Partnerships Officer - Liaison

Since opening in 2019, the UNOPS Austria Multi-Country Office (AUMCO) in Vienna has served as a hub for operations across 12 countries in South-East Europe, Türkiye, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia. AUMCO delivers technical expertise, operational support, and sustainable infrastructure solutions for governments, donors, and international financial institutions. Flagship initiatives include Blueing the Black Sea—a GEF and World Bank partnership to reduce pollution and promote sustainable development—and Türkiye’s post-earthquake recovery programme, enhancing protective services for women and children. In Albania, projects revitalise cultural heritage and advance digital justice, while in Kosovo, new university infrastructure supports higher education. In Georgia, AUMCO facilitates the Eastern Partnership European School and strengthens rule of law and digital health access. Across Central Asia, activities range from health system strengthening in Uzbekistan to hazardous waste management in Tajikistan. AUMCO also supports UNOPS’ global Water, Environment, and Climate portfolio, reinforcing its role as a regional and thematic centre of excellence.

This European Union-funded project, implemented by UNOPS in partnership with UN Women as the lead agency, aims to enhance access to safe, inclusive services and improve the overall well-being of women and girls in earthquake-affected regions of Türkiye.

The project operates within a complex, multi-stakeholder environment requiring continuous coordination among a wide range of national and international counterparts. Key stakeholders include the Ministry of Family and Social Services, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance, the Central Finance and Contracts Unit, the European Union, as well as other United Nations agencies and other partners and contractors.

In this context, effective communication, alignment of priorities, and timely information flow are critical to ensure smooth project implementation and compliance with donor and national requirements. The Coordination and Liaison Officer plays a central role in facilitating structured engagement among stakeholders, supporting communication between implementing partners and government counterparts, and ensuring that project activities are well-coordinated across institutions.

The position requires strong interpersonal and organizational skills, the ability to manage diverse stakeholder expectations, and a proactive approach to follow-up and problem-solving. The incumbent will contribute to maintaining effective working relationships, supporting coordination mechanisms, and ensuring that key decisions, approvals, and actions are communicated and tracked in a timely and coherent manner within a fast-paced, post-disaster environment.

The Senior Coordination and Liaison Officer will play a crucial role in ensuring effective communication, collaboration, and coordination among all project stakeholders. This includes UN agencies, government entities, local authorities, humanitarian organizations, community representatives, and UNOPS project teams. The incumbent will be responsible for establishing and maintaining strong working relationships, facilitating information sharing, and supporting the project's overall success through proactive engagement and problem-solving.

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Project Manager, the Senior Coordination and Liaison Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination:

• Support and implement a stakeholder engagement strategy to ensure effective communication and collaboration throughout the project lifecycle.

• Support and maintain strong working relationships with key government counterparts at the national and local levels, including Ministry of Family and Social Services, Central Finance and Contracts Unit (CFCU) and  

• Liaise with relevant UN agencies including UN Women, international and national NGOs, and community-based organizations to foster partnerships and avoid duplication of efforts.

• Organize and facilitate regular coordination meetings with stakeholders to share project updates, address challenges, and promote joint planning.

• Participate the project at relevant coordination forums and working groups.

Information Management and Reporting:

• Establish and maintain a comprehensive stakeholder database, including contact information, roles, and areas of interest.

• Support and disseminate regular project updates, newsletters, and other communication materials to keep stakeholders informed of progress and challenges.

• Prepare concise and informative reports on stakeholder engagement activities, including key issues, outcomes, and recommendations.

• Contribute to the development of project reports, ensuring accurate and timely information on coordination and liaison activities.

Problem Solving and Conflict Resolution:

• In coordination with the Senior Project Manager, identify and address potential conflicts or misunderstandings among stakeholders, facilitating dialogue and finding mutually acceptable solutions.

• Proactively identify and mitigate risks related to stakeholder engagement and coordination.

Support to Project Implementation:

• Assist the Project Manager in navigating bureaucratic processes and obtaining necessary approvals from government authorities.

• Support the organization of community consultations and participatory planning processes.

Knowledge Management and Capacity Building:

• Maintain and document lessons learned and best practices in stakeholder engagement and coordination.

• Contribute to the development of training materials and capacity-building activities for project staff and stakeholders.

• Promote knowledge sharing and collaboration among project teams and partners.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) preferably in international relations, development studies, communications, construction or related fields with 2 years of relevant experience OR

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any of the above or related fields with 0 years of relevant experience is required

Required

• Minimum of  2 years of progressively responsible experience in coordination, liaison, stakeholder engagement, or related fields, preferably in a humanitarian or development context.

• Experience with working with Ministries in Turkiye. 

Desired

• Experience working with government authorities, UN agencies, and NGOs is highly desirable.

• Experience in the construction sector and post-disaster recovery is an asset.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. 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. 
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience requirements outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to considering all candidates in a fair and transparent manner, and we value diverse perspectives and experiences, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals with diverse 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.

• 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. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click 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.