Partnerships Officer

The United Nations Office for Project Services (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.

The Partnerships Officer will be responsible for developing and implementing the partnership development plan for the United Republic of Tanzania, where UNOPS is planning to initiate and broaden operations with key partners, such as the government, EU, World Bank, etc.

Reporting to the Partnerships Specialist, the Partnerships Officer will be responsible for developing the strategic partnership with key partners in the United Republic of Tanzania. The Partnerships Officer will work closely with the KEMC Partnerships Development Office (PDO) in defining needs and matching partnering opportunities especially within the mandate of UNOPS. The incumbent will exercise a strong sense of diplomacy, articulate the operationalization of the sustainable development goals, understand policy and operations as well as represent the value of the organization in his/her personal interaction and communications.

Under the overall guidance of the Director of the Kenya Multi Country Office (KEMC), and in close coordination with the KEMC Partnerships Specialist, the Partnerships Officer will be tasked to:

• Contribute to the identification, design, formulation and negotiation of new projects and programs and draft concept notes, project proposals, budgets and legal agreements. 

• Initiate and/or participate in meetings with potential partners and ensure their systematic and timely follow-up.

• Contribute to the analysis, mapping and identification of potential opportunities with partners such as the UN agencies, governments, IFIs, intergovernmental organizations, foundations, NGOs, academia, think tanks and private sector.

• Liaise and coordinate with the KEMC Senior Management Team and the KEMC PDO team.

• Advise the KEMC Partnerships Specialist on opportunities for expanding the UNOPS portfolio with priority partners.

• Build a network of key partners, keeping abreast of evolving social, economic and political trends.

• Provide business intelligence and analysis on the strategic partners to support meetings, projects and negotiations.

• Contribute to the ongoing research, development and implementation of best practices and innovative approaches to maximize performance and sustain achievements in project and partnership development.

Education

• A Master’s degree in a relevant field preferably in Business Administration, Public Administration, International Development, Engineering, Political Science, Communications or International Relations is required.

• A combination of a Bachelor's degree preferably in the fields mentioned, with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the education requirements outlined above. 

Experience

• A minimum of 5 years experience in development or related fields is required.

• A minimum of 2 years experience working in developing and implementing partnerships programmes is required.

• A minimum of 2 years experience in project implementation is required.

• A minimum of 2 years working experience in the United Republic of Tanzania is required.

• Experience working with a development partner and donors in-country, is highly desirable.

• Working experience within the UN system, bi-/multilateral donors, and/or an international organization is an added advantage.

• Skills in partnership building and project proposal development are essential.

• 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. 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.

1. Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA)
2. Contract level: ICS10 (LICA 10)
3. Contract duration :Ongoing ICA – ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.’

Background Information – Kenya Multi Country Office 
Located in Nairobi, Kenya, the Kenya Multi Country Office manages a growing portfolio of engagements, including associated strategic and operational risks. The KEMCO sub-region currently consists of an established Operation Centre in Nairobi/Kenya which manages a portfolio of engagements in multiple countries in East and South Africa. This includes primarily transactional projects in partnership with the Nairobi based UN Agencies, UN-Habitat and UNEP, and multiple ‘operational’ projects in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and several island states.