EXTERNAL RELATIONS OFFICER (CAPACITY BUILDING)

Overview

Build resource mobilization capacity and maintain donor relations.

You have:

• An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in social science, political science, communication, journalism, international relations, public administration, business administration and management, economics or related field is required.
• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, humanitarian or development work, out of which five years of experience in donor relations and resource mobilization is required.
• Experience in the area of capacity building is required.
• Experience in results-based management is desirable.
• English is a working language. For this job opening, English is required.

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 169,932 USD and 219,092 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Donor and External Relations Section (DEXREL) of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in Geneva, Switzerland. The incumbent reports to the Chief of the Donor External Relations Section.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the External Relations Officer will be responsible for the following duties: Builds resource mobilization capacity throughout the Office at Headquarters and for the Field by: -Acting as the focal point for capacity building; -Leading training activities on resource mobilization at HQ's, regional, and country levels; -Writing training modules and presentations, undertaking the necessary background research; -Developing and introducing standardized tools, templates, and guidelines; -Adapting and writing training materials for a specific audience; -Liaising with relevant departments to ensure resource mobilization is incorporated into all new staff trainings; -Exploring new technologically advanced training methods; -Ensuring the internal and external promotion of all relevant tools. Contributes to ensuring an office-wide consistent and coherent approach to resource mobilization by: -Providing advice to Division/Branches and field offices on office-wide resource mobilization policies, strategies, and approaches; -Providing advice on resource mobilization priorities and principles, strategies, and approaches; -Coordinating with key personnel to apply project management principles to proposals and agreements; -Preparing various written outputs like briefing notes and position papers for the senior management as requested; -Drafting correspondence for donors, researching, compiling, maintaining, and updating information on donor relations; -Ensuring, in cooperation with the Programme Support and Management Services and other relevant units, that UN rules and procedures are duly respected; -Ensuring that resource mobilization tools and templates are used consistently; -Produce and/or provide as necessary oversight of fundraising proposals, ensuring their completeness, adequacy, and quality; -Supporting and accompanying the Chief of Section and senior management as appropriate on their missions to State capitals or relevant donor headquarters for resources mobilization purposes. Develops and maintains key strategic partnerships with new assigned donors (governments, intergovernmental organizations, private donors) in order to achieve a broad donor base for UN Human Rights by: -Advising the High Commissioner, the Deputy High Commissioner, the Assistant Secretary General, New York office (through the Chief of Section or Service), and other senior managers in the Division/Branches/Sections about resource mobilization strategies and issues, and accompanying them on their missions to State capitals for fundraising purposes; -Promoting partnership with the UN common system; -Leading and developing resource mobilization and outreach strategies of governments, intergovernmental organizations, private donors, and the UN common system; -Coordinating joint efforts to mobilize resources, map the interests of potential donors, initiate contracts with new and emerging partners to explore funding opportunities, and develop partnerships in line with the defined priorities of the UN Human Rights; -Developing an in-depth understanding of assigned donors' (governments, intergovernmental organizations, private donors) human rights, development, and humanitarian policies and analyzing opportunities for enhanced cooperation with UN Human Rights; -Organizing and participating in donor briefings; -Traveling to capitals to discuss with interlocutors in the relevant Ministers or partners, as appropriate, depending on the portfolio. Contributes to the organizational effectiveness of UN Human Rights by: -Representing the Chief of Section in relevant meetings when requested; -Coordinating the work of the overall unit in various fields of activity, including administrative matters (recruitment, budget, project management, etc.); -Ensuring implementation of the resource mobilization strategy; -Assist the Chief of Section in any of her/his tasks as required.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of different aspects of public information and communication. Ability to address a range of issues in the context of political developments, public attitudes, and local conditions. Ability to conceptualize, design, and implement major information campaigns. Ability to rapidly analyze and integrate diverse information from varied sources. Ability to diplomatically handle sensitive situations with target audiences and cultivate productive relationships. Ability to produce a variety of written communications products in a clear, concise style. Ability to deliver oral presentations to various audiences. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style, and format to match the audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost, and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight, and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in social science, political science, communication, journalism, international relations, public administration, business administration and management, economics or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, humanitarian or development work, out of which five years of experience in donor relations and resource mobilization is required. Experience in the area of capacity building is required. Experience in results-based management is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).

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LanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeakingEnglishUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level II

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/or availability of funds. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity,with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position. Please note that pursuant to the Staff selection system policy (ST/AI/2025/2): (1) Applicants for positions in the Field Service category cannot be of the nationality of the country where the position is located, and (2) Applicants for positions in the Professional and higher categories in a mission, field operation, or resident coordinator's office cannot be of the nationality of the country where the position is located. For currently serving staff of a United Nations Common System organization, only the UN-recognized nationality will be considered for the purposes of these restrictions.

United Nations Considerations

According to 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. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

Potential interview questions