Background Information - Job-specific
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.
On 24 February 2022, the military of the Russian Federation invaded Ukraine, with strikes across the territory of Ukraine. Since then, Russia’s invasion imposes a severe humanitarian and socio-economic toll, global energy and food crisis, large-scale destruction of the country's infrastructure, and disruptions in the provision of critical services and degradation of social fabrics and communities’ ties, triggering one of the world’s most significant forced displacements.
Severe attacks on energy and critical infrastructure facilities leave millions of people without electricity, water or heating supply, struggling to access water, food, health services, materials to repair homes, among others. The continued attacks cause substantial damage to the country’s economy and agricultural production, and also affect the poorest countries worldwide.
UNOPS support to partners spans the humanitarian-development nexus from emergency response to building back better, across the housing, health, education, transport, energy and mine action sectors, through infrastructure, procurement and technical assistance / project management interventions, with the ultimate aim of supporting the country on its EU accession and in its achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The UNOPS Office in Poland, operating under the auspices of the UNOPS Ukraine Multi-Country Office in partnership with the UN Global Compact Network Poland, will aim to support Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction efforts. This will be achieved through leveraging contributions from the Polish government and private sector, including in-kind donations to deliver building materials, specialized equipment and other goods to Ukraine with a focus on Building Back Better. Furthermore, the UNOPS Office in Poland will facilitate journey of Ukraine and Moldova towards European Union accession by drawing upon the valuable experiences of Poland's own EU integration and membership.
Under the overall guidance of the UAMCO Partnership Specialist and in coordination with the UNOPS Head of Programme, the incumbent is supporting a variety of regional programmatic activities, supporting the UAMCO team, with high quality and accuracy of work. The Partnerships Senior Officer will be in charge of implementing the partnerships and programme development plan
Functional Responsibilities
Country Engagement Work Support
Information Management
1. Country Engagement Work Support:
The Partnerships Senior Officer will support the Partnership Specialist in the development of engagement opportunities and oversight of country-related work of the UAMCO Partnership in the region (Ukraine, Moldova, Poland). The Partnerships Senior Officer will need to interact frequently with personnel from different work streams of the Support Unit.
Under the direction of the Partnership Specialist, the Partnerships Senior Officer will be tasked with:
Contribute to active positioning and expansion of UNOPS portfolio by building a network of key partners, keeping abreast of social, economic, and political trends;
Establish contacts with potential partners, organizing meetings and negotiations, and prepare subsequent records of meetings, plan of action and follow-up for potential partnership development opportunities;
In coordination with the Programme team, lead on the identification, design, formulation, drafting and negotiation of new projects and programmes, including concept notes and project documents;
Contribute to the diversification of the UAMCO portfolio through the identification, design, formulation and negotiation of new projects and programs and draft concept notes and project document briefs for discussion with partners;
Create and maintain oneUNOPS opportunities and engagement functionalities in alignment with UNOPS corporate guidelines;
Support the Partnership Specialist in the oversight of country-related work of the UAMCO Partnership in the region;
Coordinate technical and financial requirements, and negotiate proposals to close new project opportunities;
Draft agreements and/or contractual documents required for the signature and implementation of new projects;
Coordinate technical and financial requirements, and negotiate proposals to close new project opportunities;
Interact with international team members from different work streams;
Support country analysis related to the recovery of the country and the reforms on the path towards EU accession; including inter alia, public documents, national targets, country portfolios, country contacts, etc.;
As required, draft country, multi-country or regional briefing notes in coordination with relevant staff members of the UAMCO and ECR;
Keep Partnership Specialist and the Country Management Team apprised of all management and ad-hoc requests from implementing and development partners, regarding country engagement in the region;
Support the technical organization of meetings, conferences or other regional gatherings, in coordination with other staff members of the Support Unit, for events where Partnership Specialist or Country Director are expected to attend, including content presentation preparation;
Ensure monthly and quarterly collection of country update reports from country facilitators, as guided by the Partnership Specialist/Country Director;
Provide Quality assurance of country progress update reports and drafting of stories of change that the Partnership can promote;
Ensure completion of periodic country-related updates such as Country Engagement Opportunity Updates, Newsletters, Monday boards, and Share Point;
Support hiring process of ad-hoc consultancies.
2. Information Management
The Partnerships Senior Officer will be familiar with the regional information included in the knowledge management system of the UACO and will be the primary point of contact for relevant queries and extract and analyses information accordingly.
The Partnerships Senior Officer will also be responsible for ensuring that information flowing from exchanges between Partnership Specialist and country stakeholders and/or implementing partners is adequately captured in the Support Unit’s Information Management System.
Overview the knowledge management system of the UAMCO – for the countries in the region, be the primary point of contact for relevant queries and extract and analyze information accordingly;
Maintain track of formal communications between the SU and country counterparts and implementing partners;
Ensure the appropriate allocation of written products resulting of SU work in the region, including but not limited to Partnership Plans, Partnerships Highlights and other deliverables, as well as PP implementation monitoring reports.
Competencies Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) international relations, international development, economics, finance, administration or a related field is required.
Bachelor degree in combination with additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree. Experience:
A minimum of 2 years (4 years for a bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience in international cooperation, communications, partner or client relationships, business development and/or market analysis.
Demonstrated excellent research and analysis skills related to partner/business development in an international setting is highly desirable;
Prior experience in a developing country is highly desirable;
Experience with international organizations or working with donors such as the World Bank or the US Government is considered as a strong asset. Language requirements:
Fluency in English (read, write and speak) is required.
Fluency in Polish (read, write and speak) is required.
This is a local position, it is therefore open to Nationals of Poland and to individuals who have a valid residence/work permit. Contract type, level and duration
Contract type: ICA
Contract level: Local ICA Specialist
Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance
For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx
This is a local position, it is therefore open to Nationals of Poland and to individuals who have a valid residence/work permit. Additional Information
Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.
Terms and Conditions
For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses ( they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.