Strategic Partnerships Specialist

Job Description

BACKGROUNDUNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.UNDPÿisÿtheÿleadingÿUnitedÿNationsÿorganizationÿfightingÿtoÿendÿtheÿinjusticeÿofÿpoverty,ÿinequality,ÿandÿclimateÿchange.ÿWorking with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lastingÿsolutionsÿforÿpeopleÿandÿplanet.ÿUNDPÿhasÿbeenÿworkingÿinÿPakistanÿforÿmoreÿthanÿ50ÿyears onÿclimateÿchangeÿandÿresilience, gender, governance, health, livelihoods, human rights and rule of law. Under the broader framework of the SustainableÿDevelopment Goals (SDGs) and in close coordination with other UN agencies, UNDP is supporting the people of Pakistan?sÿaspirationÿforÿpeace,ÿprosperity,ÿandÿsustainability.ÿUNDPÿisÿcurrently implementingÿitsÿCountry Programme 2023-2027.ÿIn this context, the UNDP Pakistan Partnership and Communications Team is entrusted with ensuring the following:

• Promotingÿandÿexpandingÿinnovativeÿpartnershipsÿandÿscaled-upÿengagementsÿonÿkeyÿissuesÿiiin Pakistanÿforÿpoverty alleviation,ÿresilience building, democratic governanceÿand sustainableÿdevelopment.
• Enhancing visibility and presence on a diverse array of communications channels/mediums to promoteÿUNDP?s work and success stories, designed to increase partners engagement and awareness of UNDP?sÿimpactÿinÿPakistan.
• Ensuringÿcommunicationsÿareÿdesignedÿandÿimplementedÿtoÿensureÿactive ÿengagementÿinÿUNDP?sÿsubstantiveÿareasÿofÿworkÿatÿallÿlevelsÿofÿtheÿorganization.
• Projecting UNDP as a substantive thought leader, promoting its mandate, mission, and purpose via effectiveÿcommunication and strategic positioning, and promoting UNDP?s principles and work as a tangible value proposition with national andÿinternationalÿpartners.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIESUnder the direct supervision of the Resident Representative, and with a matrix reporting line to the Deputy Resident Representative, the Strategic Partnerships Specialist ensures that the overall objectives of UNDP Pakistan related to Partnerships and Communications are achieved, by overseeing the communication and media outreach, with capacity development, protocols, and content development in place, and with strengthened partnerships, positioning and resource mobilization. Working closely with the CO Senior Management and units, project, and programme teams, RBAP and BERA Partnership and Communications, s/he leads and guides the partnership and outreach, including communication, efforts to raise the visibility of UNDP?s work and impact in the country.The incumbent will be responsible of the following duties:

• Substantive leadership and content development for public outreach, advocacy, communication and media on UNDP Pakistan?s programme activities and results.
• Partners engagement, resource mobilization and effective positioning of UNDP and delivery of policy and programme support by UNDP Pakistan.ÿ
• Leadership and management of the Country Office Partnership and Communications Unit
• Knowledge management and capacity building (external and internal) on Partnerships, as well as relevant substantive areas of UNDP Pakistan programmes.

Substantiveÿleadership and content development forÿpublicÿoutreach, advocacy,ÿcommunicationÿandÿmediaÿonÿUNDPÿPakistan?sÿprogramme activitiesÿandÿresults:

• Lead the development of the partnership engagement and outreach strategy.
• Support the building of strategic alliances and partnerships, especially with key think tanks, CSOs and non-governmental organization, and national counterparts.
• Developÿcontent for COÿknowledgeÿproducts on UNDP?s work in Pakistan and lessons learnedÿthrough the analysis of data, caseÿevidence,ÿandÿresearchÿfindings inÿaccordance withÿcorporateÿstandards.
• Collect and analyze data on social media uptake/ impact of UNDP?s communications efforts and ensure the communications strategy is results-based and adaptable to changing circumstances
• Support advocacy on the need to scale up investments on SDG achievements in various global, regional and country fora with a view to deepen related political commitment and related responses. ÿ
• Contribute to the identification and scoping of technical issues warranting collaboration with ÿ HQÿandÿregionalÿteamsÿtoÿresearch,ÿdevelopÿandÿshareÿknowledge-basedÿtools,ÿsuchÿasÿpolicyÿpositions/practiceÿnotes/conceptÿpapersÿandÿotherÿresearch-basedÿproductsÿtoÿinfluence/advance policy and programme dialogue and present UNDP?s knowledge assetsÿandÿcapabilities atÿglobal,ÿregionalÿandÿnationalÿfora.
• Work closely with policy and technical teams in HQ and Bangkok Regional Hub (BRH) to advance research, testingÿandÿroll-outÿofÿnewlyÿcommissionedÿpolicy/businessÿdevelopmentÿinitiatives,ÿbyÿprovidingÿtheÿcountry perspective/specificities as well as experience-based insights on what is of mostÿpracticalÿvalueÿforÿpartners,ÿnationalÿcounterpartsÿandÿlocalÿcommunities in Pakistan.

Strategic Partner engagement, resource mobilization and effective positioning of UNDP and delivery of policy and programme support by UNDP Pakistan:

• Provide technical advice and support on relationship management with key donors, including IFIs, and resource mobilization in line with UNDP?s priorities and corporate guidelines.
• Navigate entry points based on an analysis of partners? strategies and priorities and/or pivotal considerations to expand partners engagement for efficient delivery of key UNDP priorities and results on the ground.
• Ensure UNDP?s representation in relevant interagency coordination platforms and mechanisms, academic conferences, donor consultations and other events.
• Provide technical advice and support on mobilizing and fostering external partnerships regarding regional, multi-country, and cross-border initiatives.
• Collaborate substantively and coordinate with regional partners and relevant COs in neighboring countries, as well as the Bangkok Regional Hub (BRH), to achieve regional/CO strategic goals and plans by supporting relevant sub-regional initiatives and promoting synergies.
• Support the prioritization, planning and fielding of missions, in collaboration with other CO teams, for assessment and programmatic design and follow-up from a partnership perspective, as required.

Leadershipÿandÿmanagementÿofÿthe Country OfficeÿPartnership andÿCommunicationsÿUnit:

• Ensure optimal financial planning and identification of human resource requirements for UNDP Pakistan Partnerships and Communications Unit.
• Ensure the formulation of gender-sensitive management targets and results indicators (KPIs) on Partnerships and Communications for UNDP Pakistan, in line with UNDP corporate policies.
• Effectively manage the Partnerships and Communications Unit, including identification of learning needs and facilitation of learning opportunities, and sharing of substantive knowledge with the relevant teams within the CO.
• Contribute to the formulation, advocacy to and realization of CO business-development initiatives inÿpracticeÿareasÿandÿcross-thematic initiatives.
• Assure quality of all communications products and keep a birds-eye view to ensure alignment with the overall Communications Strategy

Knowledgeÿmanagementÿandÿcapacityÿbuildingÿ(externalÿandÿinternal)ÿonÿPartnerships,ÿasÿwellÿasÿrelevantÿsubstantiveÿareasÿofÿUNDPÿPakistan programmes:

• Design and deliver training on UNDP Pakistan Communications Strategy and Plan and related SOPs (including protocols for use of blogs, social media etc.), provide capacity-building support on programme-related public and communication outreach, partnerships and resource mobilization, mitigating risk to institutional reputation, and fostering innovations and improvement to enhance impact of programmes and delivery.
• Provide technical expertise in identifying tools, developing methodologies and producing knowledge management products.
• Contribute to the analysis, documentation, codification of country-level results/lessons learned (on programme and on partnerships/communications).
• Review country data, case evidence and research findings to distill pivotal lessons for UNDP regionally and globally and for advocacy vis-a-vis partners.
• Advocate and enable South-South cooperation of exchanges and experiences sharing where valuable.
• Encourage culture of knowledge management and knowledge sharing in the CO, including active engagement in UNDP?s Communities of Practice, and other relevant practice networks, within UNDP and in the broader UN landscape.
• Provide guidance, coaching and mentoring to Pakistan CO staff engaged in programme andÿprojects,ÿincludingÿonÿengagingÿwithÿpartnersÿandÿresourceÿmobilization.

Other duties:

• Perform other dutiesÿwithin your functional profile as assigned and deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the office.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities:ÿ

• The Partnership and Communications Advisor manages the Partnership and Communications Unit.

QUALIFICATIONSEducation:

• Advanced university degree (Master?s degree or equivalent) in International Relations, Economics, Political or Social Sciences, Journalism, Communications, External Relations, Public Relations, Public and/or Private Finance, or a related area is required, or
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor?s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master?s degree.

Experience, Knowledge, andÿSkills:ÿ

• Minimum of seven (7) years (with Master?s degree) or nine (9) years (with Bachelor?s degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level in either public sectorÿ(national or multilateral including UN), private (academia, non-governmental sector, corporate), with increasingÿlevel of responsibility, including proven track record and leadership experience related toÿdevelopmentÿcooperation, partnerships,ÿresourceÿmobilization, public relationsÿandÿadvocacy
• Excellent negotiating and communication skills and ability to mobilize support from a wide range of partnersÿ(public,ÿprivate sector,ÿacademia,ÿcivilÿsociety,ÿbusinessÿcommunityÿleaders).
• Provenÿtrackÿrecordÿofÿmanagementÿandÿresourceÿmobilizationÿskills.
• Experience in strategy development and donor and UN partnerships/public relations at the international level;ÿproven experience in partnership building with IFIs and resource mobilization an asset; specialized experience in developmentÿfinancingÿand/orÿSouth-Southÿcooperationÿis an asset.
• Substantive and practical knowledge of relevant key strategic areas of focus for UNDP (corporate and at country-ÿlevel)ÿis aÿplus.

Language Requirements:ÿ

• ProficiencyÿinÿEnglish isÿrequiredÿ?ÿboth writtenÿandÿoral.

COMPETENCIESCore Competencies:

• AchieveÿResults:ÿLEVELÿ3:ÿSetÿandÿalignÿchallenging,ÿachievableÿobjectivesÿforÿmultipleÿprojects,ÿhaveÿlastingÿimpact
• ThinkÿInnovatively:ÿLEVELÿ3: Proactivelyÿmitigateÿpotentialÿrisks,ÿdevelop newÿideasÿtoÿsolveÿcomplexÿproblems
• LearnÿContinuously:ÿLEVELÿ3:ÿCreateÿandÿactÿonÿopportunitiesÿtoÿexpandÿhorizons,ÿdiversifyÿexperiences
• AdaptÿwithÿAgility: LEVELÿ3:ÿProactivelyÿinitiateÿand championÿchange,ÿmanageÿmultipleÿcompetingÿdemands
• ActÿwithÿDetermination: LEVELÿ3:ÿThink beyondÿimmediateÿtask/barriersÿand takeÿactionÿtoÿachieveÿgreaterÿresults
• EngageÿandÿPartner: LEVELÿ3:ÿPoliticallyÿsavvy,ÿnavigateÿcomplexÿlandscape,ÿchampionÿinter-agencyÿcollaboration
• EnableÿDiversityÿandÿInclusion:ÿLEVELÿ3:ÿAppreciateÿbenefitsÿofÿdiverseÿworkforceÿandÿchampionÿinclusivity

People Management Competencies:

• UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicatedÿsite.ÿ

Cross-Functionalÿ&ÿTechnical Competencies:BusinessÿManagement: Communication

• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise andÿunambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
• Abilityÿtoÿmanageÿcommunicationsÿinternallyÿand ÿexternally,ÿthroughÿmedia,ÿsocialÿmediaÿandÿotherÿappropriateÿchannels.

Business Management: Partnerships Management

• Abilityÿtoÿbuildÿandÿmaintainÿpartnershipsÿwithÿwideÿnetworksÿofÿstakeholders,ÿGovernments,ÿcivilÿsociety and private sector partners, experts andÿothersÿinÿlineÿwithÿUNDPÿstrategyÿandÿpolicies.

Partnership Management: Relationship Management

• Ability to engage with a wide range of public andÿprivate partners, build, sustain and/or strengthenÿworkingÿrelations,ÿtrustÿandÿmutualÿunderstanding.

Partnership Management: Resource Mobilization

• Ability to identify funding sources, match fundingÿneeds (programmes/projects/initiatives) withÿfunding opportunities, and establish a plan toÿmeetÿfundingÿrequirements.

Communications: Advocacy Strategy and Implementation

• Ability to create and implement advocacyÿstrategiesÿwhichÿleadÿtoÿimpactfulÿchange.

Business Direction & Strategy: Strategic Thinking

• Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP?s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision ÿto reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions.
• Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP.

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.UNDP Disclaimer for FTA/TA International PostsImportant information for US Permanent Residents (Green Card holders)Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.ÿUNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.Applicant information about UNDP rostersNote: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.ÿ 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 warningThe United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

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