International Partnerships and Connect Coordinator

Build high-quality partnerships characterised by trust, respect, and open communication across a portfolio of partners/projects......

About WorldShare

For over 80 years, WorldShare has existed to transform lives and restore hope around the world, by connecting Australians with people in need overseas, so that together, we love like Jesus.

We are a Christian aid and development organisation which embraces God’s mission to help and love those in need, particularly the most vulnerable and marginalised. We empower the outcast and forgotten through education, training, and improved health outcomes, so they can have hope for the future.

We work through local Christian partnerships in Africa and Asia to bring lasting change to communities; particularly to vulnerable children, disempowered women and those excluded from their communities.

Role purpose

This role plays a key role in coordinating international partnerships with WorldShare (1 day) and Australian and International partnerships with WorldShare Connect (2 days).

This role will contribute to the strengthening of our international partnerships with local faith based organisations, as they work with communities to address poverty and disadvantage, and support the effective administration of WorldShare’s international projects. This role provides technical assistance, encouragement and practical support to ensure program quality, while also engaging at the organisational level alongside partners as they strengthen their systems, policies and governance. This role ensures partners are supported to meet sector good practice and compliance standards.

Since 2020 WorldShare has run WorldShare Connect, connecting with Australian churches and NGOs and providing tailored support for Christian ministries overseas. This role will be responsible for ensuring the smooth running of WorldShare Connect, coordinating relationships with existing Australian partner organisations and overseeing projects and partnerships with overseas partner organisations. Scoping work for new partnerships may also be involved. This role is expected to exercise a high degree of autonomy.

Key responsibilities

Coordinating WorldShare Partnerships (reporting to Head of International Partnerships)

• Build high-quality partnerships characterised by trust, respect, and open communication across a portfolio of partners/projects. Proactively support partners across the project cycle, and as they develop their organisational and program management capacity in mutually agreed areas. Support and implement capacity building strategies (including areas such as project management, project logic, monitoring and evaluation, financial systems and accountability).

• Conducting relevant international travel to monitor and evaluate implementation of current projects/programs.

• Oversee allocated partnerships to ensure that:

• Projects are aligned with WorldShare’s mission and strategy.

• Projects are being carried out in line with current, evidence based, good practice

• Reflection and learning is a priority and informing future work.

• Issues and risks are constructively addressed.

• A partnership plan is developed and actioned that reflects mutually agreed priorities for capacity development.

• Key project cycle requirements are met including but not limited to:

Reviewing annual project proposals and budgets

Reviewing quarterly partner reports and audits

Supporting partners through evaluation and project design processes

Ensure partners are meeting key compliance requirements

• Assist Head of IP with Partnerships, as requested

• Contribute within broader International Programs team to joint tasks, strategy and priorities.

WorldShare Connect

• Overseeing partnerships (Australia)

• Coordinating and retaining relationships partnerships including through regular communications and updates with WorldShare’s marketing and communications department.

• Discuss budgets, cash flow and payments with Australian partners and ensure good processes with their in-country partners with support of WorldShare’s finance department.

• Ensure MoUs are up to date and update as required.

• Oversee fundraising agreements with Australian partners.

• Ensuring accurate and efficient CRM processes.

• Overseeing partnerships (International)

• Coordinating the WorldShare Connect international partner organisation relationships, providing encouragement and facilitating information exchange, networking and training.

• Review annual project proposals and budgets.

• Draft Partnership Agreements and arrange document signing.

• Coordinate partner payments and the collection of remittance advices.

• Review quarterly narrative and financial reports for compliance.

• Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation and best practice guidelines including of the Australian Council for International Development.

• Maintain all appropriate compliance records and ensure compliance with WorldShare partner policies through training and monitoring.

• Conducting relevant international travel to monitor and evaluate implementation of current projects/programs.

• Ensuring the effective functioning of Connect processes throughout WorldShare.

• Assessing potential new partnerships.

Key attributes required

We are looking for someone with the following skills and experience:

Essential

• Tertiary qualifications in international development or related discipline.

• A minimum of 5-10 years of experience in International Development, with a deep understanding of community development issues and the contexts in which WorldShare operates including Africa or South Asia.

• Commitment to WorldShare’s approach of empowering locally led and implemented development and a desire to respectfully build capacity. High motivation with a strong work ethic, positive attitude and demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in teams.

• A dynamic self-starter, able to build new initiatives with positivity, creativity and an entrepreneurial mindset.

• Excellent administrative, time management, and self-organisational skills.

• Strong ability in MS Office (MS Word, Outlook, SharePoint and Excel) and demonstrated capacity to master IT systems and CRM software.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate and work with people from diverse cultures.

• Ability to handle data accurately and maintain confidential information.

• Committed to ongoing personal and professional development.

• A strong commitment to WorldShare’s values and Christian ethos including acting with integrity, support for the biblical theology that informs WorldShare’s development approach and the ability to participate in times of prayer and biblical reflection.

• A willingness and ability to travel internationally for up to four weeks each year.

Desirable

• Experience working with CRMs (Salesforce preferred) and work management software.

• Experience managing volunteers.

• Experience in Child Rights and protection or child sponsorship programs.

• Adaptability to work effectively within an evolving and expanding organisation, able to solve problems and bring new structures and processes to life to meet changing needs.

Why work with us?

WorldShare has a deep and rich history of supporting local Christian partnerships worldwide, and we are ambitious and innovative about our future.

We are passionate about our cause of restoring hope and transforming lives – and by working with WorldShare, you will make a direct contribution to this vision.

We do things differently:

1. We support locally-led development as we believe this is the most effective and sustainable way to transform lives. We know that local people best understand their communities, both the problems and the solutions, and they are with their communities for the long haul.
2. We deliberately seek out grassroots organisations, which typically miss funding from larger international NGOs. Our partners might be small, but they make a significant impact! Choosing grassroots organisations means that we deliberately choose to engage in deeper, more intensive partnership support.
3. We believe the gospel is best shown in word AND deed, and our overseas partners pursue an integral mission.
4. We love partnerships, and we delight in connecting Australians with partnerships overseas. Together, we can do more. We all have a part to play.

WorldShare cares for and respects employees and is a spiritual and collaborative environment, as well as workplace flexibility, regular time for spiritual practices, paid parental leave and professional development.

Safeguarding

Please note that (1) WorldShare is committed to safeguarding and maintaining an environment free from abuse, harassment, and exploitation. The recruitment process will include safeguarding checks and questions. WorldShare staff are required to provide a Police Check and Working with Children Check. (2) Applicants must have the legal right to work in Australia.

Your application should include a cover letter that clearly describes your values and your interest in this role.