Donor and External Relations Officer – P4 (Evergreen)  

Job Requisition Type

Evergreen (Formerly known as talent pools, in order to have a balanced number of ready-to-hire candidates who can be deployed at short notice to a vacancy that best matches their skills. Evergreens are primarily used to fill Temporary Appointments.)

Current UNHCR staff members holding an Indefinite or Fixed-term Appointment in the international professional category who are looking for Internal Temporary Assignment (ITA) opportunities – instead of applying to an Evergreen profile – should contact the Emergency and Temporary Staffing Unit.

Call for applications –  Donor and External Relations Officer, P4

Location: Various location

Why should you join us?

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, takes the lead in protecting people forced to flee wars and persecution around the world, providing life-saving aid including shelter, food and water to ensure their basic safety, rights and dignity. With 18,879 women and men working in 137 countries, we work tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of 89.3 million forcibly displaced people worldwide.

Our dedicated and professional staff work around the clock in roles including legal protection, community services, public affairs, health and more. Despite the challenges they can face, our staff are proud to work for UNHCR and determined to make a positive impact.

How can you make a difference?

Senior Donor Relations Officer

The Senior Donor Relations Officer is part of a team which strives to maintain a responsive and proactive dialogue with donor governments and regional and local donors, in order to build relationships, raise awareness and mobilize political and financial support for UNHCR’s work and priority actions. This function involves pursuing opportunities for donor engagement, strengthening partnerships, sustaining support and leveraging additional fundraising opportunities. The incumbent will also identify opportunities to diversify income streams, grow current level of contributions, as well as requirements to protect and sustain donor income. S/he will also provide support to counterparts in other operations, especially to offices dealing with emergency situations to be able to serve donors’ information needs on all aspects of UNHCR’s work.

The incumbent’s primary role is pursuing opportunities for donor engagement, strengthening partnerships, sustaining support and fundraising opportunities. Due to the specific nature of these responsibilities, Donor Relations Officer posts are based only in Geneva Headquarters, major donor capitals or Regional Bureaux. S/he with also provide support to counterparts in Field Operations, especially to offices dealing with emergency situations.

Key responsibilities and duties:

Maintain responsive and proactive dialogue with donor governments in order to build relationships, ensure regular communication, manage substantive annual bilateral consultations with donor governments, and raise awareness and support for UNHCR’s priority actions.

Identify and leverage donors’ key areas of interest, priorities and concerns as they influence funding decisions and their partnership with UNHCR.

Identify and access new funding opportunities and sources.

Monitor use of contributions; take necessary action to satisfy donor requirements and ensure earmarking is respected.

Provide donor counterparts with information on UNHCR operations including responding to donor governments’ ad hoc requests in coordination with other stakeholders in UNHCR.

Who are we looking for?

Candidates with 9 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 8 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 7 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree.

Requirements

Experience in strategic external engagement with donors, UN agencies, partners and governments. Ability to build productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Understanding of humanitarian programming and demonstrated ability to effectively advocate.

Advantage

Good understanding of the role of the UN in humanitarian emergencies, its agencies and ways of working. Good research, policy analysis and report writing skills. Track record in resource mobilization and first-hand experience in managing donor relations. Clear understanding of the workings of major donor perspectives, requirements and standards. Knowledge of UNHCR’s policies on programme management, resource allocation, financial rules, as well as UNHCR’s information systems and databases.

Senior External Relations Officer

The Senior External Relations Officer normally reports to the Representative or Deputy Representative. The incumbent has direct supervisory responsibility for External Relations staff.

External contacts are predominantly with partners, media, government, embassies and other international organizations in the country on matters of importance to the organization. The Senior External Relations Officer responsibilities may not be limited to resources mobilization duties listed below.

Key responsibilities and duties:

Through a consultative process with UNHCR colleagues (Programme, Protection, etc.) with external actors and partners, develop and implement protection and assistance strategy, with clearly articulated objectives, timelines and outputs.

Implement a communications strategy that generates support for UNHCR’s operations from external partners (e.g. the general public, governments, partners, the media, academia and persons of concern).

Articulate all issues pertaining to the needs of the populations of concern and the strategies in place to respond to their needs.

Maintain a close dialogue with and provide accurate information to donors by organizing regular briefings, bilateral meetings and donor missions. Prepare appropriate, high quality funding submissions, information papers and donor reports in compliance with UNHCR guidelines and specific donor requirements.

Coordinate the drafting of, and/or draft, situation reports, briefing notes, background material, talking points, fact sheets, press releases and articles.

In accordance with the operational context and in close cooperation with headquarters, access new and non-traditional funding sources, as appropriate, including private sector and humanitarian pooled/basket funds (e.g. Central Emergency Response Fund, Human Security Fund).

Who are we looking for?

Candidates with 9 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 8 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 7 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree.

Requirements

Experience in humanitarian operations in a field environment. Excellent knowledge of local institution, politics and culture.

Advantage

Good knowledge of UNHCR operations both at Headquarters and in the Field. Fund-raising and programming/programme management experience. Experience of working with social media.

For a more detailed description, please review the job description:

https://www.unhcr.org/63db73694

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

UNHCR’s workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. We seek to sustain and strengthen this diversity and to ensure equal opportunities, as well as an inclusive working environment, for our entire workforce. Joining us means living, sharing and promoting these core values of inclusion, diversity and gender equality.

Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on the grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

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