Partnerships Officer (Education) – P2  

These jobs are found in Headquarters (HQ), Regional Offices (ROs) and Country Offices (COs), usually reporting to a more senior staff member within the field of partnerships. The position’s purpose is to support Partnership Specialists and senior management in deepening collaboration with key stakeholders and helping to provide an interface for environmental scanning, knowledge exchange, resource mobilization, and policy influence within the scope of assignment. The key result is to ensure greater visibility for UNICEF and influence in support of its mission.
 

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, help

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does ? in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life ? in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions ? her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens ? addressing inequity ? not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

How can you make a difference?

These jobs are found in Headquarters (HQ), Regional Offices (ROs) and Country Offices (COs), usually reporting to a more senior staff member within the field of partnerships.

The position’s purpose is to support Partnership Specialists and senior management in deepening collaboration with key stakeholders and helping to provide an interface for environmental scanning, knowledge exchange, resource mobilization, and policy influence within the scope of assignment.  The key result is to ensure greater visibility for UNICEF and influence in support of its mission.

Positions at the P2 level are considered as supportive roles to higher level professionals that are centered on providing research, analysis and recommendations. Therefore, while these positions contribute substantively to organization-wide strategies, they should also be considered as opportunities for incumbents to acquire professional expertise, organizational knowledge, and exposure for further career advancement.

Key Responsibilities and Tasks:

• Contribute to the implementation of the work plan for assigned area, to ensure timely and cost effective delivery of results, in accordance with UNICEF’s partnership strategy.
• Build and maintain UNICEF’s partnerships, by supporting the development and implementation of standards and guidance for UNICEF partnerships; formulation of work plans and strategies.
• Support the development of frameworks and templates and review partner agreements and amendments for senior staff approval, ensuring compliance with UNICEF rules and regulations.
• Maintain up-to-date information on partner and income trends, analyse development assistance policies and keep resource partner profiles updated.
• Help supervisor maintain effective relationships with member states, UN agencies, NGOs, host government and other partners, in order to keep them informed on important, strategic operational UNICEF issues.
• Attend meetings with the UN and other multilateral bodies, NGOs, member states, taking notes, sharing information, and supporting joint information programmes to increase UNICEF’s profile, and protect its interests.
• Contribute to ideas for opportunities to develop new and existing synergies with other UN agencies to senior external partnership officers in order to support a more effective and efficient approach to programme delivery
• Assist with the preparation of information to provide to member states, UN agencies, NGOs, host government and other partners on the strategy, design, relevance and impact of programmes, to advocate the work of UNICEF.
• Collate and share relevant discussion and feedback on programme activities and issues of priority to UNICEF, gathered from member states, UN agencies, NGOs, host government and other partners, to engage them with inter-governmental/inter-agency discussion and inform future activities.
• Gather inputs from UNICEF that will contribute to inter-governmental/inter-agency work, to ensure that UNICEF positions are properly explained and taken into account in decision making
• Maintain awareness of current activities, political and social events of UN and other multilateral bodies/governments, conduct analysis to understand how they may impact UNICEF activities and programmes and provide timely information to UNICEF staff for decision-making.
• Conduct research on perspective new partners for UNICEF, and provide analysis of the areas of work, outreach, financial based and reputation of prospective partners.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Partnerships Officer Level 2 (1).docx

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have?

Education:

• A university degree is required in one of the following fields: international relations, political science, communications, international development, or another relevant technical field.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of two years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: public affairs, programme management, resource mobilization, external relations, or other relevant area.

Language Requirements: 

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate?

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness(3)Drive to achieve results for impact(4)Innovates and embraces change(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity(6)Thinks and acts strategically(7)Works collaboratively with others.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. 

Remarks:

The VA is open to all (internal and external candidates).

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable females are encouraged to apply.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service. 

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be cancelled.

All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Eligible UNICEF International Professional (IP) Staff Members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to a Temporary Appointment, which is dedicated to L3 (or L2) Response, may be able to retain a lien and their fixed-term entitlements. The conditions of the temporary assignment will vary depending on the status of their post and their current tour of duty, and relocation entitlements may be limited as per the relevant policies.

This is how cinfo can support you in the application process for this specific position: 

• Application preparation: Before you apply for this position: Improve your application documents by registering for a Job Application Support. Our coaches are here to help tailor your application to the requirements of the job (service provided at your own cost). 
• Interview preparation: When invited to the interview: Prepare for the interview by registering for a Job Application Support. 
• Additional services for  Swiss nationals who get invited to  the selection process (written test, interview, assessment centre, etc.): 
  • Let us know by writing to [email protected]. We flag matching applications to HR partners and SDC/SECO for visibility. 
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