Communications and Partnership Specialist

Background

The Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy (BERA) is responsible for positioning UNDP as the world’s leading global development agency, promoting its global authority and thought leadership on sustainable development and the interconnected issues of poverty, inequality, and climate change. The Bureau creates strong political and financial backing for UNDP by providing partners and supporters with a clear understanding of what UNDP does and how our mission, capabilities and flagship services relate to them. The Bureau leads UNDP’s work on innovative and diversified partnerships and ways of financing the Decade of Action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. It is also responsible for global campaigns on critical development issues, which aim to change government policies and build partnerships around high-impact solutions. The Bureau coordinates and sets corporate standards across the functions of partnerships, marketing and communications within UNDP and leads on executive internal communications.

The Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy is positioned around three service lines; Public Partnership; Advocacy, Marketing and Communications; and Private and Finance Partners, all working in close collaboration and coordination under the guidance of the Directorate and with the support of the Management Support Unit and Strategic Analysis and Corporate Engagement team. 

BERA has a robust network of Representation Offices (Brussels, Copenhagen, Geneva, Tokyo, Germany and Washington D.C) and Regional Teams in five hubs (Africa, Arab States, Asia Pacific, Europe and CIS, and Latin American and the Caribbean) co-led with Regional Bureaux, all of which play a critical role in audience centric communications and management and strengthening of relationships with Public and Private Partners to help build a strong brand for UNDP within the local ecosystem.

This post is based in Washington Representation Office. The mission of the UNDP Washington Representation Office (WRO) is to enhance the U.S. Government's understanding of and support for UNDP and its work and to contribute to resource mobilization. In this regard, the WRO seeks to: 1) Build understanding and support for UNDP's role and programs among substantive and functional specialists in the U.S. Congress and the Executive Branch; 2) Inform the wider Washington, DC community, including NGOs, academic and Think Tank experts, diplomatic officials, the Bretton Woods institutions, private sector representatives and media regarding UNDP's role, programs and impact on global development; 3) Assure the transparency and accountability of UNDP to U.S. government agencies and Congressional committees who oversee and fund the organization; 4) Contribute to an increase in core and non-core resources while aiding in the diversifying of UNDP's funding base. 
 

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance and supervision of the Director of the Washington Representation Office (WRO), with matrix management to the HQ Advocacy, Marketing and Communications Group, the Communications and Partnerships Specialist supports corporate partnerships strategy; provides strategic/operational advice to the WRO partnerships outreach, communications, and publication strategies to inform key US Government, Foundations, and other key stakeholders about UNDP's role in global development; promotes support for UNDP's mission and programs; and ensures implementation of the WRO's partnerships, communications, outreach, and publications strategy targeting governmental, non-governmental, media, and other relevant communities and networks-primarily in Washington, DC, and the United States. 

The Communications and Partnerships Specialist contributes to developing and maintaining strategic partnerships with US-based foundations, as well as NGOs, think-tanks, and Washington-based multilaterals. The Specialist also contributes to day-to-day relations with key US-based media organizations and social media channels, and a compelling online presence for the Washington RO. In consultation and collaboration with colleagues based in Washington, New York, and around the world, he or she works with senior management to devise strategic communications-including events, launches, blogs, op-eds, Web stories, news releases, and social media-of interest in the United States and beyond, with the aim of highlighting UNDP's unique and specific contributions to ending poverty, advancing human development, and building resilient, peaceful societies in which prosperity is shared and opportunities are accessible to all. 

The Communications and Partnerships Specialist also supports EXO and HQ Communications in identifying media and outreach opportunities, drafting speeches/blogs/talking points/Web content etc., for the Administrator and other senior staff also providing support in risk and re