WHAT IS START NETWORK?

Our purpose is to be a catalyst for system-level change that improves the efficiency, effectiveness and ethics of humanitarian action. We do this by working as a network to develop, test & spread new ways of collaborating and resourcing locally led crisis response and anticipation.

Our current membership is made up of nearly 100 local, national and international NGOs based all around the world. We also support 10 national and regional hubs made up of civil society organisations and NGOs as our vehicle for devolving power, resources and accountability.

OUR SOLUTIONS

DECENTRAISLING & LOCALLY-LED ACTION: Shifting power and resources and decentralising decision-making to locally led networks and organisations.

EARLY & RAPID FINANCING: Building a global financing system that reduces risk, anticipates, and acts ahead of predictable crises.

COMMUNITY-LED INNOVATION: Incentivising innovative, locally led, and contextual solutions and learning from them together with people affected by crises.

For more information about Start Network and what we do, please visit our website. 

OUR VALUES

WE PUT PEOPLE FIRST: Communities come first in our decision-making and programming.

WE ARE BRAVE: We have great ambition and are willing to explore new things and take risks to achieve it

WE OPERATE COLLECTIVELY: We leverage the value of working as a network, sharing risk and resources, and learning together.

WE ARE INCLUSIVE: We see the value in diverse perspectives and work to remove the barriers that prevent voices from being heard.

WE ARE OPEN: We work transparently and with integrity, building mutual trust in all levels of our work, from governance to programming.

WE ARE ETHICAL: We behave and operate based on key principles of anti-racism, non-discrimination, and anti-colonialism. This is a work in progress.

JOB PURPOSE

The Strategic and Commercial Partnerships Senior Manager is an exciting new role within Start Network. It will hold responsibility for creating a new function, co-creating a new strategy and growing a small team to drive (non-financial) strategic partnerships for the organisation. It will also explore the possibility of establishing a commercial partnerships function with the Business Development Director.

This role will lead one of our most exciting new areas of work. They will help Start Network manage current strategic partners (such as ARC who we partner with for insurance in Africa), but also establish connections with new potential partners globally (particularly in the areas of system change, digital, humanitarian insurance, AI, etc). These new partners will maximise the impact of our work, enhance our ability to influence system change or simply engage in the exchange of knowledge around our innovation ambition. The candidate will first build a clear understanding of all our strategic partnerships across the organisation; find ways with Heads/Managers of teams to maximise them (focusing on strategic impact and effective collaboration); and finally implement a plan to scope further partners globally in line with Start Network’s strategy and gaps. Our hope is that after 12 months we will have set up a new function which will nurture and maximise current strategic partners for the benefit of system change globally, as well as having a clear understanding of gaps for future partnerships. This role will then continue to look for new, high impact relationships globally that can support the internal operations of the organisation and our members and hubs and advance our strategic aims. Beyond this, they will have explored potential commercial partnerships for Start Network in the short to medium term.

The successful candidate will have a proven track record of developing and managing successful partnerships globally, a strategic mindset, and the ability to think creatively to identify new opportunities. Further, it will require commercial experience, understanding of building social enterprises / building for-profit arms of charities.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

LEAD ON STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS THE ORGANISATION

• Provide leadership and direction on strategic partnerships to develop Start Network’s programmes and operational development, ultimately enhancing our impact on system change.

• Lead and provide high quality relationship management on high impact strategic partnerships.

• Work with operational and programmes teams to scope and develop plans on how to maximise current strategic partnerships and what areas could be further developed to support teams’ strategic goals.

• Negotiate partnership agreements, contracts and MoUs.

• Institutionalising relationships and partnerships so that there is continuation if/when staff leave.

• Represent the organisation at key events internationally.

• Scope strategic partners globally (particularly in the global south), that will add (non-financial value) to our mission but will help us accelerate our impact and system change ambitions

• Network and builds Start Network’s influencing capacity in line with our strategy

SCOPE AND LEAD ON AREAS OF COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITY

• Undertake analysis of key areas of Start Network in which there may be potential for commercialisation.

• Lead on comprehensive risk analysis.

• Develop strategy for commercial opportunities and create a proposal, timeline and implementation plan for the organisation, with the BD Director.

• Lead on consultancies providing technical expertise.

• Carry out full competitor and stakeholder analysis.

• Work with programme teams to ensure success of any commercial opportunities.

• Lead on specific commercial opportunities and relationships.

PROVIDE LEADERSHIP ACROSS THE ORGANISATION ON PARTNERSHIP BUILDING

• Act as expert for the organisation providing key advice on strategic partnerships

• Develop a partnerships framework (together with Heads of teams) outlining key points of consideration for teams when developing new strategic partnerships with a focus on inclusivity and prioritisation of organisations in the global south

• Ingrain a positive culture in Start Network for partnerships.

• Increase cross-team collaboration with current strategic partners

Line Management and Team Building

• Hire the Strategic and Commercial Partnerships Officer

• Line manage Strategic and Commercial Partnerships Officer.

• Develop a plan to grow the team across the next 2 – 3 years in line with organisation and portfolio growth.

• Build a high achieving team with an inclusive team culture.

• Recruitment and training of team.

• Set a clear 12 months plan for the Strategic and Officer

START NETWORK CULTURE

• To carry out the responsibilities of the role in line with the Start Network Code of Conduct and with a commitment to safeguarding adults and children

• A commitment to the Start Network vision, principles, values, and approach

• The Start Network team is an agile group of individuals who use their experience and skills across the network, so flexibility to work in and with different teams and functions is a part of our culture.

PERSON PROFILE

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL

• Substantial experience as a senior commercial or partnerships professional

• Experience setting strategic plans

• Experience in hiring and developing high performing teams

• Significant experience in relationship management

• Significant experience working with senior stakeholders globally (across multi-cultural teams)

• Experience of developing cross team commercial and grant budgets

• Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills.

• Ability to think strategically and identify new opportunities.

• Experience working with cross-functional teams.

• Line Management experience

• Experience in the development of humanitarian sector

• Experience in nurturing and maximising partners

• Experience in building trust-based relations with large organisational globally

• Experience with commercial contracts

• Experience in negotiating MoUs/contracts

• Experience in developing budgets and using excel at an advance level

• Experience in fundraising, particularly through contracts and the private sector

• Exceptional mediation and relationship building skills

• Strong experience in bid writing

 DESIRABLE

• Experience of creating profit making arms of charities or social enterprises

• Masters in relevant subject

• Fluency in Spanish or French and other languages

KEY COMPETENCIES

Communication: Actively listen and ask incisive questions to allow others to contribute, creating space for diverse voices

Strategic Thinking: Generate and support implementation of ideas at organisational, network and/or humanitarian system-level by promoting these ideas to relevant stakeholders

Collaboration: Actively promote collaboration by spotting and breaking down barriers to siloed working, connecting colleagues, teams and initiatives

Leadership of self and others: Develop teams by creating safe spaces for them to be challenged  and supported to try new things and learn from one another

Ability to adapt and learn: Contribute learning and create the space for other to do the same through encouragement and promotion of their work

Getting things done the Start Network way: Set strategic direction and provides clarity of vision, purpose and culture, enabling space for the team, members, hubs and other stakeholders to shape the journey