Senior Manager Programmes & Partnerships

Department: Olympic Refuge Foundation

Location: Lausanne, Switzerland

Contract Type: Open-ended

Activity Level: 100%

Applications deadline: 18.09.2025

The Olympic Refuge Foundation is a non-governmental organisation founded in 2017 by the International Olympic Committee and based in Lausanne, Switzerland. Our mission is to shape a movement that ensures young people affected by displacement thrive through sport.

As Senior Manager, Programmes & Partnerships, you will lead the Olympic Refuge Foundation Programmes and Grants, coordinating and co-designing the implementation of collaborative initiatives with various stakeholders. You will also create and maintain partnerships with relevant stakeholders in the field of Sport for Protection, developing partnership models to maximise intervention impact.

Main responsibilities

• Perform situation analysis, review grant requests, and critically appraise project proposals from an operational perspective analysing strengths, weaknesses and risks and make recommendations for funding.
• Oversee the development, design, implementation, follow-up and evaluation of programmes, ensuring that goals and objectives are coherent with the ORFmission and strategy.
• Develop and maintain relationships with relevant implementing partners, including Refugee-Led Organisations, NOCs, NGO’s, International Organisations, UN, academics and other Sport for Protection practitioners.
• Manage current partnerships and develop new partnerships in line with the ORF mission and strategy.
• Manage related programmes through the entire project management cycle (including financial controlling, budgeting and reporting) ensuring adequate and timely implementation of projects, delivery of results within the conceptual framework, budget and timeframe.
• Liaise with the Senior Impact Manager and oversee the monitoring, evaluation, research and learning of ORF initiatives, prioritising evidence-based approaches that ensures learnings inform programme design and course-correction of on ongoing initiatives.
• Identify and evaluate risks associated with programme activities and take appropriate action to mitigate and control the risks.
• Undertake feasibility, monitoring and assessment field visits to projects, lead co-creation process (including the organisation and delivery of co-design workshops) with implementing partners in areas of intervention.
• Keep under review all programme policies, processes and tools with a view of continuous improvement.
• Manage, support and develop a team and supervise their areas of responsibility including programme support, safeguarding, engagement with internal and external stakeholders within the Olympic Movement.

Cross Functional roles

• Identify and develop partnerships with other organisations that contribute to the ORF strategic goals.
• Support with the timely planning, organisation and delivery of meetings, including the annual ORF Board Meeting, Executive Committee Meetings and other institutional events as needed.
• Support the ORF fundraising efforts by providing evidence-based programme information, introductions to potential funders and creating opportunities for new funders.
• Promote the Foundation’s visibility and welfare through participation in relevant meetings, events and forums that are aligned with its mission and strategy.
• Liaise and collaborate with Communications Manager to ensure regular and quality materials are produced or obtained from ORF-funded programmes, for communications (including ORF website and social media handles) and advocacy purposes.
• Liaise and collaborate with Senior Impact Manager to ensure supported initiatives yield quality data and learning that can be used to inform decision-making around new potential initiatives to support.
• Support the Head of Foundation with strategy development, team culture events and human resource planning and management.
• Stay abreast of global crises and displacement dynamics and inform team accordingly.

Who we are looking for

• Master’s degree or equivalent in International Development, Social Sciences, Management, Sport Sciences, or related degree program.
• Considerable and proven experience in International Development, humanitarian assistance, NGOs, Non-profits, and/or Sport for Development.
• Experience working and living in humanitarian settings or contexts affected by crisis.
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse partners and stakeholders in the humanitarian and/or sport for development sector.
• Proven track record of cooperating with sports associations an asset.
• Solid experience with social development tools (Programme management, Monitoring and Evaluation, methods, strategies, international development).
• Excellent command of English and French, both oral and written. Arabic and/or Spanish highly desirable.

Organisational and personal competences

• Experience in grant funding, grant proposals, partnerships development.
• Proven discernment in decision-making.
• Sense of initiative, ability to adapt to dynamic and multicultural environment.
• Excellent organisational skills with an ability to think proactively and prioritise work
• Communication and business acquisition skills and experience in project management
• Experience and interest in sports.
• Lived experience in displacement settings an asset.

• Diligence and discretion combined with solid professional ethics.
• Collaboration and transfer of knowledge.
• Positive attitude, open-mindedness.
• Independent and proactive with a can-do attitude, yet able to work closely with different teams and manage multiple stakeholders.
• Results-oriented and personal commitment to setting and achieving lofty goals.
• Ability to adapt, react, and efficiently deliver in an environment in constant evolution.

Come and join an organisation where the spirit of inclusion, gender equality and diversity is embedded in its DNA and which focuses on what unites us – a passion for sport and its values. Work in a flexible and rewarding environment which offers competitive employee benefits and numerous incentives to live a sustainable, healthy and active life. By joining us, you become part of the Olympic Movement and help to build a better world through sport. You will have the opportunity to work with people of more than 70 nationalities.