Business Development Officer

The Business Development Unit (BDU) is established to serve a fundraising, stakeholder management, donor and client liaising, business document preparation, business acquisition, public relations and outreach function for SSOC. The office supports the Director and Representative in formulating and implementing business development and communications strategies to promote UNOPS services to key external parties within South Sudan.

The BDU has three high level functions:

Stakeholder Management, Liaising, and Communications:
This function focuses on supporting and facilitating identification of donor and client needs and positioning UNOPS as a partner of choice in project implementation practices. Activities may include establishing contacts with potential clients and partners and organizing high-level meetings and negotiations; close interaction with country office staff to share information and knowledge, and to provide proactive support and follow-up in building and maintaining effective client relations; identification of requirements and development and distribution of marketing materials, as well as any reports and publications required for existing and potential clients, donors and partners; review and comment on progress reports prepared by projects, and provision of advice as needed to improve content and quality; active marketing and promotion of UNOPS services by building a network of key business partners and clients, keeping abreast of market, social, economic, security and political trends in South Sudan; preparation of management dashboards, reports, briefs, concept notes, presentations, and similar support materials; development of UNOPS capacity statements for the various services provided by UNOPS; and close coordination with UNOPS HQ, the Africa Regional Office (AFO), and the East Africa Hub (EAH) to tackle business case troubleshooting, and obtain approvals and clearances.

Project Development and Fundraising:
This function focuses on project design and production of project-related documents. Activities may include scanning and assessment of business development opportunities; prioritization of business cases; business development planning; active participation in the identification, design, formulation and negotiation of new projects; drafting concept notes and project briefs and project initiation documents, with support from project and/or technical staff, for further discussion with clients and donors; preparation of business and project proposals for tenders or at donor’s requests; preparation of Expression of Interest letters for potential business when considered consistent with UNOPS’ mandate; drafting agreements and/or contractual documents for the implementation of new projects in consultation with the AFO and EAH, addressing questions and issues raised by colleagues or implementation partners and ensuring their timely resolution.

 Project Management Backstopping in Start-up and Initiation Phases:
This function focuses on new engagements and effective facilitation of speedy project implementation. Activities may include facilitation of timely registration of a new project in the system upon the project agreement signature in close coordination with the Programme Management Office (PMO); accurate and timely finalization of UNOPS intranet Leads; facilitation of timely acquisition of fund codes and other project IDs and commitment control approvals for timely allocation of project funds; development of Project Manager (PM) and Project Support Officer (PSO) Terms of Reference and, in coordination with the Human Resources unit, facilitation of timely vacancy announcements and recruitment of key project personnel; development of project start-up and initiation plans to avoid crucial delays or omission of critical milestones; facilitation of timely preparation of key technical documentation in coordination with the PMO and Procurement unit to avoid time loss before PM/PSO recruitment.

Best Practice:
This function focuses on application of UNOPS’ standards in project design, utilization of PRINCE2 approach, encouraging consistent working practices, and ensuring appropriate application of standards and templates. Activities may include training (tools, systems, and processes), capturing and presenting lessons learned and other knowledge processes, identifying innovations and preparing case studies, and coordinating with AFO, EAH and Headquarters for tailoring best practices to meet SSOC’s specific needs.

• Scan opportunities for business development;
• Support SSOC with business strategy formulation;
• Establish and maintain relations with clients and donors; 
• Work closely with technical personnel to determine new project modalities and optimal project implementation solutions;
• Create business development-related products (project briefs, project documents, budgets, and others);
• Liaise with UNOPS HQ to find legal solutions to business cases, and obtains all clearances;
• Provide project management backstopping at start-up and initiation stages;
• Provide business data analysis;
• Contribute to information and knowledge management tools’ creation;
• Contribute to public outreach/information material creation;
• Assess progresses and achievements, identifying gaps and pitfalls towards recommending remedial actions and support the Business Development Manager and OC Director in implementing innovative strategies for further improvements;
• Advise the Business Development Manager in the development of advocacy proposals and resource mobilization and strategic activities to ensure that these meet the requirements of political and decision-making bodies and promote further cooperation and coordination with partners;
• Monitor and evaluate humanitarian and development trends and needs to identify areas of collaboration within UNOPS mandate;
• Assist in the identification, design, formulation and negotiation of new projects and programs and draft concept notes and project document briefs for discussion with partners;

• Provide support in maintaining the LEADS system and the CRM functionality in alignment with UNOPS corporate guidelines;

• Coordinate technical and financial requirements, and help negotiate proposals to close new program/project opportunities;
• Draft agreements and/or contractual documents for the Business Development Manager which are required for signature and implementation of new projects;

• Understand and clearly explain UNOPS pricing policy to partners; 

• Contribute to the diversification of the Operations Centre in line with UNOPS strategic and 
Regional objectives; 

• Keep abreast of and assess the needs of the relevant national government and other UNOPS partners operating in the target countries, to identify and plan with them (and the Hub management) areas for leveraging UNOPS’ services/competencies in project service delivery and management;
• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships through active networking, advocacy and effective communication of UNOPS competencies in project service delivery and management to develop opportunities and engagements with new partners;
• Keep the OC Director informed/advised on opportunities and/or challenges to strengthen UNOPS South Sudan’s capacity for programme/project management and partner development;
• Help build a network of key partners, keeping abreast of evolving trends (social, economic, and political), including the application of innovation to project and partnership development.
• Perform other duties as required and requested within the framework of his/her responsibilities or as assigned by the Business Development Manager or the OC Director.

 Monitoring and Progress Controls/Final Products
The Business Development Unit is measured against its ability to support the vision of the OC, namely that SSOC is “the preferred partner of choice of the host government and donors for sustainable reconstruction and development, delivering first class, cost-effective, socially and environmentally responsible project and procurement management”.

The BDU will provide or facilitate:

• Efficient communications with donors and clients;
• Consultations with SSOC technical personnel on project design and best implementation practices;
• Production of project briefs, business cases analysis, project initiation documents, budgets, environment analysis, reports, presentations, talking points, concept notes, capacity statements, and other business development support materials;
• Timely and efficient start-up of new engagements.

The BDU will ensure:

• PRINCE2 approach and use of respective templates and best practices is promulgated across SSOC during project design and start-up;
• Project reports are timely and to the satisfaction of clients and donors;
• Use of corporate imagery is consistent throughout UNOPS South Sudan.

• Advanced University degree (master’s or equivalent)  in Business Administration, International Relations, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Project Management or other relevant discipline is required;
• First level University degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in combination with 2 additional years of experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree

• Minimum 5years of progressively responsible experience in business development, project development, project management and/or project implementation, preferably in an international business environment is required;
• Experience in a leadership position in business development and stakeholder management/communication is highly desirable;
• UNOPS/UN/ NGO/International organization previous experience will be an asset;
• Previous experience in the Eastern Africa region, a fragile states or post/crisis environment is desirable

Fluency in written and oral English is required.

Professionalism:

• Shows pride in work and in achievements; Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of the subject matter;    
• Conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
• Motivated by professional rather than personal concerns;
• Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges;
• Remains calm in stressful situations.

Leadership:

• Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives;    
• Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and   gain support;
• Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions;
• Drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo;
• Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

Planning & Organizing:

• Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies;   
• Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required;
• Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work;
• Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning;
• Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary;
• Uses time efficiently.

Accountability:

• Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitment;
• Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards;
• Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules;
• Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments;
• Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Communication:

• Speaks and writes clearly and effectively;
• Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately;
• Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication;
• Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience;
• Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

 Skills

• Business Development
• Project design
• Project Development
• Project Implementation
• Partnership building
• Partner Management
•  Partner Engagement
• Strategic Analysis and Planning
• Drafting of Memoranda of Agreements
•  Dealing with bilateral and multilateral funding sources
• Experience with major donors/Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs)
•  Donor relations
• Client relations management
• Resource mobilization
• Policy research
• Project Design/Proposal writing

Desired Skills:

• Stakeholder management
• Experience in peacekeeping operations environment    
• Implementation of sustainability initiatives
• Post-disaster and reconstruction experience    

• 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.
• 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 supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale. 

UNOPS - East Africa Hub

Located in Nairobi, Kenya, UNOPS East Africa Hub manages a growing portfolio of engagements, including associated strategic and operational risks. The East Africa sub-region currently consists of an established operations center in South Sudan, an office in Somalia and a portfolio of multiple transactional, procurement and infrastructure projects in Tanzania, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya and several Atlantic and Indian Ocean island states.