Partnership Specialist – P3

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.

 

Job Purpose and Organizational Context

The Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy (BERA) is responsible for positioning UNDP as the world’s leading global development network, 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. 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, 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.

UNDP’s Nordic Representation Office (NRO) is located in Copenhagen with satellite offices in Norway and Sweden. NRO works both as a partnership and liaison office between UNDP’s Headquarter in New York (BERA) and the Nordic member states, and as a communication office, which focuses on reaching the public through the media, public events, presentations, field trips and cooperation with Nordic stakeholders, including civil society, private sector, and schools and research institutions. The Partnership Specialist will be based in Oslo, Norway.

 

Position Purpose:

Under the direct supervision of the Director, the Partnership Specialist will advance the Nordic Representation Office’s efforts in Norway to increase overall support for UNDP on the part of key constituencies and partners in Norway. This includes the development and implementation of strategies and programmes to enhance strategic relationships, mobilize core and non-core resources, scale up corporate outreach and communications efforts, expand and deepen partnerships with key constituencies.

 

Duties and Responsibilities

Advancing engagement with Norwegian partners

• In collaboration with the Director and Deputy Director, strategic planning in shaping and advancing overall engagement, cooperation and partnership building with Norwegian partners including representing UNDP in public events positioning substantive development issues.

Delivery of effective global support on engagement with Norwegian partners 

• In collaboration with the Director and Deputy Director, provides advise on UNDP’s strategic positioning within Norway and promotes organizational knowledge on key aspects related to Norway’s development agenda, including e.g. strategies, programmes and funding.
• Supports the Director and Deputy Director in organizing incoming high-level visits, including preparing events, media and related briefing documents.
• Coordinates annual consultations and other strategic meetings of UNDP leadership with Norwegian high-level officials at international events and in New York.

Communicate and enhance UNDP public visibility and branding and position UNDP as a thought leader

• Under the guidance and in collaboration with the Deputy director, the BERA Communications Group and Public Partnerships teams, supports the effective implementation of the corporate Engagement Plan and Resource Mobilization Strategy in Norway and develops communications and engagement strategies targeting Norwegian partners and key interlocutors to advocate for UNDP’s development agenda, and to deepen and broaden UNDP’s existing partnerships.
• Supports the development of plans for partnerships and communications to raise UNDP’s visibility in Norway through media and social media outreach, including organizing press briefings and seminars on critical issues; briefing journalists and arranging high level interviews.

Resource mobilization including core and non-core revenue streams 

• Based on political intelligence suggest entry points to help maintain/strengthen/reverse current trends in the country’s political and financial support to UNDP including core and non-core resources

Effective delivery of global and Nordic commitments

• Advances synergies in partnerships and communications tools and approaches across the five Nordic countries and exchange of knowledge with other ROs.
• Contributes to Cross-Functional Teams (CFT) and advances synergies in tools and approaches across the five Nordic countries.
• Supports delivery of NRO’s overall workplan and tasks as agreed with Director and Deputy Director.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: \

• Supervises staff within the office in Norway (at present one position)

 

Competencies

Core    CoreBehaviouralCompetencies.pdf (undp.org)

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 on the dedicated site.

 

Cross-functional and Technical Competencies:

General – Public relations 

• Ability to build and maintain an overall positive public image for the organization, its mandate and its brand, while ensuring that individual campaigns and other communications and advocacy initiatives are supported in reaching the public

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

Partnership management – Multi-stakeholder engagement and

funding 

• Knowledge and ability to forge multi-stakeholder partnerships, and remove any obstacles to resource mobilization and multi-stakeholder funding platforms

Partnership management – Resource mobilization 

• Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements

Partnership management – Strategic engagement 

• Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives

Communications – Advocacy strategy and implementation 

• Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change

Communications – Media Relations 

• Ability to develop media relations across all aspects of media work including relationships with media and preparing media materials such as messages
  

 

Required Skills and Experience 

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in International Development, Public or Business Administration, Public Policy or similar discipline or related field of expertise; is required or
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree

Experience:

• 5 years of relevant experience in the development field or in a government, multilateral, UN System setting.
• Proven track record in building partnerships and networking with a wide range of partners.
• Familiarity with the UN/UNDP system and UNDP-Nordic partnership an asset.
• Experience and skills to manage and/or implement communication strategies, outreach and/or media.
• Excellent communications and partnership building skills – listening and build trust.
• Experience in the use of computers and office software packages and handling of web-based management systems.

Language Requirement:

• Fluency in English and Norwegian is required.

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

 

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders) 

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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