Organization profile

UOSSM France is a health-centric association founded in response to the Syrian crisis by members of the Syrian diaspora in Paris, France, in 2011. At the core of our work, UOSSM France supports medical and health-related activities inside Syria, including relief and stabilisation measures but also longer-term actions targeted at strengthening the health sector and civil society in different geographies of the country at large. Where feasible and relevant, this also involves the diaspora and other vulnerable populations affected by the crisis abroad. Overall, UOSSM France is dedicated to engage and support in a localised, participatory, and inclusive manner.
With more than 10 years of experience working in a conflict-affected area focused on Syria, UOSSM France expanded its scope of action to respond to Ukraine’s recent needs. Indeed, UOSSM France is launching its operation in Lviv in Ukraina, starting with opening a medical training centre for Health and First Aid personnel to enhance their capacity in the field of War and disaster Medicine.
At UOSSM France we believe in the meaningful participation and leadership of those affected by conflict and crisis. Blended with the diverse capacities and expertise of dedicated members of the French and European society, local leadership and expertise is key to understanding and effectively addressing the needs, priorities, and aspirations of the population we seek to serve, in health and beyond.
UOSSM France highly respects the contributions of all its employees, volunteers, and partners across the European-Middle Eastern spectrum and beyond in the respective capacities in which they are offered. We are keen to involve a multitude of dedicated voices and support in our work, provided individually or through existing networks or groups.

Position summary

UOSSM France is currently looking for a Senior Partnerships and Grants Coordinator to support our Paris-based team. The successful candidate will report to the Head of Programmes and Partnerships and be responsible for establishing and strengthening existing key institutional donor relations, managing grants from an HQ-level perspective, contributing to grant and proposal development as well as project-specific reporting – including (co-writing, proof-reading and coordinating approvals), developing internal policies and procedures for grants and partnerships functions. Furthermore, where feasible and relevant, the successful candidate will provide training and guidance for our teams in Gaziantep, Erbil and Lviv in areas related to donor relations, external representation, proposal/grant design and management, as well as related internal systems and mechanisms, and vice versa, where feasible and relevant, support our teams in Paris by sharing experiences and expectations from the teams in the missions bottom-up.

Roles and responsibilities :

Partnership management (institutional/donor and implementing partner relations) :

• Establish, develop and maintain strategic relationship with institutional donors according to UOSSM France main objectives and strategy
• Map donors, monitor donor’s funding opportunities and donor’s geographical strategies
• Support the development of high quality proposals, aligned with UOSSM France strategy outcomes, including co-writing proposals and coordinating grant applications at large
• be the focal point (key account) for institutional donors
• Represent UOSSM France to relevant partners and donors, relevant France-based coordination bodies and platforms as appropriate
• Responsible for the oversight, at times direct coordination and finalization of timely and high standard proposals, reports and any other relevant publications funded by or in other ways linked to institutional donors part of the respective donor portfolio

Grants and sub-award management (including compliance requirement) :

• Lead the process of concept notes and proposal development by working closely with the programmes and grants teams across the organisation
• Lead on the writing of proposals and maintain an efficient system for proposal development across the organisation
• Prepare and compile all components of each grant submission, ensure high quality submission in accordance with institutional donor requirements, and be accountable for ensuring grant-based contract closures
• Ensure high-level oversight over relevant institutional grant compliance and requirements, and ensure budgeting and administrative policies, procedure and all donors requirements are being followed, in close support by the organisation’s administrative and project-based teams
• Provides information and advice to Programme teams as well as staff od partner organisations regarding institutional donor regulations and grant compliance
• Ensure alignment of activities and communication towards institutions and partners
• Where relevant, ensure adequate follow-up with local partners and ensure high level sub-award management and oversight

Cross-cutting responsibilities and tasks

Where relevant and feasible, review and contribute to the development of grants and partnerships-specific policies and procedures
Support the teams in Gaziantep and Erbil in areas related to partnerships and grants, and ensure adequate exchange and representation in the relevant areas of expertise from both a missions and Paris-based perspective vis-à-vis each other

Internal positioning and Reporting :

Position reports to : Head of Programmes and Partnerships

I. Academic background

[Required] MA/ MSc / MBA Degree or Diploma in NGO management, development studies and other relevant humanities and/or social sciences
[Preferred] Academic background related to public-health and/or humanitarian/conflict management is an additional asset

II. Professional/Practical Experience

[Required] At least seven years of experience in Partnerships and/or grants coordination within a development-focused field and mainly at headquarters level
[Required] Proven experience in managing higher level institutional relations, writing proposals, and managing grants with large (multi-million) amounts
[Preferred] Experience with EU-funded projects and general knowledge of applicable rules and regulations for grant contracts

III. Skills and attitudes

• Strong drive to meet deadlines, organizational skills, and the ability to work under pressure
• Strong team leadership and communication skills
• Strong intercultural competence and emotional intelligence
• Interest in the Syrian context with a particularly local perspective
• Sound understanding and devotion to professionalism, especially in front of an external audience and representatives of high-level institutions, partners and donors
• Excellent written and oral communication in English
• Detail-oriented approach with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Languages : French native or near-native is mandatory as well as ability to read, writing and communicating professionally in English ; Arabic language skills are a definite asset in addition
• Ability to work remotely with an international team across different countries and particularly including cross-cultural dimensions