Business Development Specialist (Internal Candidates Only)

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. 

• Identify potential clients and business partners to pursue new business opportunities and ensure portfolio growth by promoting quality service to maintain a competitive edge;
• Support to formulate and implement business development strategies to promote UNOPS ICT Partner Services (IPS) to key internal and external constituencies, which include projects, programmes, hosted entities, UN agencies, Governments and non-governmental organizations;
• Explore opportunities for business development intelligence (facilitate assessments of client needs, UNOPS comparative advantages, and partner survey analysis, among others);
• Active marketing and promotion of UNOPS services with focus on IPS by building a network of key business partners and clients, keeping abreast of market, social, economic, and political trends and generate content for promotional activities;
• Contributed in the defination of short and long-term goals for projects,programmes and portfolios and maintain close coordination of business development activities for IPS with ECR units;
•  Establish contacts with potential clients and partners and organize meetings and negotiations, and prepare subsequent plan of action and follow-up for potential business acquisition and partnership development opportunities;
• Support to develop capacity statements for the various services provided by with focus to IPS and faciliate information sharing with regards to business development for IPS within ECR;
• Draft proposals, concept notes and projects for further discussion with clients and donors
• Prepare Letter for Expression Interest for potential business with focus to IPS and lead in the preparation of business and project proposals for for donors and partners;
• Participate in the design, formulation and negotiation of new projects and programs;
• Draft agreements for the implementation of new projects, addressing questions and issues raised by partners and donors and ensuring their expeditious approval;
• Review and comment on technical and progress reports prepared by projects and provision of advice as needed to improve content and quality;
• Provide logistical and substantive support for visits of donors and other delegations;
• Attend inter-agency meetings and assist on any portfolio and programme issues;
• Maintain documentation of decisions and actions taken on programme issues;
• Assist in establishing working relationship with project boards (Executive, Senior Users and Senior Suppliers), client and key stakeholders and attend as may be required project boards;
• In coordination project management teams manage communications and ensure stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, exceptions and handover of products;
• Develop and maintain project implementation plans and implementation of approved project plans including establishment of milestones within tolerances set by project board);
• Support in management and supervision for realization of agreed deliverables for the overall progress and use of resources and initiating corrective action where necessary;
• Support in identification and management risks to maximize benefits to clients;
•  In full coordination with the project management teams support in the preparation of  amendments of agreements and budget revisions when applicable;
• In full coordination with the project management teams, organize all project and stakeholder meetings as and when necessary, and maintain records of these meetings;
• Identify operational, administrative, financial and other bottlenecks that may impede project delivery; recommend solutions and support take appropriate remedial action;
• Perform any other functions as may be tasked by the supervisor.

Professionalism

• Ability to plan and execute deliverables under tight timelines;
• Pride in work and in achievements;
• Professional competence and mastery of subject matter;
• Conscientiousness and efficiency in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
• Motivation by professional rather than personal concerns;
• Persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges;
• Calmness in stressful situations.

Technological Awareness

• Solid understanding of relevant ICT systems and processes;
• Good data analytics and computer programming skills for the purposes of business intelligence;
• Application of technology to appropriate tasks across the BD and BRM tasks;
• Willingness to learn new technology.

Analytical Skills

• Ability to research and analyze issues and topics related to current events and engagement opportunities for UNOPS services;
• Ability to work with numbers;
• Exceptional ability to analyze, visualize and interpret data.

People Skills

• Ability to interact with internal and external stakeholders to proactively and transparently exchange information;
• Ability to build and maintain effective partnership relations;
• Ability to follow-up once the initial contact has been established;
• Empathy and the ability to mitigate conflict and/or replace it with constructive exchanges of ideas and opinions;
• Mindfulness of gender mainstreaming and equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Creativity

• Willingness to actively improve programs or services;
• New and ‘outside of the box’ options to solve problems or meet client needs;
• Calculated risk-taking;
• Strong interest in innovation and the application of innovative processes to the existing services of UNOPS.

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) preferably in business/commerce, marketing, economics, management, international affairs, political science, development studies or related area  
• A first-level university degree with relevant combination of academic qualifications and additional two years experience related to the nature of the position may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.                          

• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible experience in donor relations and business development functions.
• Demonstrated track record in preparing high quality publications (e.g. proposals, reports, and/ or brochures) is required.

• Fluency in both written and oral English required. Knowledge of French language is desirable. 

• 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.
• The incumbent is responsible for abiding 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.