Partnerships Officer - Liaison

Job Posting Organization:
UNOPS (United Nations Office for Project Services) is an operational arm of the United Nations that supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects around the world. Established to enhance the ability of the United Nations, governments, and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure, and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner, UNOPS operates in some of the world’s most challenging environments. The organization is committed to advancing sustainable implementation practices while meeting or exceeding the expectations of its partners. UNOPS has a global presence, working in numerous countries to provide essential support in various sectors, including peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, humanitarian response, and development initiatives.

Job Overview:
The Partnerships Officer - Liaison will play a crucial role in facilitating communication and coordination between UNMAS (United Nations Mine Action Service) and national counterparts in Nigeria, particularly in Abuja and field locations. This position is vital for supporting the Federal Government and humanitarian partners in addressing the threats posed by explosive ordnance in conflict-affected areas, especially in the north-east of Nigeria. The officer will be responsible for providing technical advice, maintaining open communication channels, and facilitating information exchange to support national treaty obligations and the integration of explosive ordnance risk education (EORE) into national systems, including the school curriculum. The role may involve occasional travel to the north-east region of Nigeria, emphasizing the importance of collaboration with various stakeholders, including government ministries and educational authorities.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Partnerships Officer - Liaison will have a range of responsibilities, including:

• Coordination and Information Exchange: Acting as the focal point for routine information sharing between UNMAS and relevant federal ministries, including the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Defence. This includes stakeholder coordination with various federal and state-level counterparts, ensuring that mine action concerns are integrated into relevant sectors.
• Technical Assistance & Workflow Management: Providing day-to-day technical inputs and suggestions to national counterparts for drafting obligatory national reports under international conventions. This includes maintaining a registry of tasks and agreed next steps to ensure continuity in workflow management.
• Operational and Administrative Facilitation: Facilitating the scheduling, logistics, and documentation of formal meetings and workshops between organizational leadership and government officials. Preparing official correspondence, meeting minutes, and routine operational updates while ensuring that logistics reflect inclusive practices.
• Monitoring and Reporting: Monitoring the evolution of mine action inclusion in relevant sectors and liaising with colleagues for follow-ups. Supporting knowledge management and program coordination activities, including identifying and monitoring risks related to government liaison functions.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) with at least 2 years of relevant experience in liaison, public administration, program management support, or coordination roles. An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) is desired. Relevant experience is defined as progressive professional experience in the aforementioned areas, with a strong preference for candidates who have worked in Nigeria with related stakeholders such as the Ministry of Education or the State Universal Basic Education Board. Experience in coordinating with diverse stakeholders, including national authorities and UN agencies, is also highly desired. Additionally, candidates should demonstrate experience applying gender-sensitive, inclusive, or protection-responsive approaches in their work.

Educational Background:
A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) is required for this position. An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) is preferred, indicating a higher level of academic achievement and specialization in relevant fields.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in liaison, public administration, program management support, or coordination roles. Candidates with experience working in Nigeria and coordinating with stakeholders such as government ministries and educational authorities will be given preference. Experience in applying gender-sensitive and inclusive approaches in various contexts is also desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in English (speaking, reading, and writing) is required for this position. Additionally, proficiency in local languages spoken in Abuja and the northeastern regions of Nigeria is highly desired, as it will facilitate better communication and engagement with local stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The position is classified at the Associate seniority level (ICS 08) and is offered under an ICA - LICA - Specialist - Regular contract type. The contract duration is open-ended, and the position is based in Abuja, Nigeria. UNOPS emphasizes diversity and inclusion in its workforce and encourages applications from qualified women and candidates from underrepresented groups. The organization has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual exploitation and abuse, and background checks are conducted for all final candidates. Applications must be submitted before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further assessments.