Foundations and Institutional Philanthropy Advisor (P5)

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 as part of the UN reform agenda to enhance gender equality and women's empowerment globally. The organization merges the efforts of four previously distinct parts of the UN system, focusing on eliminating discrimination against women and girls, empowering women, and achieving equality between genders. UN Women operates in multiple countries worldwide, working towards its mission through strategic partnerships and resource mobilization efforts. The organization is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment, ensuring that all employment decisions are based on qualifications and competence, regardless of race, gender, or other characteristics.

Job Overview:
The Foundations and Institutional Philanthropy Advisor plays a crucial role in leading the implementation of UN Women’s Strategy on Partnerships with Institutional Philanthropic Foundations for the period 2026–202

• This position involves providing senior-level leadership and guidance for the organization-wide strategy, establishing priorities, and ensuring effective governance and corrective actions. The Advisor is responsible for cultivating high-value relationships with institutional foundations, advancing strategic funding opportunities, and coordinating support across various UN Women offices. The role requires a strategic mindset to translate priorities into actionable work plans and to advise senior leadership on market trends and institutional positioning. The Advisor will also be responsible for developing tailored engagement strategies and ensuring the organization is well-prepared to meet the needs of its partners.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the implementation of the Institutional Foundations and Philanthropies Strategy, translating priorities into actionable work plans and governance arrangements.
• Advise senior leadership on philanthropic market trends and institutional positioning, making recommendations for resource allocation and corrective actions.
• Establish and monitor performance indicators for the portfolio, conducting periodic reviews to identify bottlenecks and underperformance.
• Build and manage a diversified global pipeline of institutional foundations, maintaining disciplined account planning and relationship management.
• Cultivate and negotiate high-value partnerships, developing tailored engagement strategies and coordinating outreach efforts.
• Shape fundable offers by developing credible, costed propositions and co-creation workflows.
• Strengthen engagement pathways and institutional learning by coordinating account ownership and stewardship across various UN Women offices.
• Provide guidance and capacity building for partnership personnel and relevant teams, developing materials to enhance the organization's expertise in partnership opportunities.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree or equivalent in international relations, public policy, development studies, business administration, philanthropy, social sciences, or a related field. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Candidates should have at least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in strategic partnerships, resource mobilization, philanthropy, or related fields, including international experience. Proven experience in developing and managing significant partnerships with institutional foundations and philanthropic organizations is essential, along with experience advising senior management and coordinating complex partnership processes.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree or equivalent in relevant fields such as international relations, public policy, or business administration is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree with additional qualifying experience may be accepted. This educational background is critical for understanding the complexities of international development and partnership dynamics.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in strategic partnerships and resource mobilization, particularly at the international level. Candidates should have a track record of developing and managing partnerships with institutional foundations and philanthropic organizations, as well as experience in advising senior management on strategic choices and risks. Experience in leading innovative partnership strategies and managing strategic partnership pipelines is also necessary.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of another official UN language, such as French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish, is considered desirable and may enhance a candidate's profile.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and based in New York, United States. UN Women is committed to diversity and inclusion, ensuring that all employment decisions are made based on qualifications and competence. The organization has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct incompatible with its aims, including discrimination and harassment. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history. Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form are completed to avoid disqualification from the recruitment process.