Head, Northern Europe Partnerships Office

Job Posting Organization:
The job posting organization is UNOPS, which stands for the United Nations Office for Project Services. Established to support the implementation of projects and initiatives that contribute to humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding efforts, UNOPS operates globally, providing services in various sectors including infrastructure, procurement, and project management. The organization is committed to advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and works with a diverse range of partners, including governments, international organizations, and the private sector. UNOPS has a workforce that reflects a wide range of nationalities and cultures, promoting diversity and inclusion within its operations. The organization is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, and has offices in multiple countries around the world, enabling it to respond effectively to the needs of its partners and beneficiaries.

Job Overview:
The Head of the Northern Europe Partnerships Office is a senior leadership role within UNOPS, responsible for driving strategic engagement with key partners in Northern Europe, including the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. This position requires a strong focus on partnership development, engagement, and opportunity identification to enhance UNOPS's portfolio and mission delivery. The role involves managing relationships with various governmental entities and stakeholders, ensuring that UNOPS is positioned as a trusted partner in delivering impactful humanitarian and development initiatives. The Head will also be responsible for fostering a high-performing team culture, modeling UNOPS values, and ensuring that the office meets its strategic objectives. This includes providing insights and recommendations to inform the Partnerships and Futures Group's strategy and planning, as well as supporting regional and country offices in their partnership development efforts.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Strategic Alignment and Direction: Contribute to the strategy and planning of the Partnerships and Futures Group (PFG) by providing insights from key partner relationships. Analyze and report on partner portfolios to support decision-making. Advise regional and country offices on partner engagement to build organizational capabilities.
• Key Partner Strategy and Positioning: Develop and implement strategies for key partners, ensuring alignment with Partner Segment Strategies. Champion strategic partnerships through effective networking and communication of UNOPS's value proposition.
• Key Partner Engagement and Representation: Engage with senior officials in partner organizations, representing UNOPS in external meetings and forums. Lead consultations with partners to establish ongoing dialogue and identify strategic opportunities.
• People Leadership: Foster a culture of trust and accountability within the Partnerships Office. Promote diversity and inclusion, ensuring high standards of conduct. Manage and develop a diverse workforce to optimize performance.
• Knowledge Management and Innovation: Lead knowledge sharing related to key partners, contributing to continuous improvement in partner engagement. Promote the adoption of innovative practices and support capacity building for personnel and stakeholders.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with at least 12 years of relevant experience, or a Master’s degree (or equivalent) with a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience. The role requires significant experience in strategic and managerial leadership within international development, business development, or program management in a large international organization. Candidates should have a proven track record in relationship management and partner engagement, as well as experience in leading opportunity development processes. Familiarity with multicultural environments is essential, and experience in the UN system or humanitarian contexts is desirable.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Bachelor’s degree or higher in any relevant discipline. A Master’s degree is preferred, particularly for candidates with less than the required years of experience. The educational qualifications should be complemented by extensive professional experience in relevant fields, demonstrating a strong understanding of international development and partnership dynamics.

Experience:
The position requires a substantial level of experience, specifically a minimum of 12 years for candidates with a Bachelor’s degree or 10 years for those with a Master’s degree. Relevant experience should include strategic and managerial leadership roles in international development, business development, or program management. Candidates should have significant experience in strengthening capabilities and leading processes in relationship management and partner engagement, as well as experience in developing and implementing projects of national relevance. Experience working in multicultural environments and with the UN system is highly desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position, as it is the primary language of communication within UNOPS. Proficiency in additional languages such as French, Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, and Russian is considered desirable and may enhance a candidate's application, particularly in engaging with diverse partners and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified at the senior level (ICS 12) and is a full-time role under the ICA - IICA - Regular contract type. The contract level is IICA 3, and the position is ongoing with no specified end date. UNOPS emphasizes diversity and equal employment opportunities, encouraging applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds, including women and underrepresented groups. The organization has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual exploitation and abuse, and all candidates must undergo background checks as part of the recruitment process. Applications must be submitted before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further assessments.