Partnerships Specialist

UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.

The New York Service Cluster (NYSC) supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as 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.

The Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support Services (UNTSS), Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP) It provides Services to partners; programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners that are headquartered in New York.  The SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.

UNOPS has signed an agreement with the United Nations to implement project activities for UN Global Pulse.

UN Global Pulse

Established in 2009, UN Global Pulse (UNGP) is an initiative of the Executive Office of Secretary-General (EOSG) with a globally distributed team in the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia. In support of the Secretary-General’s priorities, and in advancement of the UN Charter, Global Pulse serves as a cross-pillar lead and hub for experimentation and digital innovation.

UN Global Pulse works with digital innovation, real-time data and artificial intelligence to further sustainable development, humanitarian and peace outcomes. UNGP’s vision is ‘A world in which responsible and inclusive digital innovation serves to empower people and protect the planet’.  Our mission is to work at the intersection of digital innovation and science to inform, inspire and support the entire UN and those it serves, to anticipate and respond to the challenges of today and tomorrow.

The goals of UNGP are: i) to generate knowledge, capabilities and approaches that support the transformation of the United Nations into a more agile and resilient ‘next-generation’ institution; ii) to create and accelerate the development of globally accessible approaches that help communities and partners anticipate and address emerging global challenges; and iii) to advocate for the global transformation of policies, practices and culture required to maximize the impact of digital innovation, minimize its risk of harm, and ensure pathways to scale and sustainability.

This is a UNOPS position and the incumbent will be a staff member of UNOPS under its full responsibility.

The role requirements are: i) to support the implementation and periodically update/refine UN Global Pulse’s (UNGP) Partnerships Strategy; ii) to establish Partnership management processes, systems and rules which will help select and define the nature of UNGP partner engagement;  iii) to define the rules and functioning of a potential pooled/multi-donor fund; and iv) to support fundraising efforts for both UNGP’s core and project funding.

The specialist will support and directly contribute to i) UNGP strategic engagement across the UN System, creating and promoting inter-agency collaboration wherever possible; and ii) strategic engagement with external partners including Member States, Regional/international organizations, INGOs/NGOs, Academia, Foundations and the Private Sector.

The incumbent will be primarily accountable to the leadership of the Global Pulse, including the Lab in Helsinki where this post is based and will also report to senior UNGP leadership.  The focus of the role will be weighted heavily to defining and establishing internal processes and partnership/fund management systems in the first year.  Beyond the first year the focus of the role will shift to more external-facing, while maintaining and managing internal management processes and systems.

The specialist will ensure that the implementation of the Partnerships Strategy and associated internal management processes are aligned across the UNGP Network and will identify internal training/capacity building needs in support of the implementation of the Partnership & Resource Mobilization Strategy.  The incumbent will ensure that the outputs and outcomes of the role are aligned with and support UNGP’s wider work on innovation, data, futures and foresight, behavioral science and digital transformation.

The incumbent will continuously monitor needs, trends and developments in partnerships/resource mobilization for UNGP and provide strategic advice, direction, revision, and recommendations for action to the GP Network and UN senior management.

The result of this role will be a fully functioning and effective system / management process in place which will help to deliver and implement UNGP’s Partnership and Resource Mobilization Strategy.

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Manager and the global workstream lead (the substantive and strategic aspects of work), the incumbent will execute the following duties:

1. Strategy development
2. Strategy implementation
3. Resource mobilization and partnership development
4. Communication and stakeholder engagement
5. Internal and cross-UN coordination

1. An innovative engagement model with potential donors which is substantive and goes beyond simple contractual/reporting requirements;
2. A regular dialogue engagement with the INGO/NGO community which helps UNGP to continually improve its results and impact with respect to data privacy, human rights, diversity & inclusion, equality, gender and climate outcomes, for example; and
3. Sustained engagement with Foundations and the Private Sector which helps to identify entry points through which UNGP improves its work on data, innovation, digital transformation, behavioral science and strategic foresight. 

• An advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) is required.
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor's degree) in combination with 2 additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Required:

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience in global development or humanitarian action or peace-building
• A minimum of 2 years experience working in partnerships and/or resource mobilization, preferably in a UN context

Desirable:(The following experience is optional.  Candidates who do not have it are welcome to apply)

• Experience with UN multi-donor/pooled/basket funds 

• Fluency in English (write, read, speak) is required.
• Knowledge of another United Nations official language is an advantage.

• 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
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• 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 

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.