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Partnerships Specialist

Berlin | Bonn

  • Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
  • Location: Berlin | Bonn
  • Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
  • Occupational Groups:
    • External Relations, Partnerships and Resource mobilization
  • Closing Date: 2024-10-30

Background  
 
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
 
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.  
 
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 as formulated in the UNDP External Engagement Plan. 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, Berlin 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.  The Germany Representation 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 working to 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 cultivates, builds and nurtures strategic relationships including with parliament and its committees, ministries, KFW, GIZ, civil society, the private sector, foundations, academia, think tanks and the media. The Office is located in Bonn and Berlin.  
 
Duties and Responsibilities  
 
The Partnership Specialist supports the Director in strengthening strategic partnerships in Germany with the purpose of maintaining and, ideally, increasing political and financial support to UNDP. S/he also oversees operational aspects of the office and serves as OIC in absence of the Director.  The Partnership Specialist works in close collaboration with the Bureau for External Relations and Advocacy at headquarters and in line with the UNDP corporate external engagement plan.

1.    Operational oversight and support to management of the office 
  • Supervise and lead all operations and administrative aspects of the UNDP office supported by the finance and administrative assistant and in cooperation with the BERA operations team. 
  • Manage the ROAR, IWP, donor snapshot and Unity.
  • Lead and manage the process of acquiring and negotiating secondments 
  • Supervise secondments and other team members as needed
  • Serve as OIC in the absence of the Director and represent UNDP as needed
     
2.    Partnerships Building and Resource Mobilization
  • Provide strategic support in developing more tailored partnerships, outreach, advocacy and resource mobilization strategies to deepen and broaden UNDP’s existing partnership with Germany.
  • Strategic support to the RO Director and BERA leadership in shaping and advancing overall engagement, cooperation and partnership building with partners in Germany
  • Develop and conceptualize innovative advocacy and communication formats for German target audiences, in collaboration with BERA HQ, RBx and CO communication colleagues. 
  • Support and advise Director in responding to broad range of internal and external correspondence related to UNDP positioning.
     
3.    Expand programming opportunities between Germany and UNDP
  • In close collaboration with UNDP Regional and Central Bureaus, identify new entry points and programming opportunities between Germany and UNDP in German and UNDP priority areas.
  • Serve as a close link to UNDP headquarters and the field, to draw on the support of the Regional/Central Bureaux and Country Offices to help explain the value of UNDP‘s work to German audiences on themes and countries that are of importance to Germany and address any questions or concerns about UNDP that may arise;
  • Support Director in providing holistic guidance and support services to HQ, Country Offices and the Regional Hubs on the implementation of programmes and projects funded by Germany in accordance with applicable contractual frameworks and established regulations, monitoring and reporting activities, problem solving and risk and reputation management.
     
4.    Constituency Relations
  • Advise the Director related to UNDP strategies that are of relevance to German partners incl. government and government institutions.
  • Help ensure that opinion-leaders and decision-makers in Germany - particularly those in BMZ, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, BMU, KFW, GIZ - are regularly informed of and understand UNDP policy decisions, goals and achievements.
  • Build and strengthen 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
  • Under the guidance of the Director, represent UNDP in public events and bilateral meetings.
     
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Admin/Finance Assistant, secondment
 
 
Competencies

 Core Competencies - UNDP Core Competencies can be found here.
  • Achieve Results - LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact  
  • Think Innovatively - LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
  • Learn Continuously - LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
  • Adapt with Agility - LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
  • Act with Determination - LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results 
  • Engage and Partner - LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
  • Enable Diversity and Inclusion - LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity 

People Management

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

 
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Partnership management -  Relationship management:

  • Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding

Digital & Innovation - Innovation management:

  • Being able to create the, strategies, conditions, structures and systems to enable innovation at an organisational level. 
  • Ability to navigate uncertainty and ambiguity, is able manage projects-based principles of adaptation and emergence. 
  • Ability to shape demand for innovation services, navigate political constraints and make the case for allocation of resources to innovation, connect the appropriate innovation approaches based on business needs and make the case for innovation to be integrated at the planning level within their context. Having in-depth theoretical and experiential knowledge of innovation processes, methods, capabilities

Operations Management - Operations Management:

  • Ability to effectively plan, oraganize, and oversee the Organization’s business processes in order to convert its assets into the best results in the most efficient manner. 
  • Knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanisms
     

Strategic Thinking - Strategic Thinking:

  • Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions 
  • Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP
     
Effective Decision Making  - Effective Decision Making:
  • Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources
Communication - Communication:
  • Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience 
  • Ability to manage communications internally and externally. 
 
Required Skills and Experience
 
Education:
  • Master’s degree in international development, public administration, business administration, public policy or other relevant social sciences. 
  • A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned fields in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
  • A minimum of seven (7) years with Master’s degree or nine (9) years with Bachelor’s degree and relevant work experience in development in a governmental, multilateral or civil society organization in a multi-cultural setting;
  • Proven track record in building partnerships, networking, resource mobilization or with a donor.
  • Sound knowledge and understanding of UN or UNDP operations is an asset.
  • Experience in team management, management of financial resources and/or operations management is desirable
  • Familiarity with work planning and results-based management is an asset.
  • Familiarity and experience with German government institutions in particular BMZ, BMU, Foreign Office as well as GIZ is an asset.
  • Excellent public relations, advocacy and communications skills-written and oral is mandatory.

Language:

  • Fluency in English. 
  • German and knowledge of another UN language an asset.
Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

 
Disclaimer

 
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.

 
Non-discrimination
 
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.  

 
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

 
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