Fundraising Specialist (Faith & Membership), P3, # 120139, TA (364 days), PFP, Geneva, Switzerland

Under the general guidance of the Faith and Membership-Based Organizations unit manager, the incumbent for this post will be responsible for maximizing engagement and income from this audience, supporting the implementation of the global strategy, providing guidance, best practices and capacity building to key priority markets. The post will support the strategic management of high-value partnerships, working closely with UNICEF divisions such as Programme Group, Division of Global Communication & Advocacy and others. The post will also help support the management of UNICEF Multifaith Giving Circle and help identify additional appealing global recognition opportunities to further UNICEF’s work through resource mobilization, engagement, enhanced thought-leadership and advocacy.

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 fulfil 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.

For every child, a Champion.

The Private Sector Fundraising (PSFR) section within PFP works with National Committees and UNICEF country offices to maximize engagement and drive income growth. There are five units within the PSFR section. The purpose of the Faith and membership-based organizations income channel, within the Global Philanthropy unit, is to drive engagement, impact, and income growth from faith and membership-based organizations.

The team provides strategy development and capacity building to National Committees and Country Offices, including working with them to conduct prospect research, provide engagement and cultivation opportunities for global partners, support new business development discussion, share best practices, provide training, and support on prospect cultivation and management. Team members also play a role in the relationship management of key partners.

How can you make a difference?

Under the general guidance of the Faith and Membership-Based Organizations unit manager, the incumbent for this post will be responsible for maximizing engagement and income from this audience, supporting the implementation of the global strategy, providing guidance, best practices, and capacity building to key priority markets. The post will support the strategic management of high-value partnerships, working closely with UNICEF divisions such as Programme Group, Division of Global Communication & Advocacy, and others.

The post will also help support the management of UNICEF Multifaith Giving Circle and help identify additional appealing global recognition opportunities to further UNICEF’s work through resource mobilization, engagement, enhanced thought-leadership, and advocacy

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

The incumbent for the post will be an essential member of a small team and thus will be called upon to support a number of initiatives.

Below is the current primary focus of the role that can be foreseen:

Grow faith & membership giving a revenue stream 

• Collaborate closely with key priority markets to support their new business development and help establish a pipeline of top prospects with defined engagement plans 
• Support the conduct of additional strategic mapping, with the goal to explore new opportunities
• Support the identification of philanthropy networks/events to promote UNICEF and maximize opportunities for engagement with prospects identified

Strategic support to existing partnerships

• Support existing strategic partnerships with membership and faith-based organizations
• Ensure they are strategically and effectively managed. Support all areas of account management: Growth strategy, programmatic content, coordination with all participating Natcoms and COs, stakeholder management including with senior management and OED, income and soft crediting
• Ensure these strategic partnerships are adequately recognized and promoted at various events and engagement platforms

Global engagement platforms

• Support the management of UNICEF Multifaith Giving Circle to maximize the members influence in 2022 and beyond
• Identify additional appealing global recognition opportunities, including non-financial engagement offerings, that will further UNICEF’s work through resource mobilization, engagement, enhanced thought-leadership and advocacy

Knowledge management & capacity building  

• Support the development of best practices and tools, including sharing cross-market learnings
• Help identify additional pathways to reach our partners members and secure their engagement with the goal to build successful pathways to secondary audiences
• Support the management of the unit collaboration sites and intranet sections and ensure important information and knowledge on all priority partnerships is accessible and up to date and supports the appropriate dissemination of information.
• The post holder might support with additional projects as necessary.

Deliverables:

Efficient and effective delivery against the above accountabilities will result in enhanced or new partnerships and financial resources in support of UNICEF’s programmes. It will also result in stronger collaboration with National Committees and Country Offices.

Examples of specific deliverables will include but not be limited to the following:

• New partnerships signed with Faith & Membership Organizations
• Global pipeline of top prospects with engagements plans
• Existing strategic partnerships effectively managed against clear activity plans
• Best practices developed and shared, including on building successful pathways to secondary audiences
• Training and Webinars throughout the year
• Clear overview of engagement opportunities for faith partners who make significant gifts to UNICEF
• Multifaith Giving Circle in-person strategic meeting in 2022
• Other deliverables upon request

Estimated duration of the contract:

• 364 days

Reporting to:

• Partnerships Specialist

Working Place:

• Geneva, Switzerland

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

Education:

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: Business, Communication, Marketing, International Relations, Social Sciences, or related fields.
• Alternatively, a first-level University Degree in a relevant field combined with (2) additional years of qualifying professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in resources mobilization, donor and external partner relations, and/or in building and maintaining a network of stakeholders is required.
• Knowledge of diverse faiths and faith-based landscapes is required.
• Effective communication skills and the ability to communicate with different stakeholders, particularly in a multi-cultural context is required.
• Strong analytical and research skills are required
• Familiarity with the global fundraising landscape and/or experience in cultivating high-value gifts is an asset
• Familiarity with UNICEF programmes and experience in leading the development and implementation of advocacy strategies is an  asset
• Experience with UN/UNICEF is an advantage

Language requirement:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

 For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA)

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1) are required.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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:

UNICEF PFP-Geneva is currently reviewing organizational changes; therefore, the exact future location of the post is still under consideration/to be determined. Candidates may be asked to commence duties remotely. Should the selected candidate be assigned and relocate to Geneva, they may later be asked to relocate and be assigned to another location during the initial contract or assignment period.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

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