Partnerships Specialist

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Job Purpose and Organizational Context

The Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy (BERA) is responsible for positioning UNDP as the world’s leading global development agency, promoting its global authority and thought leadership on sustainable development and the interconnected issues of poverty, inequality, and climate change. BERA leads and supports UNDP in building and nurturing strategic relationships and alliances essential to achieving its mission. Creating strong political and financial backing for UNDP by providing partners and supporters with a clear understanding of what UNDP does and how our mission, capabilities and flagship services relate to them. The Bureau leads UNDP’s work on innovative and diversified partnerships and ways of financing the Decade of Action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. It is also responsible for global campaigns on critical development issues, which aim to inform government policies and build partnerships around high-impact solutions. BERA coordinates and sets corporate standards across the functions of partnerships, marketing and communications within UNDP and leads on internal communications.

The Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy is positioned around three service lines; Public Partnership; Advocacy, Marketing and Communications; and Private and Finance Partners, all working in close collaboration and coordination under the guidance of the Directorate and with the support of the Management Support Unit and Strategic Analysis and Engagement team.
 
BERA has a robust network of Representation Offices (Brussels, Copenhagen, Geneva, Tokyo and Washington D.C.) and Regional Teams in five hubs (Africa, Arab States, Asia Pacific, Europe and CIS, and Latin American and the Caribbean) co-led with Regional Bureaux, all of which play a critical role in audience centric communications and management and strengthening of relationships with Public and Private Partners to help build a strong brand for UNDP within the local ecosystem.
In April 2021 UNDP opened a new representation office in Germany. The office is a reflection of the complementary agenda between UNDP and Germany and the shared ambition of supporting country-led efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals through the promotion of democratic governance, poverty eradication, stabilization and conflict prevention in fragile contexts and action on inequalities, climate change and the environment, making for a highly convergent partnership agenda.   The Office is expected to deepen the partnership with Germany, increase the visibility of UNDP and its work among German constituents and support UNDP at headquarter, regional and country levels in better positioning with German counterparts.

The office will cultivate, build and nurture strategic relationships including with parliament and its committees, Ministries, KFW, civil society, the private sector, foundations, academia, think tanks and the media.

The Office is located in Bonn with a satellite office set up in Berlin.
To support the Director in his/her day-to-day activities, networking and outreach, and working in close collaboration with the Office’s Senior Partnership Advisor and Deputy Director, the Partnership Specialist will ensure that the Director is well informed, prepared and thoroughly briefed on current and on-going issues and able to follow-up on meetings and requests.

Consequently, the role of the Partnership Specialist carries a significant responsibility to ensure accurate, credible and timely information flow and reporting.

The Partnership Specialist ensures full confidentiality and discretion in all aspects of the business of the office, maintenance of protocol procedures, management of information flow and follow-up on deadlines and commitments made.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Director and in close liaison with the Partnership Advisor and Deputy Director, the Partnership Specialist has the following duties and responsibilities;

Provision of Strategic Policy Guidance for Communication, Advocacy and Resource Mobilization

• Engages in the development and ensures implementation of tailored communications, outreach, resource mobilization and other strategies to deepen and broaden UNDP’s existing partnership with key German;
• Support RO Director in the development and maintenance of effective cooperation with senior officials; outreach to parliament, parliamentary committees, Ministries, political parties and other relevant political actors at federal and state level;
• Based on collection and analysis of political intelligence, propose entry points to optimize current trends in the country’s political and financial support to UNDP;
• Brief stakeholders on UNDP’s work and results and advocate for UNDP positioning.

Management and Operation Support

• Conduct research, substantive review and critical analysis of information and documents for the Director;
• Ensures day to day implementation of the office’s strategic planning processes including results-based management and reporting (Track, monitor and follow-up on the progress of various initiatives, projects, action items);
• Gather, investigate, research, analyze, and/or study information affecting the Office and propose effective follow-up actions;
• Prepare outline and/or draft of papers, speeches and talking points for the Director.
• Develops and/or contribute to the preparation of reports, briefings, presentations, and responses on institutional, development, strategic and operational issues, as appropriate.
• Organise visits of UN/DP senior staff and management to Germany, including in the context of annual consultations or reviews, conferences, bilateral meetings, fund-raising initiatives etc. preparing presentations, briefing notes and talking points as appropriate;
• Administrative, travel and logistical support as is appropriate and required;

Partnerships

• Informs CO’s/HQ on strategic communication approaches and types of information products needed to respond to the German aid climate;
• Supports CO’s and HQ with assessments of changing German development priorities for input into UNDP's communication and advocacy policy making and strategy setting;
• Provides input to the RO leadership in shaping and advancing overall engagement, cooperation and partnership building with partners in Germany;
• Supports the RO in engagements with UNDP Regional and Central Bureaus, helping to identify new entry points and programming opportunities between Germany and UNDP in German priority areas;
• Engages in the building and strengthening of knowledge, understanding, and importance of UNDP’s work and value to a wide range of partners in Germany in order to enhance strategic, political, funding and overall support to UNDP;
• Identify project opportunities and seek partnerships with German stakeholders where relevant, to raise awareness and mobilize support for the SDGs and UNDP’s work;

Perform other duties within your functional profile as assigned and deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the office.

Core

Innovation

• Ability to make new and useful ideas work.    

Leadership

• Ability to persuade others to follow.    

People Management

• Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.    

Communication

• Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.    

Delivery

• Ability to get things done.    

Technical/Functional    

Partnerships

• Ability to engage with other agencies, donors and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relations.

Representation

• Ability to productively share UNDP knowledge and activities (at UN and other venues).

Brand & Quality Management

• Ability to position a UNDP brand and uphold it to a high level.   

Knowledge Management

• Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge.   

Relationship Management

• Ability to engage with other parties and forge productive working relationships.

Public Relations

• Ability to manage the spread of information between the UNDP and the public.

Education:

• Master’s degree in Public Administration, Economics, International Relations, Business, Environmental Management or related field.

Experience:

• 5 years of relevant experience, with strong experience in working with Members of parliament, parliamentary committees, Ministries, political parties and other relevant political actors at federal and state level.
• Excellent analytical and information-management skills to distill the considerable volume of information submitted to the Director down to their core/key elements
• Experience in working with German parliament and German budgetary processes is an asset.
• Strong oral and written communication skills with capacity to research briefs, news items as well as basic copy editing, proofreading and presentation skills.
• Excellent computer skills.
• Proven networking, team-building, and organizational skills.
• Knowledge of working with an international organization an asset.

Language Requirements:  

• Fluency in English and German required.

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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