Communications Intern (Partnerships)

Contract

This is a Internship contract. It usually requires 0 years of experience, depending on education. More about Internship contracts.

Background Information - UNOPS

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

Background Information - Job-specific

The Thailand Multi-Country Office (THMCO), established in 2017, supports, develops and oversees the UNOPS portfolio of projects in South East Asia and the Pacific. With its head office in Bangkok, the Multi-Country Office comprises five main business units: THMCO Thailand, THMCO Indonesia, THMCO Pacific Operations Cluster, THMCO Papua New Guinea and THMCO China.

THMCO portfolios provide a wide range of services including Project Management, Transactional HR, Financial, and Procurement to clients that include other UN entities, INGOs, and governments/government agencies donors. Most of THMCO projects are implemented in South East Asia and the Pacific.

Within this context, UNOPS is looking for a highly motivated Communications and Partnerships Intern to support THMCO’S outreach and communication activities across the Multi-Country Office and deepen partnerships with external stakeholders.

The position is situated within the THMCO Business Development, Partnerships and Outreach Unit. The functions of this unit include :

• Develop and implement business development strategies, pipeline development opportunities and coordinate the development of engagement proposals, concept notes and related documents;
• Expand UNOPS strategic partner base and resource mobilization opportunities through engagement with existing partners, donors and resourcing instruments;
• Overall oversight on communications and outreach of THMCO, as a parcel of the larger business development unit.

Functional Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Communications and Partnerships Officer, the Communications and Partnership Intern will undertake the following duties and responsibilities, as relevant and applicable based on the detailed work plan to be established with the incumbent.

Duties and responsibilities:

Communications:

• Support the development of a communication network across the THMCO countries of operation and advise colleagues on best practices to increase THMCO branding and outreach in each locality;
• Identify and capitalize on communication and outreach opportunities to assist THMCO in becoming known and recognized;
• Draft high-quality copy for external news stories, newsletter, factsheets and web content;
• Ensure data and visualization quality in internal and external communications such as Intranet, Presentations, monthly newsletters, and brochures;
• Support the updating of THMCO’s communication strategy and plan, as well as relevant engagement with THMCO offices;
• Support the organization of promotional events and high-level meetings in coordination with the HQ Communication Group and THMCO units;
• Any other Communications task as directed by the supervisor to ensure the support to THMCO’s communications and resource mobilization activities.

Business Development/Partnerships:

• Conduct research on partner strategies, opportunities and market trends;
• Update and maintain partner profiles according to changing/shifting partner priorities, areas of focus on country strategies;
• Contribute to the development and drafting of concept notes, proposals, presentations;
• Support follow up on country specific UNCT partnerships and joint communication opportunities, including facilitating organization of events, meetings and workshops, as appropriate;
• Provide support in preparing background materials for high level discussions with funding partners and with government counterparts;
• Active participation in the identification, design, formulation and negotiation of new projects and programs and development of appropriate engagement proposals through a targeted approach;
• Backstop the THMCO partnerships team as needed and draft concept notes, project documents, project briefs, proposals, presentations for further discussion with clients and donors.

Training components and learning elements:

The incumbent will have access to project and portfolio documentation to learn about project management and development cooperation in the areas the portfolio covers. She/he has the opportunity to join official meetings and learn about UNOPS, the UN and multilateral cooperation. She/he will get exposure to key stakeholders, multi-partner donors, international non-governmental organizations and other representatives.

The incumbent will also have full access to UNOPS intranet, Google Currents/Communities of Practice (COPs) in Project Management, Gender Mainstreaming, Innovation and Research, Sustainable Infrastructure, etc.

The intern will be part of a dynamic team and will be learning on the job on a daily basis. At the end of the internship period, the incumbent will have learned the basis to work as a Partnerships and Communications entry level. In addition, the intern will gain a sound understanding of UNOPS regulations and processes related to partnerships development and unit specific communication.

Participation in missions or training courses:

The incumbent will have access to the UNOPS Learning Zone and apply for training in Programme Management, Gender Mainstreaming, Coaching, and mandatory training as per UNOPS policy. No official travel is foreseen for the internships.

Competencies

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles. Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role). Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries. Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements. Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving. Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education:

• All applicants must have graduated from a university programme at the Bachelor, Masters or PhD levels within three (3) years prior to the application date of the internship.
• Bachelor's degree in development studies, political sciences, journalism international relations, communications, engineering, social science, or related fields is required.
• Master’s degree in an above mentioned field would be a strong asset.

Experience:

• Applicants are not required to have professional work experience but experience working in partnerships development/business development/communication areas are highly desired.
• Experience working with graphic design and familiarity in making slide decks, info sheets, and other standard communication products is desired.
• Strong networking, communication, negotiation and presentation skills desired;
• Proficiency in the use of the GSuite applications is desired;
• Excellent communication skills required; and
• Good time management skills and strong teamwork skills are required.

Languages:

• Fluency in written and oral English required.
• Working knowledge of other UN languages, or local languages, is an asset.

Contract type, level and duration - Internship

Contract type: Internship Contract level: Intern Contract duration: 6 months with possibility of extension up to 1 year based on satisfactory performance and budget availability

This internship is not designed to lead to a staff position with UNOPS. Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of the internship.

For more details about UNOPS internships please follow this link: https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Internships-and-volunteering.aspx

This position is based in a family duty station.

Additional Considerations

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• 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 (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.