Temporary Appointment: (364 days): Contracts Specialist (Corporate Partnerships) P4, # 115407, PFP, Geneva, Switzerland

Come join UNICEF’s corporate partnerships team and make a difference for children around the world. We are looking for a passionate, skilled contracts specialist to support us in ensuring UNICEF continues to lead the way in developing impactful partnerships with business. UNICEF continues to grow and innovate in the partnerships we build and we need your support!

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

The Private Sector Fundraising (PSFR) section within PFP works with National Committees and UNICEF country offices to maximize income and drive income growth. There are five units within the PSFR section, the Corporate Fundraising unit one being one of them. The purpose of the Corporate Partnerships team is to drive impact, defined as financial resources in addition to other valuable assets and opportunities, to optimize the value of the partnership to achieve UNICEF’s strategic goals. The team supports key UNICEF Divisions with partnership strategies as well as supporting National Committees and Country Offices with their strategies for growth. The team also champions and drives global best practice, partnership strategy and issues guidance and policies globally. Team members also play a role in the relationship management of key partners.  The UNICEF General Counsel’s Office (OED Legal) has exclusive accountability to provide legal advice and guidance to all business units of the organization, including PSFR section and in particular the Corporate Partnerships team; the UNICEF General Counsel’s Office works closely with that team in the development and negotiation of, and in advising on, partnerships with the corporate sector and agreements setting out such partnerships.

For every child, a Champion

Under the supervision of the Corporate Alliance Manager, Markets and Strategies, the Corporate Partnerships Specialist supports the Corporate Partnerships Team at PFP by (a) facilitating the Corporate Partnerships Team’s understanding and knowledge around templates and tools for establishing agreements, including selecting the appropriate template, (b) supporting the partnership focal points on preparing draft private sector partnership agreements,  (c) providing guidance on parameters for negotiations with selected corporate partners, including advising on business terms and alignment with relevant UNICEF policies, rules and procedures and joining calls with partners on business terms, (d) identifying any training and capacity building needs or needs related to template evolution, (e) monitoring and tracking the portfolio of partnerships ensuring they are moving efficiently through to signed status, and (f) acting as a knowledge center of best practice in (i) use of templates and tools for establishing agreements and (ii) negotiations to Corporate Partnerships focal points globally.

How can you make a difference?

• Provide timely advice on the required templates and tools, to PFP’s Corporate Partnerships Team and designated National Committees and Country Offices.
• Advise on specific business and operational queries related to agreements and partnerships with corporates.
• If an existing template cannot be used, advise partnership focal point to connect with OED Legal to request allocation of a focal point.
• Provide input and support to the Corporate section on partnership agreement negotiations.
• Review business terms and agreements to identify risks and areas for escalation to senior management colleagues, including those requiring guidance from the UNICEF General Counsel’s Office.  Refer all legal terms and issues re same to the UNICEF General Counsel’s Office.
• Provide possible options to address and mitigate business and operational risks should they be identified.
• Monitor the pipeline of agreements, identifying any challenges with timeline and ensuring that priorities are clear, and deadlines met.
• Collaborate effectively with the focal point for Corporate Partnerships / PFP within the UNICEF General Counsel’s Office and ensure that legal queries are routed in a timely manner.
• Provide inputs to General Counsel’s Office on development of templates, training and guidance.
• Act as a knowledge center on use of templates and ensure best practice is re-applied consistently.

Deliverables:

• Efficient and effective delivery against the above accountabilities will result in a strong, strategic and integrated management of several large international partnerships with corporates. This will secure a significant income for UNICEF’s programmes annually but also find these corporates actively engaged in UNICEF work through CSR or advocacy for example.
• Efficiency from the incumbent in the execution of the above functions will furthermore result in in best-in-class relationship management of these corporate partners, in an effective and satisfying work-relationship with the National Committees and Country Offices taking part in these partnerships, and in efficient intra UNICEF stakeholder management.

Estimated Duration of the contract:

• 364 Days

Reporting to:

• The Corporate Alliance Manager, Markets and Strategies

Work Place:

• Geneva, Switzerland

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education:

• A Masters’ degree in a relevant field (for example, business, commercial law, or procurement), noting that this position is not a legal position and the incumbent will not be providing legal advice.
• Alternatively a bachelor’s degree in the same related fields combined with an additional two years’ work experience would be considered equivalent.

Experience

• Eight years work experience in agreement negotiation and management.
• Understanding the UN System and legal parameters is an asset. Must have excellent writing and drafting skills.
• Demonstrated skills in drafting and review of partnership agreements with companies for philanthropic giving or in the CSR area.
• Good commercial awareness and proven business acumen.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and prioritize while working against multiple deadlines.
• Experience working with the UN an asset.

Competencies:

• Communicates effectively to varied audiences.
• Sets high standards for quality of work and consistently achieves project goals.
• Can work effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
• Demonstrates and shares detailed technical knowledge and expertise.
• Ensures that team follows relevant UNICEF policies and procedures.
• Can co-ordinate numerous stakeholders and parties.
• Sets clearly defined objectives and produces comprehensive guidance.
• Is organized, strong at planning and results oriented.

Language requirements:

• Fluency in spoken and written English (verbal and written) is required. Knowledge of an additional UN Language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is considered an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

• Analyzing (LII)
• Deciding and Initiating Action (LIII)
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts (LIII)
• Persuading and Influencing (LIII)
• Leading and Supervising (LII)
• Relating and Networking (LII)
• Entrepreneurial Thinking (LII)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.