UNOPS

UNOPS is the operational arm of the United Nations, supporting partners in implementing peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects. We help people build better lives by providing expertise in infrastructure, procurement, project management, and human resources.

Our Global Portfolios deliver multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development and climate action. Working from hubs in Geneva, New York, and Vienna, we collaborate closely with the UN family and international partners to provide essential services in the world’s most challenging environments.

Based in Geneva, UNOPS facilitates the 2030 Agenda by hosting flagship initiatives and providing high-level fund management, oversight, and operational support to UN agencies and global partners.

As a strategic resource for the UN system, the Geneva Office provides cost-effective, results-oriented management solutions to a wide range of global health, nutrition, and environmental initiatives. It is also home to the UNOPS Europe and Central Asia Regional Office.

UNOPS Geneva Office is providing support to a wide range of portfolios, including UNEP, UNICEF, UNHCR, and other partners.

This position is a Partner Personnel role. The selected candidate will be hired by UNOPS under its rules and regulations and will be engaged as UN Partner Personnel for UNICEF - Digital Inclusion (DI) and will operate under the effective management and supervision of UNICEF.

Under supervision of DI Partnerships Manager and working closely with the partnership team, the programme and technical teams, communications, legal/contracting colleagues, and relevant National Committees and Country Offices, the postholder translates partnership opportunities into signed agreements, funded initiatives and long-term strategic relationships.

DI is looking for an experienced High-value Fundraising Specialist with strong commercial fluency and a working understanding of the technology, telecommunications, digital infrastructure, cloud, satellite, connectivity, AI and related investment sectors. The role is intended to strengthen our team’s ability to engage credibly with corporate partners, structure practical collaboration opportunities that raise funding for our work, and convert private sector interest into funded, operational, or market-shaping partnerships that advance our work.

The contractor will bring private sector discipline to DI’s partnership development work. This includes identifying companies with a strategic interest in connectivity, understanding their interests and translating DI’s technical and programmatic offer into propositions that are relevant to corporate decision-makers, and supporting the development of concrete partnership pathways with funders, operators, infrastructure companies, technology firms, and institutional investors.

The assignment requires someone who can operate comfortably with senior corporate audiences and internal UNICEF stakeholders. The contractor should be able to interpret how companies think about market entry, infrastructure expansion, social investments, digital inclusion, brand positioning, product relevance, data, innovation, and long-term growth and find relevant entry points to engage. The role has a strong focus on fundraising in combination with leveraging technical expertise, solutions, data, advocacy, convening power, and other support. The role requires an experienced partnership professional able to independently identify, shape and advance opportunities within UNICEF’s partnership framework, with limited need for close supervision or foundational onboarding. High technological competence, understanding of the corporate sectors and the technology that drives and advances digital inclusion are essential. A strong network with the respective industry sectors is a decisive advantage. 

Under the general guidance of the Partnerships Manager, this role will develop and manage a designated portfolio of high-value partnership opportunities (focus on new prospects and/or active leads) to advance DI/Giga and UNICEF resource mobilization and engagement priorities, with a strong emphasis on new business generation and conversion that leads to significant additional income / resources.

The incumbent will define and execute tailored business development approaches for assigned segments, markets and/or geographies, recognizing that different partner types require distinct entry points, value propositions and engagement models. The role is tasked on building a strong sales funnel, generating qualified leads, advancing priority opportunities, and closing financial or shared value partnerships that generate significant value.

• An advanced University degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Marketing and Sales, Finance, Economics, Non-Profit Management, Technology, or related field.

• A first University degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced University degree. 

Required:

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience ideally in corporate fundraising or other high value resource mobilization role.

• High technological competence, understanding of the corporate sectors and the technology that drives and advances connectivity and digital inclusion. 

• Demonstrated technical and commercial fluency in engaging with technology, telecommunications, digital infrastructure, cloud, satellite, data, or related-sector counterparts, including the ability to understand sector terminology, business models, technical constraints, and partnership incentives, and to translate these into credible partnership propositions.

Desired:

• Knowledge of UNICEF fundraising environment, processes, ways of working from either PFP or CO or NatCom angle.

• A strong network within the respective industry sectors is a decisive advantage.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• 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. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• 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.