Public Partnership Officer, P-2, Public Partnerships Division (PPD), Berlin, Germany (Temp Appointment)

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection and development. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and HIV and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, hope …

This post sits within the Europe Team of the UNICEF Public Partnership Division (PPD) and is part of the cluster responsible for the relationship with several European partners, including Germany. The Public Partnerships Officer reports to the Public Partnerships Manager in Berlin, and supports the overall partnership and contribution management, liaising with different development and humanitarian stakeholders and partners.

How can you make a difference? 

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

• Contribute to the implementation of the work plan for assigned area, to ensure timely and cost effective delivery of results, in accordance with UNICEF’s partnership strategy.
• Build and maintain UNICEF’s partnerships, by supporting the development and implementation of standards and guidance for UNICEF partnerships; formulation of work plans and strategies.
• Support the development of frameworks and templates and review partner agreements and amendments for senior staff approval, ensuring compliance with UNICEF rules and regulations. Support contributions management, including reporting and monitoring of ongoing grants.
• Maintain up-to-date information on partner and income trends, analyse development assistance policies and keep resource partner profiles updated.
• Help supervisor maintain effective relationships with member states, UN agencies, NGOs, host government and other partners, in order to keep them informed on important, strategic operational UNICEF issues.
• Attend meetings with the UN and other multilateral bodies, NGOs, member states, taking notes, sharing information, and supporting joint information programmes to increase UNICEF’s profile, and protect its interests.
• Contribute to ideas for opportunities to develop new and existing synergies with other UN agencies to senior external partnership officers in order to support a more effective and efficient approach to programme delivery.
• Provide support and information to priority country and regional offices, including partner intelligence and program strategies, risks and opportunities to advocate the work of UNICEF.
• Collate and share relevant discussion and feedback on programme activities and issues of priority to UNICEF, gathered from member states, UN agencies, NGOs, host government and other partners, to engage them with inter-governmental/inter-agency discussion and inform future activities.
• Gather inputs from UNICEF that will contribute to inter-governmental/inter-agency work, to ensure that UNICEF positions are properly explained and taken into account in decision making
• Maintain awareness of current activities, political and social events of UN and other multilateral bodies/governments, conduct analysis to understand how they may impact UNICEF activities and programmes and provide timely information to UNICEF staff for decision-making.
• Conduct research on perspective new partners for UNICEF, and provide analysis of the areas of work, outreach, financial based and reputation of prospective partners.
• Act as focal point to collate and coordinate the technical cooperation focused on child protection in humanitarian action, GBViE, adolescent girls and women’s rights.
• Assist with the  implementation of strategic communication initiatives and visibility plans agreed with partners and develop dedicated geographic and thematic content.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• A university degree is required in one of the following fields: international relations, political science, communications, international development, or another relevant technical field.
• A minimum of three years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required : public affairs, programme management, resource mobilization, external relations, or other relevant area.
• Fluency in English and German (verbal and written) is highly desirable. Knowledge of another official UN language is considered as an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.