Manager, Foundation Partnerships

Organization Overview

UNICEF USA (“UUSA” or “We”) relentlessly pursues a more equitable world for every child, upholding the rights of all children and empowering every child, everywhere. We also support the fundamental belief that children should have a voice and role in shaping their futures and the futures of their communities.
Over eight decades, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has built an unprecedented global support system for the world’s children, and has boldly taken on the biggest, seemingly impossible challenges facing children. UNICEF relentlessly works day in and day out to deliver the essentials that give every child an equitable chance in life: health care and immunizations, safe water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more. UNICEF USA advances the global mission of UNICEF by rallying the American public to support the world’s most vulnerable children.
We know that sustainable change is attainable, but it can’t be achieved alone. It takes a committed team – individuals, governments, corporations, volunteers and staff – who demonstrate a relentless commitment to working tirelessly, day in and day out in some of the toughest, hardest to reach places. Big problems need big solutions, and we harness our collective, global voice and energy to do more good, in more places for children. We will never stop supporting UNICEF to develop smarter, more cost-effective solutions; scaling up proven, data-driven programs; and harnessing new technologies to create measurable change for children.
UUSA is organized under the laws of New York State as a not-for-profit corporation. As such, UUSA is a tax-exempt organization as defined under Section 501C(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is governed by an independent, non-salaried Board of Directors.

Position: Manager, Foundation Partnerships

Location: Remote within the United States

FLSA Status: Exempt

Salary: The estimated salary range for this role is $68,000 - $85,000. This represents UUSA's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. Actual pay will vary based on various factors, including but not limited to organizational budgets, qualifications, experience, specialized skills, and training.

Position Description

Reporting to the Deputy Director, Foundations Partnerships, the Manager, Foundation Partnerships, will be responsible for managing foundation partners and complex grants, and supporting the growth of existing, and/or the development of new partnerships with leading U.S. private foundations and institutions in the areas of Climate and WASH. The Manager will assist in securing, managing and growing grants/grant-based initiatives that effectively leverage leading global health and development partners in support of UNICEF’s program and advocacy goals. The Manager serves as a point of contact with multiple partners for specific grants that include U.S. private foundations and other global development stakeholders, coordinating internal and external resources to ensure that grant-funded programs managed by UNICEF USA are effectively executed and partners’ needs are fully met. The Manager will contribute to the development and support the implementation of UNICEF USA’s strategy to grow partnerships and achieve aggressive revenue targets in support of the Foundation Partnerships team’s annual goals.

Position Responsibilities

Partnership Development - Climate (60%)

• With oversight from the Deputy Director, lead the development, management and expansion of high-impact funding opportunities in the areas of Climate with U.S. foundations
• Collaborate with UNICEF Climate, Environment, Energy and Disaster Risk Reduction (CEED) focal points, and colleagues at country office, regional and HQ levels, to position UNICEF programs at center of relationship development
• Identify opportunities and prepare for UUSA leadership to engage strategically with UNICEF or foundation leadership to move prospect strategies forward
• Alongside the Deputy Director, support coordination and leadership of Climate strategy calls with UUSA and UNICEF colleagues to discuss partnership strategies, opportunities, and events
• Support communication efforts to engage with current and prospective partners under the Foundation Partnerships business development strategy (e.g., manage outreach to partners, liaise with and coordinate internal stakeholder groups as needed)
• Conduct research, analyze data and develop presentations to help formulate partnership strategies and identify partners and relationships that will serve the organization’s mission and goals
Represent UNICEF USA in Climate meetings and conferences to remain appraised of global health, climate, WASH, and development trends and issues and explore new opportunities for engagement

Partnership and Grants Management (40%)

• Directly manage a portfolio of a mix of straight-forward and complex grants and the attendant donor relationships in the areas of Climate and WASH, and other thematic areas as appropriate and assigned
• Work closely with UNICEF colleagues to develop high-quality grant proposals for submission to U.S. Foundations, leading the proposal development and submission process to ensure strong program alignment with the foundation strategy and priorities, and that partnership terms follow UUSA processes and guidelines
• Serve as administrative and financial manager over the lifetime of assigned grant deliverables, tracking implementation progress, funds utilization and progress toward achievement of project milestones and results
• Prepare and submit consolidated reports to foundation partners and ensure timely receipt of technical narrative reports, expense reports, and other deliverables by working with key internal and external stakeholders
• Lead engagement with foundation Program Officers, maintaining regular touchpoints to provide frequent updates on grant progress, maintain partnership communications, and explore opportunities for renewal and expansion
• Develop and manage sub-grant agreements and contracts as needed; draft and approve scopes of work, budgets, and reporting forms
• Manage due diligence to identify legal, procedural and financial issues for potential grants prior to proposal submission/approval, and over the life of multi-year grant-funded projects
• Develop or support partner engagement opportunities that cultivate key relationships, in alignment with assigned portfolio and/or in coordination with the Foundation Partnerships Engagement Strategy
• Collaborate with other UUSA departments and divisions and with UNICEF on key opportunities under the programmatic work areas defined above, including individual projects/initiatives
• With support from the Deputy Director, navigate partnership agreement challenges and chart new approaches working closely with FP team leadership, Legal Affairs, and Finance
• Maintain and update, as necessary, information about foundation-funded programs in UNICEF USA’s grants management database; track and document key phases in the life cycle of funded programs, including proposal development, funds receipt and transfer, execution of grant and sub-award agreements, and report development and submission.
• Support the cultivation of specific thematic strategies in support of the Foundation Partnerships program thematic verticals
• Maximize outcomes by partnering with internal UUSA teams (Finance, Individual and Institutional Philanthropy, Marketing & Communications, Philanthropy Insight, Philanthropy Advancement, and the Impact Fund for Children) to leverage resources.
Liaise with UNICEF USA finance and compliance personnel to resolve any legal, procedural or financial issues regarding grants, sub-grants and contracts.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree; advanced degree in international development, international relations, global/public health, climate, WASH, or a related field welcome
• Minimum of 5 years’ work experience, with a focus in developing and managing complex partnerships with leading U.S./international institutional funding partners and in private foundation grants cultivation and management desired, and a demonstrated track record of successfully achieving funding for/administering large-scale projects
• Knowledge of, and preferably direct experience with, grant-making rules, regulations and policies of U. S. private foundations; familiarity with current global health/development issues, UN agencies
• Preferred knowledge of climate and WASH programming
• Preferred partnership development, fundraising and relationship management skills, with proven ability to meet aggressive funding targets
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills, excellent communication and entrepreneurial thinking. Must be able to formulate strategies and concepts and influence others. Ability to build relationships with diverse individuals, and direct experience engaging with senior-level decision makers and influential individuals in foundations / philanthropy community
Some travel may be required, within the U.S. and internationally

Must possess current and valid US Work Authorization and be eligible to work for any US employer without sponsorship.

Don’t meet every single requirement? That’s okay. UNICEF USA values diverse experiences and we’re always looking for people who will add to our culture and further our mission. If you are excited about this role and unsure about whether your past experience aligns with the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway.

Must possess current and valid US Work Authorization and be eligible to work for any US employer without sponsorship.

Due to the high volume of applications received, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. UNICEF USA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer

We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. UUSA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at peopleandculture@unicefusa.org .