Partnership Officer (National Position) – Maiduguri, Nigeria at INTERSOS

In the evolving landscape of humanitarian aid, the “localization” agenda is paramount to ensuring sustainable, community-led impact. By bridging the gap between international resources and local expertise, this role serves as a vital catalyst for empowering Nigerian organizations to lead in crisis response. Joining INTERSOS in this capacity means you are not just managing agreements; you are architecting a more equitable and resilient humanitarian ecosystem in Borno State.

Job Summary

The Partnership Officer is responsible for identifying, vetting, and nurturing strategic alliances with local actors to enhance the reach and quality of INTERSOS’s humanitarian interventions. Working under the Localization Advisor, the successful candidate will drive the mission’s commitment to capacity sharing, ensuring that local partners are meaningfully integrated into program design, implementation, and strategic decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Partnership Development

• Network Mapping: Conduct comprehensive landscape analyses of local NGOs and community-based organizations, maintaining a dynamic database that categorizes potential partners by sector expertise, geographic influence, and values alignment.
• Due Diligence & Assessment: Lead the end-to-end evaluation of prospective partners, coordinating with finance and compliance teams to analyze organizational procedures, verify counter-terrorism compliance, and conduct community-based reference checks.
• Strategic Selection: Synthesize assessment data into actionable recommendations for leadership, proposing long-term partnership tracks that align with the mission’s localization strategy.

Partnership & Capacity Management

• Agreement Oversight: Facilitate the negotiation and formalization of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and grant-specific sub-agreements, ensuring clarity of roles and mutual accountability.
• Mutual Capacity Strengthening: Design and implement tailored organizational development plans for partners, mobilizing internal INTERSOS departments or external specialists to facilitate training in technical and administrative domains.
• Inclusive Program Design: Ensure local partners have a seat at the table during the conceptualization of new projects, ensuring that proposals reflect local realities and community needs.
• Impact Monitoring: Establish and maintain a Partnership Management Matrix to evaluate the health and effectiveness of collaborations, providing data-driven suggestions for continuous improvement.

Reporting & Representation

• External Liaison: Represent INTERSOS in localization working groups and humanitarian clusters, advocating for partner interests and sharing best practices in collaborative programming.
• Internal Coordination: Act as the central focal point for all internal reporting regarding localization milestones, providing essential inputs for donor reports and project proposals.

Qualifications & Professional Requirements

• Educational Background: A University Degree in Social Sciences, Public Administration, International Development, or a related field of study.
• Proven Experience: A minimum of three (3) years of professional experience within the humanitarian sector, specifically dealing with NGO structures and the international cluster system.
• Technical Mastery: Solid understanding of the project cycle management (PCM) framework and grant administration.
• Digital Literacy: Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook) for data management and professional reporting.
• Language Skills: Full professional fluency in both English and Arabic (written and verbal) is essential for effective communication with diverse stakeholders.
• Preferred: Prior experience in designing and delivering professional training or workshops is highly desirable.

Core Behavioral Competencies

• Diplomacy & Negotiation: Ability to navigate complex interpersonal dynamics and build consensus between diverse organizational cultures.
• Analytical Thinking: Strong capacity for problem-solving and making evidence-based decisions under pressure.
• Integrity: A deep-seated commitment to humanitarian principles and the core values of INTERSOS.

Benefits of Joining INTERSOS

• Professional Growth: Take a leadership role in the critical “Localization” movement, a high-demand specialization in the global NGO sector.
• Competitive Compensation: INTERSOS offers a competitive salary package and benefits suited to national professional standards.
• Collaborative Environment: Work within a flexible, international structure that values initiative, adaptability, and team spirit.

About INTERSOS

INTERSOS is an independent, non-profit humanitarian organization dedicated to assisting victims of natural disasters, armed conflict, and extreme poverty. We prioritize interventions in the world’s most vulnerable regions, where rights and human dignity are most at risk. By maintaining a flexible and rapid-response operating structure, we provide essential goods and services while advocating for the protection of marginalized populations. In Nigeria, our mission is focused on delivering life-saving assistance through a community-centered approach that prioritizes local partnership and long-term sustainability.

Logistics & Application Process

• Location: Maiduguri, Borno State (National Position Only)
• Employment Type: Full-time
• Application Deadline: January 9, 2025

How to Apply: Interested candidates who meet the above criteria should submit their application via the official INTERSOS recruitment portal at the following link:

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Tips for Applicants

When completing your application, provide specific examples of how you have previously managed relationships with multiple stakeholders. INTERSOS values “Localization,” so highlighting your experience in mentoring or supporting smaller organizations will significantly strengthen your candidacy. Ensure your CV clearly demonstrates your fluency in Arabic, as this is a critical requirement for this specific location.