Head of International Engagement

Strategic Planning and Opportunities Identification

• Identify strategic opportunities throughout the year, positioning SEforALL as a key catalyst in large, high-impact, and multi-stakeholder initiatives aimed at achieving SDG7 targets.

• Assess and prioritize using sound judgment competing priorities for the organization with regards to emerging programs and new opportunities, to determine their strategic value for the organization.

International Engagement and Diplomacy

• Lead the development of a strategy to engage with specific international cooperation forums like G20, UNFCCC COP, etc – ensuring clear objectives and impactful means of engagement. 

• Spearhead SEforALL’s offer of support to Presidencies and interest groups to drive the advancement of the global energy transition agenda with a specific focus on needs and priorities of developing countries.

• Develop strategic messaging for the CEO and senior leadership, in their engagement with high-level partners and stakeholders at high-level events.

Partnerships and Resource Mobilization

• Provide quality control and contribute intellectual leadership in the management of partnerships, country engagements, and special projects, ensuring that SEforALL’s initiatives are strategically positioned.

• Contribute to all necessary Resource Mobilization efforts, providing contributions to concept notes, proposals, presentations, and engaging in out-reach to potential funders to secure critical support for SEforALL’s mission.

Strategic Communications 

• Prepare high-quality and nuanced strategic documents and written outputs such as papers, strategic documents, concept notes, aimed to influence decisions of key partners and senior leaders in partner organizations.

a. Education 

• Master’s Degree in Energy, Climate Change, Economics, International Relations, Public Policy, Law or related field is required. A Bachelor’s degree paired with 2 additional years of experience may be accepted in lieu. 

b. Work Experience & Language Requirements

• Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in energy, climate change and international diplomacy, including access to electricity or energy or climate linked negotiations is required. 

• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing international engagement strategies, including opportunities identification is required.

• Direct experience working with developing countries is desirable.

c. Language

• Fluency in English is required.

• Working knowledge of another UN official language is an asset. 

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• 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 ( they take around 4 hours to complete)  in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.