Partnerships Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The UNOPS Africa Regional Office, established to oversee the delivery of over 250 projects across 40 countries, focuses on fragile and conflict-affected settings. With a workforce of more than 1,000 personnel across five multi-country offices in North, West, Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa, the office aims to advance national priorities through strategic initiatives in various sectors including Climate Action, Health, Infrastructure, Peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Security, and support for Middle-Income Countries and Small Island Developing States. The office is committed to promoting excellence in project delivery, fostering knowledge sharing, and driving continuous improvement to contribute to sustainable infrastructure and better quality of life for communities across the continent.

Job Overview:
The Partnerships Specialist is tasked with developing and implementing partnership development plans and supporting communication strategies for Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda. This role is pivotal in building and maintaining effective relationships with governments, UN agencies, donors, and other stakeholders to mobilize resources and expand the office's portfolio. The Partnerships Specialist ensures that all initiatives align with UNOPS' global and regional priorities, contributing to sustainable results and supporting the achievement of strategic objectives. The position requires a proactive approach to identifying partnership opportunities and ensuring that all partnership initiatives are effectively communicated and executed.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop a comprehensive partnership development and communications plan that aligns with UNOPS Strategic Plan and Regional Strategies, including analysis of the regional and national development landscape, identification of key partners, and strategic positioning of UNOPS.
• Monitor and evaluate humanitarian and development trends to identify collaboration areas, research events and publications to track opportunities for UNOPS interventions, and provide feedback on framework partnership agreements.
• Establish and develop partnerships with UN agencies, international organizations, and private sector entities to diversify project opportunities.
• Participate in inter-agency coordination meetings and provide strategic direction to communications personnel to ensure alignment with country priorities.
• Implement standards and tools provided by HQ to manage partnership and project development effectively, contributing to best practices and innovative approaches in project management.

Required Qualifications:
A Master’s degree in a relevant field such as Business Administration, Public Administration, International Development, Engineering, Political Science, Communications, or International Relations is required. Alternatively, a Bachelor's degree combined with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the educational requirements.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in a relevant field. In cases where a candidate holds a Bachelor's degree, they must have at least 2 additional years of relevant work experience to meet the educational requirements for this position.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least 5 years of experience in International Development, with demonstrated experience in developing and executing partnership, communications, and program development plans. Experience in project development and proposal writing, as well as establishing partnerships with UN agencies and international organizations, is essential. Prior experience in international organizations and emergency contexts is required, while project and program management experience is considered an asset.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an advantage but is not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The position is classified at a mid-level seniority (ICS 10) and is offered under an Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA) with a regular contract type. The contract duration is open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds, and satisfactory performance. Applications must be submitted before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. UNOPS is committed to diversity and equal employment opportunities, encouraging applications from underrepresented groups.