Partnerships Specialist (Partnerships and Communication)

The Global Portfolios Office (GPO) comprises the New York Portfolios Office, the Geneva Office (hosted partnerships and the Water, Environment and Climate team - WEC - in Vienna).

The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) works across the globe. It brings together:

• The New York Portfolios Office, including the Sustainable Development Cluster and the Peace and Security Cluster
• The Geneva Office, including hosted engagements, the Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) team based in Vienna, and other global programmes.

The office harnesses the collective expertise, resources, and networks of our Geneva and New York offices and the WEC team to amplify our impact globally in support of UNOPS strategic priorities and SDGs, ensure a streamlined approach to global programmes, and promote collaboration and communication with country offices.

The office works closely with major global partners and benefits from close links with the Geneva Liaison Office and the New York Board and External Relations Office.

We implement projects in over 130 countries on diverse thematics:

• Sustainable development
• Climate action and energy
• Health
• Peace & Security
• Humanitarian leadership and people’s displacement

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Director NYPO, and in consultation with the NYPO senior management team as needed, the Partnerships Specialist (Partnerships and Communication) will have the following key responsibilities:

1. Strategic positioning of the NYPO portfolios;
2. Development and follow up of strategic alliances an partnerships for NYPO portfolios;
3. Management and implementation of strategic external communications for NYPO; 
4. Internal communication and knowledge management for NYPO

Strategic positioning of the NYPO portfolios:

• In coordination with the NYPO Director, GPO Partnership Advisor, and NYPO Senior Management, collaborates on the development, implementation, and monitoring of the NYPO Communication Strategy, keeping it aligned with the GPO strategy and global UNOPS priorities.
• Support the Identification of priority audiences and carry out a stakeholders’ mapping and follow-up.

Management and implementation of strategic external communication for NYPO:

• Act as the spokesperson of UNOPS - NYPO when needed, ensuring that public announcements are made through the most appropriate channels to maximize their impact. Manage media relations and resolve inquiries from journalists for interviews, statements and others. 
• Facilitates the development, monitoring and implementation protocols to prevent and manage potential reputational or media communications crisis situations, in coordination with the NYPO Director and NYPO Senior Management in coordination with UNOPS Communication Group
• Work closely with the Communication Group to ensure that various communications are provided to the NYPO Director and Senior Management.

Development and follow-up of strategic alliances (Partnerships) for GPO portfolios: 

• Support the NYPO Director and Senior Management in the necessary management of current and potential new strategic alliances (Partnerships) with national and international actors from various sectors.
• Works with the NYPO Director on actions to strengthen and develop strategic alliances in line with the implementation of the GPO and UNOPS Strategic Plan - restated for 2022-2025 and its successor.

Internal communication and knowledge management for NYPO:

• Support the NYPO Director in keeping the UNOPS team and counterparts updated on information regarding the activities and projects of UNOPS of the NYPO portfolio
• Contribute to the dissemination and exchange of best practices and lessons learned.

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent), preferably in Communications, Journalism, Public Administration, Economics, International Development, Political Science, International Relations or related field.
• First-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in combination with a minimum of two (2) years’ qualifying experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

• A minimum of five (5) years of experience (depending on academic titles presented) supporting the development or development of communication strategies, public relations and / or strategic alliances.
• Experience in public relations (or an equivalent related to Partnerships and partnership development) is required in the public, private or cooperative projects.
• Personnel supervisory experience in communications is required. 
• Experience in communication for development and/or partnership and portfolio development is required.

Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement (IICA) 
Contract level: IICA-2 
Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.