Partnerships Associate

Vienna

Organization: UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services
Location: Vienna
Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
Occupational Groups:
- External Relations, Partnerships and Resource mobilization
- Partnerships
Closing Date: Closed

Background Information - Job-specific

Background information - Job specific

This Vacancy Announcement is being published by UNOPS - ECR Geneva on behalf of the SEforALL Initiative

Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) is an International Non-Governmental Organization operating a world-wide multi-stakeholder platform focused on the delivery of Sustainable Development Goal #7. Launched as a UN initiative in 2011 by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon, SEforALL is widely acknowledged for its achievement in raising global awareness of the world's sustainable energy challenges, ensuring they were included in the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. SEforALL is directed by its CEO and supports the work of the CEO as she carries out her duties as the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General (SRSG) for Sustainable Energy for All, as well as her role as the co-chair of UN-Energy. These roles include advising the UN Secretary General and his staff on issues relating to sustainable energy and the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) and supporting the coordination of sustainable energy issues in the United Nations system. The Secretary General’s advisory committee on Sustainable Energy for All will be supported by the SRSG and SEforALL.

The ambitions of SDG7 on ensuring universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services by 2030 are extraordinary. Aiming to achieve them in the context of the Paris agreements involves transformation at a scale never undertaken by humanity before. Swift action needs to be taken by leaders in governments, companies, institutions, financiers, development banks, unions and communities, entrepreneurs and civil society. As a global team, SEforALL crafts interventions that support these leaders in accelerating the delivery of actions. All interventions comprise one or more of SEforALL’s competencies: (i) to marshal the evidence, (ii) to benchmark progress towards SEforALL objectives, (iii) to amplify the voices of the energy poor; (iv) to tell stories of success, and (v) to connect stakeholders to each other and to solutions. All interventions systematically draw on strategic insight, build on compelling communications, and are delivered through and include action-oriented partnerships. http://www.seforall.org

Functional Responsibilities

Context and Objective of Assignment:

Partnerships are the essence of SEforALL. Through our partnerships and network, we provide a neutral space for new and sometimes difficult conversations that can foster decisions and actions to move further, faster - together.

Ensuring everyone has access to sustainable energy by 2030 will require leadership and influential partners of all kinds — from governments, business, institutions, financiers, development banks, unions and communities, entrepreneurs and civil society.

SEforALL’s global, action-oriented platform has significant reach and convening power but firmly depends on its network of partners to deliver results, and ownership of solutions. SEforALL partners have many strengths, particularly in building country and sector strategies, supporting innovations, and advancing technologies and business models through its Hubs and Accelerators.

Our Regional and Thematic Hubs contribute knowledge and experience on the ground and can provide tailor-made solutions for national and local jurisdictions.

We build existing partnerships while identifying new partners who can assist in delivering SEforALL's objectives ‘further and faster.’ This will entail the development of a broader, more extensive yet highly focused platform that delivers results in energy access, renewables and energy efficiency. We broker connections and partnerships that catalyze actions on the grounds, promote leadership and help move national and sub-national energy-related strategies towards implementation.

Duties and Accountabilities

The position reports to the Lead Partnership Specialist based in Vienna, Austria. The staff member will be supervised through individual meetings with the supervisor, weekly team meetings, and through periodic performance appraisals.

The main responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Support the implementation of SEforALL´s current Partnership Framework with companies, national governments, UN agencies and civil society organizations. Work on developing implementation plans, framework updates and partner outreach strategies.

• Support in developing new partnerships aligned with SEforALL’s mission and work plans.

• Identify and research strategic partners based on priority countries for our work (particularly Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa) and actionable projects and outcomes.

• Serve as liaison, when needed, between potential partners and our policy team throughout the development of new partnerships.

• Support work to mobilize new commitments from the private sector on energy access, energy efficiency and renewable energy.

• Assist in formulating project and partnership proposals; ensure project implementation.

• Prepare analyses and review reports, including with contributions and inputs, providing analytical capabilities, quantitative and qualitative elements required for the elaboration of documents and reports.

• Develop presentations, draft speaking notes and prepare meeting briefs for the SEforALL Global Team

• Maintain and manage databases on current and prospective SEforALL Partners. Provide support to facilitate current SEforALL partners to report on progress

• Contribute with work planning for initiatives, including in the tracking and monitoring agreed-upon activities.

• Assist the SEforALL team in other areas related to partner engagement as necessary.

• Perform any other duties as may be assigned.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Qualifications and Experience:

A first (or higher) level university degree in sustainable development, international relations, business management, political science, international economics, law, public administration, or a related field.
Minimum of 3 years of relevant and progressively responsible experience, preferably gained in the private sector, or in a private sector-facing role in a UN agency, NGO or consulting organization.
Demonstrated understanding and familiarity with corporate and government efforts on sustainability, sustainable energy and energy access.
Demonstrated experience in research, relationship management and/or project management in a setting relevant to sustainable development.
Proven ability to perform clear analysis and research, and present findings concisely

Strong IT skills including Outlook, Word, Excel (including reports/macros/graphs, advanced formulas and pivot tables)

Languages:
Excellent oral and written command of English. Proficiency in a second language, particularly Mandarin Chinese and/or French is considered an asset.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Professionalism and Personal Leadership: Demonstrates and safeguards ethics and integrity. Demonstrates corporate knowledge, self-development and initiative-taking. Ability to work in a multi-cultural and international environment based on mutual respect and tolerance. Ability to exercise good judgment, discretion and tact in handling sensitive issues. Willingness to “get the job “done with a positive attitude to take on a wide range of tasks.

Client Orientation and Delivery: Takes full ownership in ensuring that those to whom the Partnerships function find themselves supported as “clients ”; builds and maintains clients’ trust and respect and builds productive partnerships; actively seeks out to identify clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client. Maintains client relationships in the face of conflicting demands or directions and provides evidence-based advice and solutions based on sound diagnosis and knowledge.

Planning and Organization: Identifies priority activities and assignments. Adjusts priorities as required. Allocates appropriate amount of time for completing work. Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. Uses time efficiently and is able to work to deadlines and maintain effectiveness under pressure. Excellent organizational and task management skills, with appropriate attention to details and ability to prioritize work among multiple competing demands, and under tight deadlines. Ability to manage multiple workflows at the same time. Proactive approach to managing workflow, with keen ability to multi-task and respond quickly and flexibly to a wide range of issues, some of which come up in ad hoc and unexpected ways.

Communication and Teamwork: Excellent communication skills and proven drafting ability; ability to develop relationships, foster collaboration within the team and with other stakeholders, develop presentations, draft speaking notes, prepare meeting briefs and advocate for viewpoints.

Analysis and Creativity: Demonstrated excellent analytical skills that can be applied to gather data, analyze and generate knowledge relevant to decision-making functions. Ability to summarize and present key-findings. Share knowledge and show initiative to improve existing practices.

Technological Awareness: Keeps abreast of relevant available technology; understands applicability and limitations of technology in the context of sustainanable development; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate.

Additional Considerations

SEforALL offers exciting high-impact assignments, a collegial and creative work environment, and the opportunity for committed professionals to thrive and grow within flat hierarchies and in the pursuit of an inspiring mission.
SEforALL provides competitive compensation packages at its locations in Vienna and Washington and modern workplace arrangements in terms of flexibility and results orientation.
Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
Only short-listed candidates for interviews will be notified.
Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
SEforALL reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level below the advertised level of the post.