JOBS

UNDP is hiring for Home-Based Positioning and Engagement Specialist

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Closing Date: 22 January 2025

UNDP is hiring for Home-Based Positioning and Engagement Specialist

Project Description

Emerging and future digital technologies are one of the most profound drivers of change globally. Recognizing that these technologies bring both opportunities to accelerate progress in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals as well as presenting challenges to development, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been undergoing an organization-wide digital transformation since 2019. UNDP’s digital transformation seeks to help create a world in which digital is an empowering force for people and planet.

The Positioning and Engagement Specialist will provide expertise and direction to position UNDP in the digital development ecosystem. The role will also build strategic partnerships and lead CDO and UNDP’s engagement opportunities in the digital development space.

Duties and Responsibilties

Provide expertise and direction to position UNDP in the digital development ecosystem

Contribute to the development of key emerging policy agendas in digital transformation and future of development contexts, in collaboration with policy teams at UNDP. Bring in perspectives and expertise from the Global South, via UNDP Country Offices and the Regional Bureaux as appropriate.
Develop CDO narratives and points of view on important and emerging digital development issues.

Ensure consistency of CDO messaging across knowledge products, events, public advocacy, media engagements, and communications.
Support overall coherence of CDO strategic approach across teams.
Identify opportunities for meaningful, impactful, and forward-looking positioning on important and emerging digital issues.

Identify advocacy opportunities through which to embed CDO key messages to strengthen UNDP’s position among peers and stakeholders, including but not limited to global and regional events, international outlets, online platforms, etc.
Engage with other teams at UNDP and UN partners to provide guidance and input to ensure CDO points of view are reflected.
As necessary, conduct and manage primary and/or secondary research and distil relevant lessons from projects and programmes to inform policy formulation and guidance.

Engage relevant partners on research or advocacy, hire and manage vendor and/or research partners as needed.
Lead the process of knowledge capture international know-how in relevant thematic areas and document project lessons, experiences, and best practices that may be useful in design and implementation of similar projects for organizational and external sharing and learning.
Work closely with the communications team within CDO to ensure coherence in external advocacy messages.

Build Strategic Partnerships and Lead UNDP’s Engagement Opportunities

Identify and engage strategic partners in the digital development space, including but not limited to Member State governments, private sector, foundations, think tanks, and multi- stakeholder alliances.
Assess, prioritize and deepen existing partnerships (including bilateral relationships and multi- stakeholder networks where UNDP has corporate participation).

Identify and cultivate partners for CDO’s work, pursue overall resource mobilization and partnership opportunities for CDO, as well as support pillar engagement on the same for specific projects
Serve as key focal point managing CDO’s relationships with key multi-stakeholder or inter- agency platforms (including but not limited to: IGF, UNGIS, WSIS and GSMA), further establishing UNDP’s leadership role in these collaborations.
Advise and support CDO in ongoing Member State engagement to advance their understanding and support to our work – which may include briefings, meetings, events, newsletters and other updates.

Advise and support UNDP’s engagement in high-visibility events, assess and advise on prioritization of event invitations, and support senior management (Administrator, AA, ASGs, CDO) on their engagement.
Coordinate with colleagues at other relevant UNDP Headquarter/ regional/ country level offices to vet or propose key event opportunities on digital topics, and support with providing key messages/background material as needed
Work closely with relevant bureau across UNDP (including ExO, Regional Bureaux and BERA) to ensure CDO’s partnership work is conducted in a coordination with others.

Work with various CDO workstreams and BERA to target key stakeholder groups to grow awareness and engagement with the UNDP digital transformation agenda.
Lead UNDP’s engagement in high-visibility events, assess and advise on prioritization of event invitations, and support senior management (Administrator, AA, ASGs, CDO) on their engagement.
Coordinate with colleagues at other relevant UNDP Headquarter/ regional/ country level offices to vet or propose key event opportunities on digital topics, and support with providing key messages/background material as needed.

Institutional Arrangement

The Positioning and Engagement Specialist position will report into Head of Partnerships and Engagement within CDO Given the global consultations to be undertaken during this assignment, the incumbent is expected to be reasonably flexible with his/her availability for such consultations taking into consideration different time zones.

Minimum Qualifications

Min. Education requirements

Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Global Affairs, International Relations and/or Development Studies or related field is required. Or
A first-level university degree in the above-mentioned fields, in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree

Min. years of relevant work experience

A minimum of 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of experience in driving development programs and policies in a public, nonprofit, and/or development setting is required.

Required skills

Demonstrated experience and understanding of digital technologies.

Experience interacting with and steering stakeholders and partnerships across sectors towards a common objective.

Required Language(s)

Fluency in English is required.

Working knowledge of another official UN language is advantageous.

Travel:

UNDP will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station, as well as their return to their home upon completion of their services. Travel costs are covered only in the event that the function will be undertaken physically in the duty station and excludes working from home arrangements.