Strategic Engagement and Partnership Specialist (Open to Tier 0, 1 and 2 candidates only)

Position Purpose

Under the overall supervision of the Executive Coordinator and day‑to‑day supervision of the Chief, Strategic Planning and Executive Support, the Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Specialist promotes UNV’s efforts to enhance the performance of the Special Voluntary Fund (SVF), including resource mobilisation, diversification of resources, and consistency in donor outreach.

A second major area of responsibility is supporting volunteer mobilisation through strategic visibility and joint advocacy with UN partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead volunteer mobilisation and SVF Partnerships, Advocacy and Public Engagement
• Guide the development and implementation of outreach elements within the UNV Partnerships and Communications Strategy related to volunteer mobilisation and the Special Voluntary Fund (SVF).
• Provide guidance on messaging, positioning, and advocacy priorities to support UNV senior management in promoting SVF initiatives, results, and partnerships in high‑level engagements.
• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with key advocacy stakeholders and communication partners to strengthen UNV’s positioning.
• Collaborate closely with internal UNV teams across Headquarters/Bonn, New York, Regional Offices, and Field Units to identify strategic advocacy opportunities related to volunteer mobilisation and SVF.
• Contribute to UNV’s integrated approach to partnerships, public outreach, and advocacy, in line with the UNV Strategic Plan, to strengthen visibility of UNV’s contributions to sustainable development.
• Support the Executive Office in its role as SVF Secretariat, including coordinating inputs across NYO, VSS, ERCS, and Regional Offices, preparing executive briefing materials for donor engagements, aligning SVF allocations with partnership priorities, and analysing SVF performance and strategic positioning.

Provide Guidance on Strategic Outreach, Campaigns and Content for Volunteer and SVF/FF Mobilisation

• Develop, curate and produce high‑quality digital content for UNV’s websites and social media platforms, ensuring brand consistency and relevance.
• Design and implement high‑impact campaigns to promote volunteer mobilisation and SVF/FF partnerships in line with agreed strategic priorities.
• Manage the promotion and dissemination of UNV’s advocacy assets, including the Annual Report and other reports related to volunteer mobilisation and SVF/FF.
• Advance UNV’s mandate through high‑level advocacy and media relations, directly engaging with UN partners, government officials, and international media to increase institutional visibility and volunteer mobilisation.
• Organise and support advocacy events, press engagements and public outreach activities, including executive briefings, to promote key initiatives and partnerships.
• Provide innovative and creative solutions to address emerging or sensitive public engagement needs related to volunteer mobilisation and/or SVF.
• Contribute to Knowledge Management and Capacity Building
• Curate a knowledge repository for communications, advocacy and donor engagement, continuously capturing and sharing best practices.
• Synthesise insights from SVF allocations, UN partner demand (NYO, VSS), and Member State engagement (ERCS).
• Draft briefing notes and analytical products for senior management.
• Monitor global trends and news to provide senior management with accurate, timely, and data‑driven guidance on public positioning.
• Actively engage in corporate and regional knowledge networks and communities of practice, providing sound contributions, including corporate communications repositories.
• Contribute to the organisation and provision of capacity building to UNV staff on strategic external outreach and integrated partnership approaches.
• Drive the use of digital platforms (blogs, social media, and community of practice) to widely disseminate UNV positions, events, and debates.
• Facilitate continuous learning loops across Field Units, Regional Offices, HQ, and the New York Office.
• Support senior management with internal messaging initiatives as needed.
• Ensure high‑level quality assurance
• Perform rigorous quality control over all high‑level publications, policy documents, and outreach materials, ensuring strict alignment with corporate branding norms and SVF objectives.
• Provide senior management with compelling speeches and comprehensive briefing materials by synthesising thematic inputs from across the organisation.
• Facilitate seamless cross‑unit coordination (ERCS, NYO, VSS, Regional Offices, and the Executive Office) to ensure coherent, integrated external messaging and the successful rollout of global outreach strategies.
• Incidental duties within the functional profile as deemed necessary for efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.
• Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Ad‑hoc non‑staff capacity contracted on a non‑continuous basis.
• Core Competencies
• Achieve Results
• Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects with lasting impact.
• Learn Continuously
• Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.
• Adapt with Agility
• Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.
• Act with Determination
• Think beyond immediate tasks and take action to achieve greater results.
• Engage and Partner
• Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter‑agency collaboration.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion
• Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.
• People Management
• Specific competencies available on the UNDP People Management Competencies site.
• Cross‑Functional & Technical Competencies
• System Thinking
• Use objective problem analysis to understand interrelated elements and system impacts.
• Knowledge Generation
• Research, apply, and generate new concepts to address context‑specific needs.
• Partnerships Management
• Build and maintain partnerships with governments, civil society, private sector, experts, and others in line with UNDP strategy.
• Communication
• Communicate clearly, concisely, and unambiguously, tailoring messages to audiences across written and verbal channels.
• Advocacy Strategy and Implementation
• Create and implement advocacy strategies that lead to impactful change.
• Media Relations
• Develop media relationships and prepare media materials, including messages.
• Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in International Relations, Communications, Journalism, Social Sciences, or related fields.
• First‑level university degree (bachelor’s) in the above areas, combined with an additional two years of qualifying experience, will be considered a substitute.

Experience

• Minimum 7 years (master’s) or 9 years (bachelor’s) of relevant international experience in partnership management, communications, media relations, or journalism.
• Extensive international‑level experience in partnership management and communications related to development, the Sustainable Development Goals, and crisis or protracted crisis contexts (asset).
• Experience developing and implementing communications strategies in a development context (desired).
• Experience in innovative communication approaches, including social media and digital/visual methods (desired).
• Experience overseeing and developing advocacy initiatives (desired).
• Proven capacity to manage communications‑related sensitivities and reputational risk issues (desired).
• Experience in integrating partnership, communication, and advocacy strategies, planning, and implementation (desired).
• Experience in knowledge management, synthesis, stakeholder coordination and partnerships development (highly desired).
• Computer literacy in MS Office (Word, Excel, etc.) and web‑based management systems (required).
• Languages
• Fluency in English mandatory (excellent verbal and written communication, drafting and presentation skills).
• Working knowledge of another official UN language desirable.
• Equal Opportunity

UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where it operates and, as such, encourages qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply.

Employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination or abuse of authority.

All selected candidates will undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to UNDP’s standards and principles.

Right to Select Multiple Candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.

Applications may be considered for similar positions within UNDP at the same grade level and with comparable requirements.

Use of AI by Candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance on using AI responsibly in recruitment and selection.

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