Chief, Private Sector Climate Partnerships, P-5, (FT), # 122575, PSFP, PFP, Geneva, Switzerland

The Chief, Private Sector Climate Partnerships position sits within the Private Sector Fundraising & Partnerships section of the Private Fundraising & Partnerships (PFP) Division. The post will work across the UNICEF ecosystem, and closely with colleagues in the Emergency Fundraising team and the high-value partnerships teams, as well as various teams in the Public Partnerships Division in New York and Brussels, the Division of Global Communication and Advocacy (DGCA) and the Programme Group Climate, Environment, Energy and Disaster Risk Reduction (CEED) team. In addition, this post will coordinate and support private sector resource mobilization efforts (across channels and markets) to generate long-term, sustainable funding and advocacy support for UNICEF’s work on climate and will be the focal point for the Partnerships Cone and PFP Senior Leadership on climate-focused private sector resource mobilization.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job it is a calling. UNICEF is a place where careers are built, we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

In 2023 UNICEF generated over US$2.5bn from the private sector, with nearly $500m of this raised for humanitarian work.

UNICEF has achieved unprecedented success in engaging with the private sector in recent years – in particular, driven by success in inspiring the private sector to support its humanitarian responses – and has an aspirational goal to achieve sustainable private sector income of US$3bn per year by 2025.

The Chief, Private Sector Climate Partnerships position sits within the Private Sector Fundraising & Partnerships section of the Private Fundraising & Partnerships (PFP) Division. The post will work across the UNICEF ecosystem, and closely with colleagues in the Emergency Fundraising team and the high-value partnerships teams, as well as various teams in the Public Partnerships Division in New York and Brussels, the Division of Global Communication and Advocacy (DGCA) and the Programme Group Climate, Environment, Energy and Disaster Risk Reduction (CEED) team. In addition, this post will coordinate and support private sector resource mobilization efforts (across channels and markets) to generate long-term, sustainable funding and advocacy support for UNICEF’s work on climate and will be the focal point for the Partnerships Cone and PFP Senior Leadership on climate-focused private sector resource mobilization.

For every child, a Champion

In support of other units within PSFP, the position will be responsible for the overall coordination, planning, development, and realization of UNICEF’s global private sector engagement (income and influence) strategy relating to the development of long-term propositions in the Climate area, in line with UNICEF’s global resource mobilization strategy. The incumbent will oversee and coordinate engagement with various audience channels and activities, ensure engaged and optimized partnerships across divisions, drive restricted income with a focus on quality revenue growth and high value advocacy and expertise support across markets as well as UNICEF globally.

How can you make a difference?

1. Developing the Climate Partnerships plan as part of UNICEF’s Strategic Plan and ensuring the achievement of private sector goals

• In close consultation and alignment with the PSFP Management Team and informed by a clear analysis of the external environment, develops a comprehensive private sector Climate strategy, supporting the income streams to target the audiences and markets with the strongest potential, including businesses, philanthropists, foundations and faith and membership-based organizations, as well as individual supporters. Ensures effective alignment between global, regional, and national teams.
• Stays abreast of key developments in the external environment as they affect development resource mobilization and in particular Climate, and continuously seeks new growth opportunities that are interpreted and acted upon. Likewise remains up to date with cutting edge developments globally in resource mobilization practice within UNICEF and across the sector and ensures these are shared and applied as relevant.
• Builds and supports a culture of innovation in relation to climate partnerships to drive sustainable income growth.
• Develops a coherent annual workplan and budget covering each component of the strategy and ensures results are achieved on time and to required performance standards; ensures effective management of financial resources, in compliance within UNICEF financial rules and regulations.
• Builds support for climate related partnerships goals from other teams within the Partnership Cone and PFP through building effective collaborative relationships accordingly – notably with Public Partnerships Division, Programme Group and Supply Division (aligned and more impactful working to ensure strong articulations of propositions for donors and partners and compelling reporting), Division of Global Communications & Advocacy (to align on climate advocacy objectives and to drive a strong brand and assure powerful content for private sector engagement), HR (to optimize talent in the office), Finance and Operations (operational support for development fundraising on Climate).
• Contributes thought leadership to discussions of climate-related due diligence policy.
• Ensures effective sharing of work on Climate partnerships, including key learning and materials globally, through webinars, workshops, and online channels.

2. Engagement within the UNICEF ecosystem

• Represents division, Director and/or Deputy Director at Climate partnerships focused meetings.
• Provides a cross-cutting strategic framework for how to scale up funding for Climate across audiences as a part of audience-specific strategies and plans.
• Provide guidance to ensure that work on Climate is properly embedded in country-specific plans and as part of their fundraising and partnership strategy within National Committees and Country Offices

To qualify as a Champion for every child you will have…

Education:

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, Fundraising, Management, or another relevant technical field.
• Alternatively, a first-level university degree with an additional two years qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of ten years of professional experience in private sector fundraising is required, with progressively increasing responsibilities.
• Experience in, and knowledge of, the development context is a strong asset.
• Marketing experience is a strong asset.
• Familiarity with the private sector is an asset.
• International fundraising experience is an asset.
• Strong technical knowledge/experience of issues related to private sector climate/sustainability strategy development is a strong asset.
• Previous managerial experience is a strong asset.
• UN/UNICEF experience is an asset.
• Experience working on inter-agency fundraising collaboration is an asset.

Language requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2) are required.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: our competency framework. 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

 Remarks: 

As per 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.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to delivering the best results for children.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.