PPH Officer (Foundations)

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

H (no hardship)

FamilyUNOPS LICA10

2025-05-01April 24, 20251. General Background:

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect and assist refugees and other people of concern. The Private Sector Partnerships Service (PSP) sits within UNHCR's Division of External Relations (DER) and is responsible for mobilizing resources from the private sector for refugees.

Based in UN City in Copenhagen, PSP supports UNHCR’s global collaboration with the private sector and individuals through its network of fundraisers and national associations in almost 30 operations in the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Gulf region. UNHCR’s Private Sector Engagement Strategy focuses on Supporter Engagement and Private Sector Partnerships and works closely with regional focal points. As part of this strategy, PSP’s Private Partnerships and Philanthropy (PPH) Section develops and strengthens long-term partnerships with companies, foundations and private philanthropists to raise income, advocacy, visibility, expertise and public engagement.

Reporting to the Senior PPH Officer (Foundations and Private Philanthropy), this role (maternity cover) will sit in the Foundations team within UNHCR’s centre of excellence based in the UN City, Copenhagen. This team is responsible for shaping and implementing strategies and providing guidance and support aimed at building and sustaining high-value, holistic partnerships with foundations, encompassing financial and non-financial support.

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment:

This role, providing maternity cover, will support the HQ Foundations team with global foundation engagement. The incumbent will:

• Manage select global foundation partnerships;
• Provide strategic advice to UNHCR foundations partnership staff at regional and market level, focusing on large foundations headquartered in the US and/or Europe;
• Support foundation cultivation efforts by liaising and brainstorming with relevant partnerships and technical staff, developing cultivation strategies, and helping with engagement as needed;
• Drive engagement for events where relevant foundation opportunity is identified (e.g. the UN General Assembly, COP30, and the High Level Officials Meeting);
• Prepare briefing documents, concept notes, talking points or other documents as needed;
• Drive follow-up from foundation engagement such as learning events or meetings (e.g. draft emails, meeting notes or next steps for engagement);
• Follow trends and developments in the foundations community, and support thought leadership around foundation partnerships;
• Document progress.

3. Qualifications and Experience:

a. Education:

A Bachelor’s degree, preferrably in a field related to international humanitarian or development work or a related field.

b. Work Experience:

• At least 6 years of experience (with a bachelor’s degree) or 5 years (with a master’s degree) in foundation engagement, with track record of successful partnership development. This includes experience cultivating, managing, and growing foundation partnerships that can include financial and non-financial support.
• Experience working with foundations originating in the US and/or Europe and focused on humanitarian or development issues.
• Experience working in the UN, another multi-lateral organization, or an I/NGO.
• Analytical skills with ability to establish and implement strategies and plans according to priorities, to manage and mitigate risks, and to balance different and sometimes competing needs and interests.
• Excellent people skills to work effectively with external and internal colleagues globally at HQ, regional and national/market-level.
• Experience in managing and coordinating multiple stakeholders, with an ability to multi-task, manage time, and keep with tight deadlines.
• Experience working in a diverse, international setting with people from different backgrounds.

Desirable:

• Experience engaging with UNHCR
• Understanding of UNHCR’s mandate, the Global Compact on Refugees, and key issues related to forcible displacement and statelessness
• Experience developing public-private partnerships

4. Key Competencies:

• Strategic thinking to develop and pursue foundation cultivation opportunities
• Analytical skills and good judgement to systematically gather information and provide sound guidance and recommendations regarding foundation engagements.
• Excellent communication skills to convey information, including complex details, in a clear and sensitive manner in formal and informal communications with different audiences.
• Strong writing and proof-reading to prepare high-quality deliverables, such as briefing notes, talking points and concept notes.
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation abilities, with well-developed listening skills and ability to engage with diplomacy and tact with internal and external colleagues from different areas of work.
• Ability to work effectively in a team with colleagues and partners from different backgrounds, cultures and functions to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
• Ability to manage time and workload effectively and meet deadlines without continuous oversight.
• Fluent English writer and speaker required; knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

5. Location and conditions:

This is a home-based position. Kindly disregard the location (Copenhagen) in the WD platform. This is the location of the hiring unit.

The remuneration level and the applicable entitlements and benefits may be different based on the residence of the most suitable selected candidate.

This position is a maternity cover until 31st October 2025. It is a full-time role from Monday to Friday (40 hours per week).

 

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PPH Officer (Foundations) (Maternity cover) - LICA 10This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Home-Based

Yes