UNTIL Partnership Officer

This position is located in the UNTIL Global Coordination Team  within the Strategic Solutions Sections in the Governance, Policy Strategy & Governance Division (PSGD) of The Office of Information and Communications Technology (OICT). Under the overall supervision of UNOPS Senior Programme Manager, the incumbent works under the guidance of the Deputy Head, UN Technology Innovation Labs (UNTIL) in OICT/PSGD.

This is a position in UNOPS for supporting projects carried out for or in the United Nations Secretariat. The incumbent of this position will be a staff member of UNOPS under its full responsibility.

In adapting to the growing complexity of the 21st century, the United Nations need to respond dynamically to ensure it remains instrumental in supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and targets for the 2030 agenda. Technological innovation and the role of partnerships across sectors have become increasingly important to accelerate progress in addressing the problems that humanity face.

In this context, OICT launched the new United Nations Technology Innovation Lab (UNTIL) programme. The priority focus of UNTIL is to establish partnerships with UN Funds and Programmes as well as Governments, Academia, NGOs and private sector leveraging technology to address SDGs challenges.

Within delegated authority, and in close cooperation with the global UNTIL and corporate OICT partnership teams, the Partnerships Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Partnership and programme development planning
• Development and follow up of partnership opportunities
• Representation, inter-agency collaboration and partnership development
• Knowledge management and innovation

1.     Partnership and programme development planning

• Develop a comprehensive partnership and programme development plan in line with UNTIL Strategy. This  includes country context, analysis of the regional and national development and humanitarian landscape, identification of main partners, strategic positioning of UNTIL.
• Coordinate and collaborate with relevant Partnerships personnel at local, liaison and HQ level, as well as Project Managers and project personnel of UNTIL labs covered by the office, to ensure aligned and coherent interactions with partners.

2. Develop opportunities

• Research events, publications and announcements, to track and screen opportunities for possible UNTIL interventions and identify trends that will drive partnership opportunities.
• Provide advice and feedback to UNTIL on the development of framework partnership agreements that can increase opportunities at the regional level.
• Coordinate technical and financial requirements, and negotiate proposals to close new project opportunities.

3.     Representation and inter-agency partnership

• Establish and further develop partnerships with UN agencies, international organisations, governments, foundations, international NGOs and private sector organisations to diversify project opportunities within the UNTIL Network.

4.     Knowledge management and innovation

• Implement standards, tools and templates provided by HQ to effectively manage partnership and project development within the team to enhance/maintain UNTIL effectiveness as a provider of project services for sustainable results.
• Help build partnerships capacity and negotiation skills among project managers 

• A Master’s degree in international business administration, innovation management, knowledge management, sustainable development or related field.
• A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Required

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in project/programme management, administration or related area. 

Desirable

• Experience in implementing programmes with local and global scope within an international organization is an advantage.
• Experience in establishing and implementing partnership strategies in the areas of education, health, circular economy or peace and mediation is an advantage
• Experience in developing, implementing and maintaining of technology innovation projects is an advantage.

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required; Knowledge of another official UN language is an advantage. 

Contract type: Staff
Contract level: P3
Contract duration:  One year initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability'

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

Background Information: Sustainable Development Cluster(SDC)

Based in New York, the Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations.

The SDC’s services include grants management, development and special initiatives support, and technology support to the UN and UN agencies.

The SDC is part of the New York Service Cluster that supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as a broadening community of other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management.