Back Senior Partnership Officer

OVERVIEW

Post Number : 1BEBSP0001RP

Grade : P-4

Parent Sector : Bureau of Strategic Planning (BSP)

Duty Station: Brussels

Job Family: Programme Coordination

Type of contract : Fixed Term

Duration of contract : 2 years, renewable

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 24-MAR-2025

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Under the authority and overall responsibility of the Director of Partnerships in the Bureau of Strategic Planning (BSP), the direct supervision of the Director of the UNESCO Liaison Office in Brussels, and in close cooperation with the Office’s Programme Liaison Officers, the incumbent will act as the Head of the Partnerships team in the UNESCO Liaison Office in Brussels and contribute to strengthening the partnership between UNESCO and the European Union (EU) Institutions.

In particular, the incumbent will:

Partner intelligence and strategic positioning

• Analyze EU priorities, policies, frameworks and programmes related to UNESCO's fields of competences and identify potential cooperation opportunities to be shared with UNESCO’s colleagues in Headquarters, Field Offices and Category I Institutes.
• Build strong relationships with relevant counterparts in EU Institutions and ensure constant formal and informal interactions with a view to advocating UNESCO's mandate (Medium-Term Strategy (C/4) and Approved Programme and Budget (C/5)) and assist colleagues to reinforce the policy dialogue and operational cooperation with the EU.
• Lead and coordinate the development of policy briefs, fact sheets and other documents to provide real-time donor intelligence to relevant UNESCO colleagues.
• Develop and coordinate engagement strategies, leveraging key UNESCO senior officials to strategically position UNESCO with the EU, including by proposing and supporting official visits by the Director-General, Assistant Directors-General, Directors, including Field Office Directors, and other key colleagues.

  Long Description

  Partnership and programme development and follow up

  • Provide substantive advice on strategic planning for the UNESCO partnership with the EU by providing inputs to the policy dialogue between UNESCO and the EU, develop and co-create new partnerships with the EU around shared priorities.
  • Provide backstopping in the preparation and formulation of programme/project proposals while aiming at improving quality and relevance in light of EU frameworks and shared priorities. Participate in negotiations with the EU on programme aspects. Advise and assist Programme Sectors, Field Offices and Category I Institutes in drafting agreements to be concluded with the EU, in close cooperation with the Grants Management Unit within the Bureau of Strategic Planning.
  • Prepare and participate in EU coordination meetings, steering committees, and other governance mechanisms for EU-funded programmes and for policy dialogue.
  • Provide oversight for the tracking and monitoring of the implementation of the existing UNESCO-EU portfolio, support the timely analysis on overall portfolio implementation highlighting critical developments and their impact on programming and partnership building with the EU.
  • Liaise with colleagues in the Bureau of Strategic Planning, Legal Affairs, Bureau of Financial Management, Human Resources and other internal stakeholders to ensure that new and existing programmes comply both with EU and UNESCO rules and regulations and best practices in programme development and management.

    Long Description

    UN Coordination

    • Represent UNESCO in UN meetings, taskforces and other groups in Brussels related to European Institutions and share minutes and short notes with the Director of the Liaison Office in Brussels, BSP and other pertinent colleagues and services at UNESCO.
    • Support the UNESCO Brussels Liaison Office Director to develop, build, and nurture strategic partnerships with other UN agencies, proactively seek joint initiatives of a policy and programme nature to advance UNESCO’s mandate.

      Management

      • Manage a small team of partnerships specialists, consultants and other personnel in line with best human resource management standards.
      • Support the Brussels Liaison Office Director in the day-to-day management of the Office.
      • Deputize the Brussels Liaison Office Director when required for internal and external meetings.
      • Perform any other related duties and tasks as assigned by the Director of the Brussels Office and/or the Director of Partnerships.

        COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial) Communication (C)Accountability (C)Innovation (C)Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)Planning and organizing (C)Results focus (C)Teamwork (C)Professionalism (C)Building partnerships (M)Managing performance (M)Strategic thinking (M)Making quality decisions (M)

        - For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

        REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

        Education

      • Advanced University degree (Master's or equivalent) in social and political sciences, international relations, development studies, business administration, public policy or related fields.

        📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

        ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

        Work Experience

      • A minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible relevant professional experience in the fields of partnership development, resource mobilization and programme management, of which preferably three (3) years acquired at the international level.
    • Experience with the European Union and/or other prominent development actors.

      Long Description

      Competencies and Skills

    • Demonstrated analytical and technical skills in the planning, implementation and evaluation of development programmes, particularly in areas pertinent to UNESCO’s strategic priorities.
  • Demonstrated political acumen, judgment, technical knowledge, and interpersonal skills in representing the Organization effectively to advocate and to promote organizational priorities, initiatives and a better understanding of the organizational strategic agenda.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the current international development landscape and of UNESCO’s mandate and impact.

Languages

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Work experience

Competencies and Skills

Languages

BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS

UNESCO’s salaries consist of a basic salary and other benefits which may include if applicable: 30 days annual leave, family allowance, medical insurance, pension plan etc.

The approximate annual starting salary for this post is 111 597 US $.

For full information on benefits and entitlements, please consult our Guide to Staff Benefits.

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.

The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview.

UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.

Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.

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UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of staff members shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity. UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. UNESCO is committed to achieving and sustaining equitable and diverse geographical distribution, as well as gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Candidates from non- and under-represented Member States (last update here) are particularly welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. Worldwide mobility is required for staff members appointed to international posts.

UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.

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