Senior External Relations Officer (Sports Coordination)

Before submitting an application, UNHCR staff members intending to apply to this Job Opening are requested to consult the Recruitment and Assignments Policy (RAP, UNHCR/HCP/2017/2 and the Recruitment and Assignments Administrative Instruction (RAAI), UNHCR/AI/2017/7 OF 15 August 2017.

Senior External Relations Officer (Sports Coordination)

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
UNHCR has a number of strong relationships with international sports organisations, including the International Olympic Committee and there is a growing interest by sports organisations/companies and host communities to engage with refugees. Sports programming is also a tool for protection. UNHCR¿s sports for protection approach focuses on inclusion, promotion of coexistence and psychosocial wellbeing through sports.

The world of sports has a huge, untapped potential for new and different kinds of partnerships and funding opportunities. The incumbent will lead UNHCR¿s efforts to strengthen existing relationships with world sports organizations and develop new partnerships that will bring the benefit of sports to youth under the organization¿s mandate.

The Senior External Relations Officer (Sports Coordination) will be part of the Division of External Relations (DER) and work in close collaboration with Private Sector Partnerships (PSP), the Division of Resilience and Solutions (DRS) and the Division of International Protection (DIP), especially the Child Protection and Youth Unit.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT
Accountability
- UNHCR has a comprehensive global strategy for refugee sports based on a sports for protection approach that focuses on inclusion, promotion of coexistence and psychosocial wellbeing through sports and in line with UNHCR¿s strategic directions for the coming years
- Key strategic relationships with private sector, sports organisations and other international organisation partners are developed and effectively maintained.

Responsibility
- Develop a comprehensive global strategy for refugee sports, covering programming, evidence / data, communications / advocacy and fundraising based on a sports for protection approach that focuses on inclusion, promotion of coexistence and psychosocial wellbeing through sports.
- Scope new strategic partnerships with sports organisations and bring them up to scale.
- Provide strategic advice to senior management on sports partnerships, resource allocation of private and public sector contributions.
- Ensure that accountabilities for high risk projects/ accounts are established and cleared and, where necessary, make the case for measures needed to successfully manage account and deliver the project.
- Provide sound proposals on UNHCR's strategic priorities in the area of refugee sports to the Private Sector Partnerships (PSP) Network.
- Take the lead on sports programming at UNHCR Headquarters in Geneva in close cooperation and collaboration with DRS and DIP.
- Ensure positive and regular collaboration with DIP (Child Protection and Youth, SGBV, Gender Equality), DRS (Livelihoods, Education) and DPSM (Psychosocial Health) on all activities taking place in the area of sports at the global level to ensure consistent messaging on the protection of young people through sport.
- Build and sustain relationships with sports donors, acting as the focal point for the work with international sporting organisations. Concentrate on the many-faceted relationship with the International Olympic Committee.
- Work with international organisations to develop strong advocacy messages on forced displacement issues, through for example, sporting events such as the Olympic Refugee Team, conferences and other relationships.
- Interact with international organisations and other potential donors and strategic partners to leverage partnerships and funding that will progress UNHCR¿s protection programming for young people through sports.
- Manage the full or part-time staff assigned at UNHCR Headquarters to the sports function.
- Manage relationships with UNHCR country, regional desks and field staff ensuring smooth project implementation and to follow up and report on the implementation of accepted programming.
- Enlist and motivate UNHCR staff not directly within the sports function but vital to program success, i.e. communications, content, campaigns and events.
- Define, implement and ensure alignment of UNHCR¿s engagement with strategic sports partners.
- Keep abreast of important UNHCR general programming and plans that will be of interest to UNHCR¿s partners.
- Suggest interaction between UNHCR management and top sports world individuals/organizations.
- Follow what other UN agencies and main players are doing within the sports field.
- Work to develop materials that highlight/outline the approach and experiences of UNHCR and partners in delivering sports for protection programmes for young people in forced displacement situations.

Authority
- Represent UNHCR in meeting/speaking opportunities.
- Lead the strategic development of UNHCR¿s sports partnership portfolio, putting in place high quality strategic, measurable project proposals and follow up on implementation;
- Decide on and guide the development of fund raising proposals on refugee sports, including advancement of the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) and Global Compact for Refugees.
- Initiate, organize and facilitate internal and external communications on refugee sports.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Graduate Degree (equivalent of a Master¿s) in Social Sciences, Education, Law, Sports for Development or Development Studies, Psychology or Social Work plus minimum 8 years of previous job experience relevant to the function. Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) plus 9 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 7 years of previous relevant working experience may also be accepted.
- Understanding of UNHCR's institutional structures, policies and procedures, in particular as they impact partnerships.
- At least 5 years of progressively responsible professional work in refugee protection/community based protection or education, with a children and youth focus preferably in the international arena.
- Strong understanding of the protection issues that young refugees, stateless persons and internally displaced people face with solid experience of programme design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
- Understanding of and experience working within the sports for development or sports in humanitarian work fields.
- Proven experience in external relations and external stakeholder management, in particular with international organisations, business, sports and other recreation organisations.
- Demonstrated experience of interagency / external relations / other coordination work.
- Networking and relationship building skills, with excellent communication and negotiation skills.
- Excellent knowledge of English, both written and oral.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Managerial experience.
- Specific experience in programming for children/young people.
- Experience working in fundraising support team with a track record of drafting, editing proposals and reports that appeal to private sector partners.
- Working knowledge of UNHCR systems and tools for planning, budgeting and reporting.
- Working knowledge of other official UN languages. C001L3 - Accountability Level 3
C002L3 - Teamwork & Collaboration Level 3
C003L3 - Communication Level 3
C004L3 - Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 3
C005L3 - Client & Result Orientation Level 3
C006L3 - Organizational Awareness Level 3
M002L3 - Managing Performance Level 3
M006L3 - Managing Resources Level 3
M005L3 - Leadership Level 3
M004L3 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 3
X005L3 - Planning and Organizing Level 3
X006L3 - Policy Development & Research Level 3
X008L3 - Stakeholder Management Level 3

The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

For those people applying for High Risk Duty Stations, we strongly encourage them – before deciding to apply- to read the country specific security and welfare country profiles which can be found on the Intranet under Support Services - Duty of Care (https://intranet.unhcr.org/en/support-services/duty-of-care.html). Ensuring staff are better informed is part of the increased attention UNHCR is paying to Duty of Care.

Staff after having applied to High Risk Duty Stations will have access to country specific information webinars with Field Safety Section (FSS) and Staff Welfare Section (SWS) colleagues and provided with a tool to test their psychological preparedness for serving in High Risk Duty Stations. Applicants who applied for a position in a High Risk country will receive, after the deadline for applications has expired, a joint invitation from the Staff Welfare Section (SWS) and the Field Safety Section (FSS) to participate in these webinars. During the Webinars, latest updates on security and well-being will be provided, and FSS and SWS will address questions raised by participants. Applicants are highly encouraged to benefit, when applicable, from all measures as they provide most up-to-date security and well-being information helpful to assess staff’s readiness to serve in a High Risk Duty Station. A Staff Welfare Officer will also be available, if and when required, to discuss with interested applicants the results of the psychological preparedness tool as well as readiness for assignment in High Risk Duty Stations.

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the September 2018 Compendium is Thursday 18 October  2018 (midnight Geneva time).