Role Title: Thematic Partnership Lead - Health
VSO Team: Global Practice Area
Responsible to: Global Practice Area Lead
Work Location: Home, VSO office or registered work location.
Line Reports/Supervision: No direct line management responsibility
Contract type: Permanent / Fixed term Contract

As a Thematic Partnership Lead in Health, you will be responsible for generating and strengthening partnerships and relationships which will contribute to greater impact of our thematic work globally in line with our global portfolio direction; through enhancing our credibility as a trusted partner, building collaborative relationships with strategic partners within the development sector, academia, UN agencies, social movements, donors and NGOs.

• Lead VSO’s strategic relationship development and proactive positioning with global institutions, networks, international academic and research organisations, bilateral and multilateral donors, social movements and trade unions.
• Research, build and develop a strong pipeline of thematic partnerships, prospecting and relationship building and directly pursue a prioritised list for joint influencing, programme delivery and ffundraising.
• Develop and implement a plan for renewal and maintenance of existing global partnerships to scale our Volunteering for Development programme, growth and influence with priority targets working with key allies.
• Develop a deep understanding of VSO’s Practice Areas, local programmes and across VSO’s global operations to be able to talk persuasively with external strategic partners, UN agencies, academics, key governments, donors and partners about VSO’s track-record and impact from our Volunteering for Development approach in contextually relevant ways.
• Drive and deepen external relationships with strategic partners, implementation partners, primary actors, self- organised networks, volunteer networks/platforms and key bilateral and multilateral donors.
• Drive VSO’s ambition to play a global role as a credible partner, enhancing our position as an anchor institution in international development and being a first choice with potential partners and donors.
• Represent VSO externally and internally, in line with our organisational priorities through values and evidence-based influencing, partnership and alliance building.

Collaboration

• Collaborate with Practice Area technical leads, Business Pursuit, Programme Development, Engagement and leadership, People and Finance colleagues along with Executive Board members to identify, develop and realise Practice Area partnership targets.
• Contribute as a member of VSO’s Practice Area Leadership Team and be accountable for delivering VSO Operating Plan targets and actions; support and participate actively in quarterly business review discussions.
• Work closely with the Project Portfolio Leads on strengthening the engagement between Practice areas strategic partners and implementing partners and donors.
• Collaborate with other internal colleagues:

Legal team to ensure compliance with relevant regulatory and due diligence requirements.

Internal Audit and Risk team to ensure VSO systems and processes support early detection, identification, mitigating and management of risks across the portfolio.

Communications and digital network to ensure that external engagementt.

• A strong network of existing relationships and contacts working in international development
• Proven track record of knowledge and credibility in Health, specifically contributing to the delivery of sexual Reproductive Maternal New-born Child Adolescent Health and Rights (SRMNCAHR) with a focus on adolescents and youth especially in the “global south” with international development actors.

Technology: Excellent practical knowledge of Microsoft 365.

Commitment to VSO’s vision and values, including safeguarding and taking a zero-tolerance approach to abuse and harm.

At VSO we believe progress is only possible by working together. Whether you want to join us as an employee, or as a volunteer working in your own country, overseas or online, our selection process includes an assessment based on these core competencies:

• Ability to be open-minded and respectful
• Ability to be resilient and adaptive to new situations
• Ability to facilitate positive change and build sustainable working relationships
• Ability to seek and share knowledge

If you’re interested in applying for this role, please click on the link to apply before 31st September 2021 https://bit.ly/thematicpartnershiplead-health