Role Purpose

ACT is a national not-for-profit NGO registered in Pakistan, with extensive programme experience across Pakistan, AJ&K and Gilgit-Baltistan, and established expertise in programme management, social mobilisation, MIS/data management, policy research, advocacy, MEL, and institutional capacity building.

The Manager – Strategic Partnerships, Portfolio Oversight & Business Analysis will work closely with the Chief Executive Officer to support ACT’s strategic growth, external representation, organisational development, and portfolio oversight across ACT Pakistan, ACT UK, and affiliated/portfolio organisations.

The position will provide strategic coordination, analysis, representation, and oversight support without displacing the authority of existing executives or operational leads within ACT’s subsidiaries and portfolio organisations.

Key Responsibilities

1. External Representation and Strategic Partnerships

Represent ACT externally on behalf of the CEO where delegated, including with donors, government departments, development partners, private sector organisations, legal/professional advisers, and strategic stakeholders.

Support the CEO in building and maintaining ACT’s institutional relationships, including partnerships linked to programme development, business development, donor engagement, research collaborations, and international expansion.

Prepare briefing notes, meeting packs, follow-up actions, concept notes, partnership summaries, and external correspondence for CEO-level engagements.

Act as a professional representative of ACT’s values, mission, credibility, and long-term strategic interests in all external forums.

2. Portfolio Coordination and Strategic Oversight

Coordinate and provide strategic oversight across ACT’s multiple endeavours, subsidiaries, affiliated entities, and portfolio organisations.

Work collaboratively with existing executives, managers, and operational leads to understand each entity’s objectives, progress, risks, opportunities, and commercial/social value.

Provide the CEO with periodic portfolio-level updates covering performance, strategic alignment, risks, opportunities, governance issues, funding/business development potential, and priority actions.

Ensure the role adds value through coordination, insight, analysis, and strategic support, without interfering with the day-to-day authority of existing management teams.

Support ACT’s ambition to diversify its income streams, including profit-making business development opportunities that remain aligned with ACT’s mission, reputation, and long-term sustainability.

3. ACT UK Registration and International Development

Facilitate and provide oversight support for the registration and development of ACT’s UK chapter.

Coordinate with legal advisers, trustees, ACT leadership, and relevant stakeholders to support the UK registration process, governance documentation, policies, compliance requirements, and follow-up actions.

Assist in shaping ACT UK’s strategic role, including potential links to fundraising, donor engagement, international partnerships, research, diaspora engagement, and UK-based institutional credibility.

Track key milestones, maintain documentation, and provide regular updates to the CEO on ACT UK registration and establishment progress.

4. Business Analysis, Market Analysis and Strategic Intelligence

Lead quarterly business and market analysis for ACT and its portfolio organisations, drawing on prior Business Analyst experience in the UK public sector.

Produce quarterly analytical reports covering:

• Market and donor trends relevant to ACT’s thematic areas
• Funding opportunities and partnership prospects
• Competitor and peer organisation analysis
• Strategic risks and opportunities
• Portfolio performance and growth potential
• Commercial/business development options for ACT-linked entities
• Evidence-based recommendations for CEO and senior management decision-making

Support internal teams with business cases, feasibility assessments, process reviews, operating model analysis, and strategic recommendations.

Use qualitative and quantitative analysis to improve decision-making, organisational learning, and portfolio-level performance.

5. Organisational Development and Executive Support

Support the CEO in reviewing ACT’s strategic direction, operating model, institutional growth, and long-term sustainability.

Assist in strengthening internal coordination between departments, subsidiaries, projects, and portfolio organisations.

Help identify gaps in systems, reporting, business development, communications, governance, and organisational performance.

Support the development of dashboards, trackers, strategic papers, board/CEO briefings, and executive decision-support tools.

Contribute to ACT’s positioning as a learning, evidence-based, innovative organisation with strong capacity in programme delivery, research, advocacy, and partnerships.

Key Deliverables

The role will be expected to produce:

• Quarterly business and market analysis report for ACT and portfolio organisations
• Quarterly portfolio oversight report for the CEO
• ACT UK registration progress tracker and compliance update
• Strategic partnership pipeline and stakeholder engagement tracker
• Briefing notes and follow-up records for external representation meetings
• Business development opportunity assessments
• Internal recommendations on portfolio growth, risks, and strategic priorities
• CEO-level dashboards or reporting tools where required

Person Specification

Essential Experience

• Experience in business analysis, market analysis, organisational analysis, strategy, partnerships, programme management, consulting, public sector, development sector, or related fields
• Ability to represent a senior organisation professionally in external meetings
• Strong analytical, writing, communication, and stakeholder-management skills
• Experience preparing reports, briefings, business cases, research notes, or strategic recommendations
• Ability to work across multiple teams and organisations without creating conflict or role confusion
• Strong understanding of governance, compliance, organisational development, and institutional growth

Desirable Experience

• Prior experience in the UK public sector, charity sector, NGO sector, consulting, research, or donor-funded programmes
• Familiarity with UK charity registration, governance, trusteeship, or international non-profit structures
• Experience with dashboards, data analysis, Power BI, Excel, SQL, project tracking tools, or management reporting
• Understanding of development programming, donor relations, social enterprise, or non-profit sustainability models

Key Competencies

• Strategic thinking
• Professional external representation
• Business and market analysis
• Political and organisational sensitivity
• Discretion and confidentiality
• Leadership potential
• Strong written communication
• Cross-functional coordination
• Commercial awareness
• Evidence-based decision-making
• Ability to learn from senior executives and grow into higher responsibility

 ACT International is committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and inclusive working environment. We have a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment, and any form of misconduct.