Partnerships Intern, Tokyo Liaison Office

Support UNOPS partnerships and administrative functions in the Tokyo Liaison Office.

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Application deadline 10 months ago: Wednesday 3 Sep 2025 at 23:59 UTC

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Overview

Support UNOPS partnerships and administrative functions in the Tokyo Liaison Office.

You have:

  • The applicant must be pursuing a university degree such as Bachelor, Masters or Ph.D. (or the equivalent), or have graduated from such studies within three years prior to the application date of the internship.
  • The preferred candidate would have a combination of degrees or pursuing studies in the areas of development studies, public policy and administration, international relations, economics, business, communications, engineering, or other related areas.
  • Experience with Microsoft Office programs, particularly with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint is desirable.
  • Experience with Google Workspace would be a strong asset.
  • Fluency in English is required.
  • Fluency in Japanese is required.
  • Fluency in other UN languages, in particular Spanish and French, is an asset.

Contract

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

Background Information - Job-specific

The Partnerships and Liaison Group (PLG) supports UNOPS efforts to build closer ties with

partners across the full spectrum of UNOPS activities.

By forging strategic relationships and working with partners, both in the field and at headquarters, PLG seeks to not only ensure high partners satisfaction with UNOPS project implementation and support, but also to integrate best practices and innovative solutions from experienced non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private sector, governments and other UN agencies into UNOPS operations. Based in Copenhagen, PLG has liaison offices in Amman, Brussels, Geneva, Rome, Tokyo, and Washington DC, and supports partners such as the World Bank, the European Union, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the United Nations Mine Action Service, the United Nations Environment, the Global Fund, USAID, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, national governments and others.

Tokyo Liaison Office (TLO) aims to develop strategic partnerships with organisations based in Japan. We work with the relevant ministries of the Government of Japan, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the private sector. The office further assists UNOPS operational teams to manage the portfolio funded by Japanese donors.

Functional Responsibilities

Under the guidance of the Head of Office, the Intern will be responsible for:

Partnership building

  • Organize and attend meetings with various partners in Japan, including the government counterparts, private sector and other UN agencies, and draft minutes of meetings.
  • Conduct research to explore potential partnerships with new stakeholders in Japan and make recommendations to the Head of Office.

Research and analysis

  • Conduct research and summarize information on topics such as country data, partner profiles and strategies, UNOPS projects and market trends.
  • Review, edit and translate documents assigned by the Head of Office.

Advocacy and public outreach

  • Maintain and update the Tokyo Liaison Office (TLO) website, X (former Twitter) account and intranet and serve as a communications focal point in the TLO.
  • Liaise with UNOPS Communications Group to analyze TLO’s X posts and make recommendations to the Head of Office.

Coordination support

  • Liaise with UNOPS country offices across the world to monitor Japan-funded projects and ensure timely implementation, reporting and closure.
  • Support procurement and payment processes for office maintenance.
  • Support missions and event organization, including logistics, preparation of briefing materials and post-event summaries.
  • Assist the internal and external reports and publications.
  • Manage visibility items such as booklets, fact sheets and envelopes.

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 - The applicant must be pursuing a university degree such as Bachelor, Masters or Ph.D. (or the equivalent), or have graduated from such studies within three years prior to the application date of the internship. - The preferred candidate would have a combination of degrees or pursuing studies in the areas of development studies, public policy and administration, international relations, economics, business, communications, engineering, or other related areas.

Work Experience

  • Experience with, Microsoft Office programs, particularly with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint is desirable.
  • Experience with Google Workspace would be a strong asset.

Languages

  • Fluency in English is required.
  • Fluency in Japanese is required.
  • Fluency in other UN languages, in particular Spanish and French, is an asset.

Contract type, level and duration - Internship

Contract type: Internship (Full-time) Contract level: N/A Contract duration: 6 months

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.

Interns may be eligible for a monthly stipend from UNOPS provided that they do not receive funds from other institutions. Further, UNOPS may provide a one time travel lumpsum of 500 USD. However, they must make their own arrangements for accommodation, travel and necessary visa arrangements.

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

Additional Information

  • Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
  • 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.
  • UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience requirements outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to considering all candidates in a fair and transparent manner, and we value diverse perspectives and experiences, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals with diverse 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.

Terms and Conditions

  • 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.

Potential interview questions

Describe a time when you successfully built a partnership or collaboration. What steps did you take? This question assesses your experience with partnership building. Share specific details about the partnership, your role, and the outcome.
How would you organize a meeting with multiple partners? What key points would you focus on? This question evaluates your planning and organizational skills. Pro members can see the explanation.
Can you provide an example of a research project you conducted? What was the process and outcome? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you approach advocacy and public outreach for an organization? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Describe how you would handle a conflict situation among partners. What steps would you take? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What tools or methods do you use to analyze data for decision making? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How would you maintain and improve the TLO's digital presence? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Explain how you prioritize tasks when managing multiple projects. Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 10 months ago - Updated 10 months ago - Source: jobs.unops.org