, owning specific aspects of the grant process.
- Contributes to reporting, fundraising and communications processes and develops effective working relationships with partners and other Embrace clusters.
- Supports internal team projects efficiently and effectively.
12 Months
- Demonstrates confidence and competence in supporting the Programmes and Partnerships Managers with minimal supervision
- Understands the grant cycle and due diligence requirements
- Identifies improvements, supports accurate programme reporting and contributes proactively to cross-team project work and programme understanding.
Person specification
Essential Qualifications, Experience & Knowledge:
- Educated to A level/degree level equivalent.
- Experience in an administrative, project support or programme support role.
- Experience building and maintaining effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Experience maintaining confidential records and handling sensitive information appropriately. Knowledge / understanding / interest of the issues impacting the region.
Skills & Competencies:
- Excellent written and verbal English
- Proven organisational and administrative skills. Excellent attention to detail.
- Intermediate/advanced IT skills including– MS office – Teams/ Sharepoint Word, Excel and Outlook, databases
- Ability to maintain accurate records, manage data effectively and handle confidential information with discretion
- Ability to pick up new processes and tasks quickly and able to use own initiative
- Ability to identify, assess and escalate programme compliance risks.
- Strong planning and coordination skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality work to agreed deadlines
- Convey information clearly, succinctly and coherently via email,/ over the phone and in writing.
- Good team player prepared to work collaboratively and contribute to the overall success of the organisation.
- Ability to work effectively and respectfuly across different cultures, contexts and perspectives.
Desirable Skills & Experience:
- Experience working within the charity, international development, humanitarian or faith-based sectors, with an understanding of the opportunities and challenges associated with partnership-based approaches.
- Experience coordinating, reviewing and communicating programme information for fundraising, communications, advocacy or supporter engagement purposes.
- Experience using CRM and/or project management systems.
- Experience of, or familiarity with programme and grant management processes, including grant administration, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL), reporting requirements, compliance obligations and partnership management practices.
- Strong theological understanding – ability to refer to scripture and comfortable to pray with Partners and colleagues.
Personal qualities:
- Desire to work for an international development organisation and opportunity to develop and gain further experience in the sector.
- Trustworthy, compassionate and reliable
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Self-motivated and able to work under pressure and prioritise effectively
- Good team player prepared to contribute to the overall success of the organisation
- Flexible in a multi-task environment and ‘can do’ attitude
- Sympathy for Embrace’s mission with the Christian faith and comfortable working in a faith-inspired environment
- Flexibility to work remotely and in an office environment as required.
- Values-led – aligns with Embrace’s mission and demonstrates integrity and respect.
Tools & systems:
- CRMs
- Microsoft 365 (Teams, SharePoint, Planner), project boards, Co-Pilot
Staff benefits at Embrace the Middle East:
• To support every member of staff to work as effectively as possible, Embrace offers remote and flexible working arrangements. This includes flexitime and home-working arrangements.
• Flexitime – start work between 7:30am – 10:00am and finish between 3:00pm – 6:00pm. Our core collaborative working hours are between 10:00am to 3:00pm.
• Pension – option to join from day 1. Maximum employer contribution of 10%.
• Holiday – 32 days, including 8 bank holidays and a day off work for your birthday, rising to 33 days after 5 years’ service and 34 days after 10 years’ service, plus 3 days leave between Christmas and the New Year.
• Life Assurance – 3x salary.
• Access to retail discount portal.
• Employee Assistance Programme (confidential counselling, legal and financial advice) – available 24/7, 365 days a year.
• Training and development programme for all employees.
• Commitment to staff health & wellbeing.
Closing date for applications – is Thursday 24th September at 12 noon.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy and conduct interviews in advance of the closing date should suitable applications be received.
Application Process
To ensure a fair and consistent recruitment process, we are only able to accept applications submitted through our Employment Hero recruitment portal. Applications received by email, LinkedIn, post, or any other method will not normally be considered.
Equal Opportunities
Embrace the Middle East provides equal opportunity for all job applicants and employees and is committed to providing a work environment free of discrimination. We are dedicated to an inclusive culture, and we strive to create a workplace where teams of people with diverse backgrounds, characteristics, perspectives, ideas and experiences work together. We welcome applications from all individuals irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or socio-economic background.
Reasonable Adjustments
At Embrace the Middle East, we are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the application or selection process, please contact our HR Team at hr.team@embraceme.org. We will be happy to discuss how we can support you and ensure you have a fair opportunity to demonstrate your suitability for the role. Any information you provide will be handled with sensitivity and in confidence. To monitor diversity in our recruitment practices you will be invited to complete an anonymous Equality, Diversity and Inclusion questionnaire as part of the application process.
Role requirements:
Sympathy with and support for Embrace the Middle East’s Christian ethos, mission and values. Comfortable working within a Christian organisation and engaging respectfully with Christian practices, partners, churches and supporters.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Statement
We welcome the responsible use of AI tools to support your application, for example to help with research, structure or clarity. However, your application should remain an authentic reflection of your own skills, experience, achievements and motivations. We are keen to understand your unique perspective and suitability for the role, and you may be asked to discuss and expand upon the information provided during the recruitment process.
Please note that, in order to be considered for this position, you must have the right to work in the UK through nationality, settled or pre-settled status, or a relevant visa that permits you to undertake the role. Embrace the Middle East is not currently able to offer visa sponsorship for this position.
The successful candidate will be required to complete a medical questionnaire and undertake a disclosure check as part of the Charity’s safer recruitment policy.
