UNOPS

In Latin America and the Caribbean, UNOPS operates across 23 countries, delivering high-impact solutions that drive sustainable development. UNOPS focuses on building and improving resilient infrastructure—including roads, bridges, public facilities, sanitation systems, and housing—to enhance quality of life and foster inclusive growth. UNOPS also supports public health by procuring essential medicines and medical equipment, ensuring broader access to healthcare services. By strengthening institutional capacities, UNOPS promotes transparent, efficient, and equitable public management. As a trusted partner to governments and development stakeholders, UNOPS aligns its interventions with national priorities, helping countries advance the Sustainable Development Goals through practical, results-driven support.

The UNOPS Office of the Regional Director (ODR) in Latin America and the Caribbean coordinates regional activities through strategic portfolio oversight, risk management, and the mobilization of resources and expertise to and from countries in the region.  The ODR promotes UNOPS' positioning, ensuring representation in regional forums, and works in collaboration with other regions globally and at headquarters to foster organizational excellence and the achievement of our mission.

Based in Panama City, Panama, the UNOPS Office of the Regional Director (ORD) for Latin America and the Caribbean provides strategic leadership and coordination across the region, enabling effective delivery of UNOPS’ mandate. Through portfolio oversight, integrated risk management, and the mobilization of expertise and resources, the ORD ensures regional coherence and operational excellence. The office supports country teams in aligning activities with organizational goals, strengthening the impact and efficiency of development efforts. It also leads regional positioning and representation in high-level forums, advancing visibility and engagement with key stakeholders. In close collaboration with other regional offices and headquarters, the ODR fosters cross-regional learning, promotes innovation, and drives strategic initiatives that contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Partnerships and Communications Advisor in LCR serves as the principal senior lead for strategic partnerships, resource mobilization, and regional external positioning across the Latin America and the Caribbean (LCR) Region. Reporting directly to the Regional Director (D2), the incumbent is central to expanding strategic partnerships, driving resource mobilization, and ensuring coherent external communications and visibility for organizational initiatives across regional, multi-country, and country levels. This role is the main function of its kind for the region and is responsible for developing and implementing integrated strategies, leading senior practitioners in both the partnerships and communications functions, and positioning the organization as a strategic partner of choice across the LCR landscape. The position requires a high level of strategic thinking, external collaboration, and leadership to positively shape the organization's future and deliver sustainable development outcomes. 

The communications function under this role is strategic in nature, focused on external positioning, narrative coherence, and senior level messaging. The incumbent provides strategic direction and quality assurance for communications and visibility efforts, rather than day to day content production. This includes ensuring consistent articulation of the UNOPS regional value proposition across high level donor and government engagement, IFI dialogue, regional events, policy fora, and media.

Required: 

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Business Administration, Political Science, International Relations, International Development, Social Sciences, Communications, or another relevant field is required with 10 years of relevant experience

• A First-Level University Degree (Bachelor's) in the above-mentioned areas or another relevant field, in combination with 12  years of relevant professional experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Required:

• Relevant experience is defined as experience  in an international development, public sector, or global business environment 

• At least 7 years of progressively responsible experience leading strategic partnership and portfolio development, including senior-level engagement and negotiation with partners such as governments, International Financial Institutions (including Multilateral Development Banks) as well as relevant experience with donors and development sectors in the Latin America and Caribbean context.

• At least 7 years experience providing strategic oversight and direction for external positioning, high level communications, or partner-facing narratives.

Desired: 

• Experience working for UNOPS in development and/or humanitarian contexts within the last 5 years.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities. 
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.