Partnerships Senior Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The job posting organization is UNOPS, which stands for the United Nations Office for Project Services. Established in 1995, UNOPS has a mission to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development. The organization operates in over 80 countries, providing project management, infrastructure, procurement, and other services to support humanitarian and development efforts. UNOPS is committed to operational excellence and high performance, ensuring that its activities align with the goals of the United Nations and the needs of the communities it serves. The Asia Pacific Regional Office, based in Bangkok, Thailand, oversees operations across 17 countries, including Afghanistan, where UNOPS has maintained an active presence since its establishment. UNOPS employs a diverse workforce and emphasizes the importance of partnerships and collaboration with various stakeholders to maximize impact and achieve sustainable development results.

Job Overview:
The Partnerships Senior Officer plays a crucial role in supporting the identification, development, and management of strategic partnerships and resource mobilization opportunities for the UNOPS Country Office in Afghanistan. This mid-level position involves providing analytical, coordination, and project development support throughout the partnership lifecycle. The officer will work closely with program teams, senior management, and external partners to strengthen UNOPS' strategic positioning and expand a diversified portfolio of partnerships that align with both country and organizational priorities. The role requires a proactive approach to identifying partnership opportunities, engaging with stakeholders, and contributing to the overall growth and sustainability of UNOPS operations in Afghanistan. The officer will also be responsible for monitoring donor priorities, conducting research, and maintaining partnership records to ensure effective resource mobilization and engagement.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Partnerships Senior Officer will have a comprehensive set of duties and responsibilities, including but not limited to:

• Supporting the implementation of the Country Office partnership strategy and annual work plans by analyzing the country context, donor priorities, and partnership landscape.
• Conducting partner intelligence, donor research, and funding analysis to identify emerging partnership opportunities.
• Monitoring donor priorities and financing trends, recommending opportunities for engagement.
• Maintaining partner mapping and strategic analysis to support resource mobilization planning.
• Managing the Country Office partnership pipeline, tracking opportunities, deadlines, responsibilities, and follow-up actions.
• Preparing partnership dashboards, pipeline reports, and portfolio analysis for management.
• Monitoring risks and opportunities affecting the partnership portfolio and providing analysis and recommendations for strategic decision-making.
• Contributing to the identification, design, formulation, and negotiation of new projects and programs, including drafting concept notes, proposals, and project briefs.
• Coordinating technical and financial inputs for proposals and supporting internal review processes. 1
• Supporting communication of UNOPS pricing approaches and value propositions during partnership discussions. 1
• Maintaining productive working relationships with governments, donors, UN agencies, and other stakeholders. 1
• Participating in inter-agency, donor, and government coordination forums to provide updates on project development issues. 1
• Capturing and disseminating lessons learned and good practices from partnership development activities. 1
• Contributing to knowledge-sharing initiatives and continuous improvement across the Country Office.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with at least 4 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience. Candidates must demonstrate experience in supporting partnership development, proposal coordination, business development, donor engagement, or resource mobilization within an international development context. Additionally, experience in resource mobilization through bilateral donors, international financial institutions (IFIs), and multilateral development banks (MDBs) is desired. Familiarity with working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in developing countries is also preferred, along with experience in development or humanitarian contexts and project management.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field, such as international relations, development studies, business administration, or a related discipline. A Master's degree (or equivalent) is preferred and may substitute for some of the required experience. The educational background should provide a solid foundation for understanding the complexities of partnership development and resource mobilization in an international context.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have a minimum of 4 years of relevant experience if holding a Bachelor's degree, or at least 2 years of relevant experience if holding a Master's degree. This experience should include supporting partnership development, proposal coordination, business development, donor engagement, or resource mobilization in an international development context. Experience in resource mobilization through bilateral donors, IFIs, and MDBs is highly desirable, as is experience working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in developing countries. Familiarity with development or humanitarian contexts and project and program management is also beneficial.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position, as it is the primary language of communication within UNOPS and with external partners. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, particularly languages relevant to the region or the stakeholders involved in partnership development.

Additional Notes:
The position is classified as mid-level, with an ICS level of 09, and is offered under an Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA) as a LICA Specialist on a regular contract basis. The contract is open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds, and satisfactory performance. The posting start date is August 24, 2026, and the application deadline is September 7, 202

• UNOPS emphasizes diversity and equal employment opportunities, encouraging applications from qualified women and candidates from underrepresented groups. The organization has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct. Background checks are conducted for all final candidates to ensure a safe and respectful working environment.