This position is open to Korean Nationals Only
UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP's policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.
Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP's Strategic Plan. BPPS's staff provides technical advice to Country Offices, advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government, and civil society dialogues, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. BPPS works closely with UNDP's Crisis Bureau (CB) to support emergency and crisis response. BPPS ensures that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP's development programmes. BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working. BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts.
Managed by BPPS, the Seoul Policy Centre (USPC) was established in 2011 as the UNDP Seoul Policy Centre for Global Development Partnerships following an agreement between the Government of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and UNDP signed in Nov 2009. The Centre’s functions and activities were set out to include: (1) To serve as the immediate interface with the Government on all aspects relating to the evolving ROK – UNDP partnership; (2) To serve as knowledge centre for comparative experiences and approaches of new development partners in reducing poverty and achieving sustainable human development; and (3) To facilitate and promote learning, networking, policy dialogue and consultation among new development partners and to contribute to capacity development in developing countries. USPC’s profile has continued to evolve since its inception.
USPC’s triennial work programme continues to be anchored in its original mandate and builds on the Centre’s existing vision as facilitator of global knowledge exchange and country-level application of innovative and tested-and-proven development solutions for the achievement of the SDGs. It aims to realise greater impact on the ground through more substantive collaboration between UNDP and relevant Korean partners. USPC explores new partnerships and collaboration modalities with diverse Korean ODA-implementing agencies as well as less traditional development actors such as the private sector.
USPC also implements its ‘SDG Partnerships’ country support programme – an approach for global knowledge exchange to create new solutions, build collaborative platforms, spark new partnerships and instruments for development – which is an innovative form of triangular development cooperation, bringing together UNDP’s corporate and Korean experience for the benefit of developing countries; and generating opportunities for innovative South-South Cooperation among USPC’s beneficiary countries.
Furthermore, the Centre carries out the related policy research and analytical work to more strongly contribute to corporate thought leadership on development cooperation and South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) priorities and related global development debates in the following substantive areas: (i) Development Cooperation Approaches and Modalities; (ii) Governance and Gender (including a focus on Anti-corruption and SGBV); (iii) Green Recovery and Transition (including a focus on Sustainable Forestry); and (iv) Private Sector Engagement. Cross-cutting issues such as digital transformation and inclusive approaches to leave no one behind (e.g. gender, youth) are considered for all substantive areas.
In support of these efforts, the Centre enhances the visibility and recognition of UNDP and the Centre’s work and linkages to the SDGs, both locally and internationally, by focusing on proactive communications and effective knowledge management.
Position Purpose:
The Partnerships & Communications Specialist based in the Seoul Policy Centre will play a key role in delivering a range of partnerships. communications, and policy outcomes as relate to ‘private sector engagement and development’ for the Centre. S/he guides the development and management of substantive partnerships across the Centre’s thematic areas with diverse Korean public and private actors including donors. S/he is responsible for promoting USPC and increasing recognition for its work vis-à-vis key partners, donors, and the general public with targeted messages linked to the Centre and UNDP’s corporate priorities, particularly as relates to engagements with the Republic of Korea to facilitate innovative development cooperation and foster strategic partnerships to catalyze SDGs. S/he also leads the Centre’s work on ‘Private Sector Engagement and Development’ by contributing substantive advice and technical expertise to leverage the innovation, knowledge and resources of the Korean private sector and the related ecosystem to support the achievement of SDGs. S/he collaborates with teams across UNDP’s Global Policy Network, Regional Hubs, Country Offices in the context of the Centre’s programme support work, and BERA, to provide quality services on partnerships, communications and policy as relate to the private sector engagement and development portfolio.
The Partnerships & Communications Specialist is responsible for performing and contributing to the following:
Building & strengthening strategic partnerships and donor relations Design & implementation of internal and external strategies for communications and outreach Management of policy development and programme support delivery on private sector engagement and development Providing strategic advice to the Centre Director on engagements with local partners in support of implementing USPC’s triennial programme in line with UNDP’s Strategic Plan priorities.UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.
Key Duties and Accountabilities
Building & strengthening strategic partnerships and donor relations
Development and coordination of USPC’s partnerships with Korean entities, including ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), for delivery on the USPC work programme and UNDP Strategic Plan, in close collaboration with all parts of the Global Policy Network. Advocacy and promotion of USPC/UNDP’s mandate, mission, achievements and impact for partnerships building, in both Korean and English. Development and maintenance of close contacts with local counterparts, including government officials, the national assembly, multilateral organizations, civil society and private sector for partnerships development. Provision of constructive and timely advice on compliance with partner requirements, analysis of information on current and potential partners, and management of partnership-related risks and sensitivities across the Centre’s programme. Substantive contribution to, and quality control of, reporting on the Centre’s major achievements and impact outcomes, particularly to the USPC Steering Committee. Coordination of high-level corporate partnership building missions to Korea and meetings with Korean counterparts, in collaboration with BPPS and BERA. Supporting the corporate partnerships-building and resource mobilization efforts by strategically positioning UNDP/USPC in Korea, in collaboration with BPPS and BERA. Provision of technical inputs into partnership formalizing operational processes, including risk assessment/due diligence, preparation of partnerships agreements and other relevant documents.Design and implementation of internal and external communications and outreach strategies
Development of the Centre communications strategy and action plan in alignment with the Centre’s work programme and UNDP’s corporate strategic priorities and communications guidelines to raise the profile of UNDP/USPC’s programmatic impact particularly among the national public, partners and donors. Supervision and implementation of the Centre communications strategy and action plan, including ideation and production of online and offline outreach materials, maintenance of the USPC website and social media platforms, outreach to the media, and coordination of publications activities, in both Korean and English Promotion and dissemination of UNDP flagship initiatives contributing to debates on key development issues, such as the launch of the Human Development Report in Korea. Management of public information activities on issues covering the Centre’s programme activities, Sustainable Development Goals etc. to position UNDP as a leader within the development space and USPC as a leading institution in Korea for development cooperation. Provision of constructive and timely advice on integration of visibility components into all aspects of the Centre’s programme. Management of branding issues, reputational sensitivities and quality assurance associated with the Centre’s communications work. Maintenance of close contacts with media, government officials, multilateral organizations, civil society and private sector in implementing the communications strategy and optimizing visibility for partnership building and resource mobilization. Supporting the corporate communications efforts to enhance the visibility of UNDP’s overall partnership with ROK, in coordination with BPPS, BERA and the wider UNDP. Supervision of team members providing technical input on communications.Management of policy development and program support delivery for private sector engagement and development.
Contribution to the Centre’s policy and research agenda in the focus area of ’private sector engagement and development’ based inter alia on the Korean experience. Management of “SDG Partnership on Supporting MSMEs through Inclusive Digital Transformation” through active coordination with partner countries and knowledge co-creation efforts including SSTC. Oversight of the Youth Co:Lab Korea impact startup acceleration programme through multi-stakeholder partnerships management. Application of innovative policies and programmes on private sector, in close collaboration with UNDP’s Global Policy Network, in support of UNDP’s strategic ambitions and Strategic Plan implementation. Management of knowledge generation, analysis and documentation of lessons learned on private sector engagement and development to inform the broader policy work of the Global Policy Network, partner countries and development actors. Coordination of policy dialogues, learning exchanges, and other knowledge sharing initiatives to share Korea’s experiences on private sector engagement and development. Fostering relations with relevant stakeholders active in Korea and globally to forge knowledge partnerships on private sector engagement and development matters. Supporting corporate activities to advance policy dialogue in the thematic area in collaboration with the Global Policy Network including policy teams at HQ, in Global Policy Centres and in Regional Hubs. Ensuring the programmatic and financial planning and delivery of the Private Sector Engagement and Development portfolio, including in partner countries. Quality assurance of policy services and fostering policy innovation in the specific thematic area by reviewing lessons learned and evaluations to enhance programme delivery. Supervision of team members providing technical input on private sector engagement and development.Providing strategic advice to the Centre Director on engagements with local partners to support the implementation of USPC’s triennial programme, in line with UNDP’s Strategic Plan priorities, and facilitating knowledge management
Supporting the implementation of USPC’s triennial programme and the development of related Centre partnership and communication strategies in line with UNDP’s Strategic Plan priorities and the Korean context. Provision of insights and inputs to UNDP/USPC business development, programme implementation and management, monitoring, budgeting and reporting processes, particularly as relate to partnerships, communications and private sector engagement and development. Provision of strategic advice and substantive support to the Centre Director on a broad range of the Centre’s activities related to partnerships, communication, policy formulation, particularly as relate to engagements with Korean stakeholders. Provision of inputs to briefings, presentations and speeches for the Director’s representation functions in Korea. Response to corporate requests to facilitate broader UNDP agendas related to engagements with Korea, including liaison and advisory support. Provide substantive and sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice including corporate communications repositories.The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: The Partnerships & Communications Specialist will supervise: Private Sector Engagement and Development Specialist; Youth Entrepreneurship Policy and Partnerships Analyst; Outreach and Advocacy Analyst
Core Competencies
Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems Learn Continuously LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences Adapt with Agility LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands Act with Determination LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results Engage and Partner LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration Enable Diversity and Inclusion LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivityCross-Functional & Technical competencies:
Business Direction & Strategy System Thinking
Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the systemBusiness Management Partnerships management
Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policiesBusiness Management Communication
Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.Business Management Portfolio Management
Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio managementPartnership management Strategic engagement
Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decisionmakers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives.Partnership management
Private sector engagement Ability to identify, conduct outreach, and manage relationships with the private sectorCommunications Advocacy strategy and implementation
Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change.QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
A minimum of 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible work experience in communications, partnerships management, or policy and programme support in the general area of sustainable development or international cooperation is required.Experience, Knowledge, and Skills:
Proven experience in developing and implementing communication strategies and supporting knowledge management is required. Substantive experience in developing and managing partnerships, both public and private, on issues of international development is required. Demonstrated capacity to develop clear and well-constructed reports, knowledge products and communications collateral is required. Prior work experience with international organizations is required; UNDP experience is an additional advantage. Proven experience in organizing high-level events and policy dialogues is a strong asset. Demonstrated experience in programme development, project management and policy research in the area of private sector engagement/development is a strong asset. Prior experience and knowledge of the development cooperation landscape of the ROK is a strong asset. Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, web-based management systems, content management systems and online communication and media channels for advocacy and outreach is a strong asset. Experience in the supervision of team members is an advantage. Demonstrated experience in providing technical input on private sector engagement and development is an asset.Language Requirements:
Fluency in English and Korean, both written and oral, is required.
Working knowledge of another UN language is desirable.
Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.
Probation
For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
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