The position is home based. The candidates are not requested to work from the US. However, if the recommended candidate is from NY he/she might be asked to report to office
Background
Office/Unit/Project Description
The Bureau for External Relations and Advocacy (BERA) is responsible for positioning UNDP as the world’s leading global development agency, working with 170 governments and hundreds of partners to achieve sustainable development through the interconnected issues of poverty, good governance, environmental protection, crises stabilization to name a few. The Bureau for External Relations and Advocacy leads and supports UNDP in building and nurturing strategic relationships and alliances essential to achieving its mission.
BERA coordinates, sets the strategy and delivers functions of partnerships, marketing and communications within UNDP. BERA is positioned around three service lines: Public Partnership; Advocacy, Marketing and Communications; and Private and Finance Partners. BERA also delivers through a network of Representation Offices (Brussels, Copenhagen, Geneva, Tokyo, Washington D.C and Berlin) and Regional Team Members in five hubs (Africa, Arab States, Asia Pacific, Europe and CIS, and Latin America and the Caribbean) providing audience-centric communications and management and strengthening of relationships with public and private partners.
Cognizant of the evolving landscape of international development cooperation - including the shift in traditional ODA and a renewed emphasis on multilateralism to address global development challenges - UNDP is deepening its engagement with foundations and philanthropies. The upcoming Strategic Plan (2026-2029) envisions a revived platform for collaboration on shared goals by leveraging UNDP’s global presence, multi-stakeholders/partners outreach, and extensive know-how and expertise across critical development areas.
Within the Public Partnerships Group of BERA, the Philanthropy Team leads and facilitates UNDP’s work with foundations, donor collaboratives, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals to collaborate and co-invest for sustainable development outcomes.
Scope of Work
Within the context of the Philanthropy Team, UNDP requires the services of an experienced International Expert who is responsible for overseeing the management of philanthropic grants.
The Philanthropy Grants Manager will serve as a global focal point for the operational management of foundation and philanthropic grants. They will oversee the grant lifecycle from onboarding to closure, streamline donor reporting processes, , and support the development of enabling partnership frameworks. The Philanthropy Grants Manager will play a key role in scaling up UNDP’s partnerships with philanthropies by cultivating strategic, co-created, catalytic, and long-term partnerships. The Philanthropy Partnerships Manager will work closely with the Philanthropy Team and other units in BERA, Bureau for Management Support (BMS), Central and Regional Bureaux, Country Offices, and relevant technical teams, and with external partners to fulfill the following responsibilities:
1. Grants Management
2. Donor Reporting – Financial, Programmatic & Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL)
3. Ensure Operational Coordination & System Strengthening
4. Ensure Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Integration and Knowledge Sharing
5. Facilitate Capacity Building & Internal Guidance
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Institutional Arrangement
The Philanthropy Grants Manager will be based in the Philanthropy Team within the Public Partnerships Group of the Bureau for External Relations and Advocacy (BERA). The incumbent will report to the Philanthropy Team Leader and receive day-to-day guidance from the Partnership Portfolio Specialist—Foundations and Philanthropies, per the agreed work plan and expected deliverables. The incumbent will be responsible for processing and managing grants to UNDP.
As part of the team and in support of the collective and individual results, the incumbent will work closely with the Philanthropy Reporting, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Specialist and the Philanthropy Partnership Analyst, among other team members. He/she will also work closely with the BERA Advocacy, Marketing, and Communications Team (ACGM), BMS/OLS, central and regional bureaux, and country office teams involved in implementing philanthropic partnerships.
Competencies
Core
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
Thematic Area
Name
Definition
Partnership Manageme nt
Relationship management
Ability to engage with a wide range of philanthropic partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust andmutual understanding.
Partnership Management
Resource mobilization
Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to
Partnership Management
Multi- stakeholder engagement and
funding
Knowledge and ability to forge multi- stakeholder partnerships and remove any obstacles to resource mobilization and multi-stakeholder funding platforms.
Business Direction and Strategy
System Thinking
Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist withinan overall processor system and to consider how altering one element can impact other parts of the system.
Legal
Knowledge Applicable for legal framework
Understanding of the legalnorms as applied to the United Nations in general, and to UNDP in particular. This includes an understanding of the structure, functioning and operations of UNDP within the broader UN system and the application of international
treaties, including the UN Charter, GA resolutions, the relevant basic country assistance agreement and UN system-wide legal instruments, as well as an understanding of the internal legal framework (financial regulations and rules, policies, and procedures) of UNDP
Business Development
Knowledge facilitation
Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange.
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, andportfolio management
Minimum Qualifications of the Successful IPSA
Min. Education requirements
Min. years of relevant work experience
Required skills
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section
Required Language(s)
• Fluency in the English is required. Fluency in other UN languages is an asset.
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.
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.
Scam alert
UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.
The position is home based. The candidates are not requested to work from the US. However, if the recommended candidate is from NY he/she might be asked to report to office