Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.
The Department
A part of the wider Development Team, the Foundation partnerships team manages Mercy Corps’ fundraising relationships with major European and US Foundations, working to develop strategic partnerships that support social impact at scale in our priority areas including economic and market development, food and water security, climate change, peacebuilding and emergency response, creating lasting impact with and for the local communities with whom we work.
We build meaningful partnerships through outstanding relationship management and partner services, connecting our partners to the work we do. We work across many teams at Mercy Corps, including the wider Development team, programmes and country-based colleagues around the world, marketing and communications team and the executive office. The Foundations team based in Europe works as part of a wider CFT team based in the U.S., splitting portfolios by geography whilst working collaboratively to pursue strategic objectives.
The Position (General Position Summary)
The Senior Partnerships Officer will be responsible for the account management of the existing and growing portfolio of foundation partners within Europe. A key focus of the Senior Foundation Partnerships Officer will be to provide a high standard of relationship management and stewardship so that partners are motivated to continue and increase their support to Mercy Corps’ work through increased funding values and deepened partnerships. They will also support the Strategic Partnerships Manager to raise funds from new trust and foundation partners. This includes primary responsibility across the portfolio for grants management – including proposal and agreement review, compliance and finance coordination, award kick-off, and reporting.
Essential Responsibilities
RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT
Lead on the account management of agreed partners within the Foundations portfolio in Europe, ensuring that each partnership is backed by a strategic plan for development.
Strategically enhance and steward relationships within the Foundations portfolio to significantly increase giving levels and alignment with Mercy Corps’ priorities.
Support the Strategic Partnerships Manager on the formulation and implementation of individual strategies for developing key partnerships and initiatives around programmatic priorities.
Act as a point person for partners and donors in response to outreach, questions and wider collaboration opportunities.
PORTFOLIO/GRANT MANAGEMENT
Lead on coordination with desk teams, finance, compliance, country and programmatic teams to conduct agreement reviews, address internal/external compliance concerns, ensure timely grant reporting, track budget vs actuals and file official grant paperwork.
Ensure account-related records are accurate and accessible and that up to date information is recorded on Raisers’ Edge and appropriate internal and global drives.Ensure that relevant teams understand and adhere to funding requirements so that the objectives of CFT grants are fully met.
Maintain understanding of key foundation partnerships to be able to represent foundation strategies to internal stakeholders.
Deputize key accounts when the Strategic Partnerships Manager is unavailable.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Lead portfolio expansion efforts (research, strategy, planning, materials) and strategies for thematic sectors, like digital currency and climate.
Write, edit and/or project manage the development of concepts, proposals, reports, pitch decks, updates and stewardship materials.
Work closely with global, regional and desk programmes teams to remain up to date of MC priorities and global impact.
Input into cross-team workstreams related to new-business mapping; global event and conference research and preparation.
REPRESENTATION
Act as an internal expert on the philanthropic landscape, and channel the perspective of foundation partners in developing proposals and ideas with programmatic team members.
Effectively represent Mercy Corps to partners and external audiences for both fundraising and profile elevation.
Lead initiatives that aim to enhance and deepen partner relationships, including campaigns and events.
Supervisory Responsibility : None
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Strategic Partnerships Manager (Foundations)
Works Directly With: Corporate and Foundation Partnerships Officer
Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Minimum Qualifications & Transferable Skills
Minimum 4 years demonstrated experience in Trust and Foundations fundraising or proven experience in partnership development working in the international development/humanitarian sector.
Demonstrated experience in stewarding donors resulting in the growth of 6-7+-figure partnerships and persuading larger giving values
Demonstrated experience in building long-term strategic partnerships with deepened value, e.g. incorporating profile-raising opportunities, leveraging partner expertise etc.
Excellent writing skills and experience of proposal and report writing for a corporate audience, and the ability to write compelling funding proposals and donor communications.
Excellent verbal communication skills, able to present the organisation and discuss opportunities for collaboration with a diverse range of actors.
Experience working with a variety of teams to enhance internal collaboration towards a common goal.
Excellent attention to detail.
IT literate with good knowledge of Microsoft Office and databases, particularly experience managing complex trackers.
Experience of using/managing relationship databases, ideally Raiser's Edge (desirable)
Success Factors
We are looking for a collaborative team worker who is an excellent communicator to be able to build and maintain effective internal and external relationships. The individual should have excellent organisational and time management skills, with ability to work accurately and to deadlines. This role requires someone who thinks creatively and strategically who can find interesting angles to engage our partners. The ideal candidate will be highly motivated and solutions-oriented, with the ability to cope with changing priorities (often at short notice) and work well under pressure where required.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in either London or Edinburgh and may involve occasional national and international travel. Mercy Corps Europe team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a short-term assignment or trip to country offices. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all Mercy Corps locations. Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps' vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment. Candidates must have the right to work in the UK at the time of appointment.
Ongoing Learning
In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.
Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.