Public Partnership Specialist

The Public Partnership Specialist is responsible for partnership development and resource mobilization to support UNICEF's mission in the Latin America and Caribbean region. The role involves engaging with governments, international financial institutions, regional development organizations, foundations, and other strategic partners to advance child-centered policies and mobilize support for children.

Responsibilities

• Implement the work plan for assigned area, in order to ensure timely and cost-effective delivery of results, in accordance with UNICEF’s partnership strategy.
• Seek and promote new partnerships and resource mobilization, working with UNICEF colleagues to identify partnership and resource mobilization needs and broker resource mobilization agreements to meet those needs.
• Receive and screen inquiries from potential collaborators and facilitate communication with appropriate UNICEF staff.
• Scan and scout external environment within designated partnership area for opportunities and risks and share information in a timely fashion with relevant UNICEF staff.
• Provide strategic, logistical and programmatic support to senior management and other UNICEF staff in corporate engagement and interaction with assigned partners.
• Develop and maintain deep knowledge and familiarity with current and prospective partners and relevant stakeholders, contributing to a database of key contacts and to UNICEF’s base of knowledge on partnership and resource mobilization.
• Expand UNICEF’s network of key interlocutors to build stronger relationships between UNICEF and governments, other key-decision makers, regional development institutions, foundations, civil society organizations, international financial institutions and/or other relevant constituencies.
• Develop and implement annual partnership engagement and resource mobilization plans.
• Act as a focal point for identification and pursuit of opportunities for outreach, engagement, policy influence and collaboration, including on how to anticipate and respond to partners’ concerns and priorities, ensure that UNICEF’s interests, perspectives, and knowledge are taken into account in relevant policy and institutional processes, and ensure that they are fully aware of UNICEF’s perspectives, policies, priorities and capabilities.
• Contribute to the development and management of initiatives for high-level outreach, including for UNICEF’s Senior Management.
• Contribute to the development of new partnership and resource mobilization practices and approaches by formulating recommendations for action based on on-going monitoring, analyzing current trends within designated partners and formulating recommendations for strategy approaches and message development.
• Contribute to strategies for engagement and the development of communications products to enhance UNICEF’s visibility and influence with existing and prospective partners and key stakeholders by providing analysis of the current environment and trends and formulating recommendations for strategy approaches and message development.
• Work closely with UNICEF’s colleagues to ensure that policy advocacy and outreach is strongly grounded in the experience and insights of the programmes that UNICEF supports.
• Contribute written inputs for communications instruments that best inform and influence decision makers.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the supervisor to ensure the success of the team, including guiding, training, and coaching short-term staff, including interns and consultants, as needed.

Requirements

• Completed advanced university degree in international relations, political science, communications, international development, public policy or another relevant technical field is required.
• A Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in a relevant area combined with 2 additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: partnerships, public affairs, programme management, resource mobilization, external relations, or other relevant areas.
• Strong diplomatic communication and negotiation skills to establish and maintain trusted partnerships, achieve organizational objectives, and build effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders are required.
• Current knowledge of development issues, strategies, and programming policies and procedures in international development cooperation is required.
• In-depth knowledge of partnership development and resource mobilization is required.
• Demonstrated ability to develop innovative approaches to resource management and outreach-related activities is required.
• Proven ability to identify new opportunities and requirements, address challenges, and recommend effective solutions and improvements is required.
• Excellent communications skills, verbal and written are required.
• In-depth familiarity with political and governmental processes is required.
• Ability to conduct sound policy analysis is required.
• Proficiency in Spanish and English is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French or Russian) is desirable.
• Experience working with international financial institutions is highly desirable.
• Experience engaging with foundations and philanthropic organizations is desirable.
• Experience collaborating with regional development institutions is considered an advantage.
• Corporate engagement and private-sector partnership experience is an asset.
• Experience in government relations and engagement with public sector stakeholders is desirable.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts is an asset.

Skills

• Partnership Development
• Resource Mobilization
• Programme Management
• Public Affairs
• External Relations
• Diplomatic Communication
• Negotiation Skills
• Development Cooperation
• Policy Analysis
• Political Processes
• Government Relations
• Communications Skills
• Stakeholder Engagement
• International Financial Institutions
• Corporate Engagement
• Public Private Partnerships
• Outreach Activities
• Spanish Proficiency
• English Language Proficiency

Languages

Spanish, English