Partnerships Development Specialist at United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)

Functions / Key Results Expected

Under the supervision of the Country Director and in close collaboration with the Programme, PMO, and Partnerships teams, the incumbent will perform the following functions:

Proposal and Project Document Writing

• Coordinate the end-to-end proposal development process, ensuring quality, coherence, and alignment with UNOPS standards.
• Draft persuasive, well-structured project documents (proposals, concept notes, and expressions of interest) aligned with UNOPS mandate and strategic goals and tailored to partner requirements.
• Liaise with internal teams (PMO, Finance, HR, Infrastructure, Procurement) to collect technical and operational inputs.
• Ensure proposals comply with UNOPS project design standards (ODs/AIs) and align with the Country Office’s strategic objectives.
• Maintain an internal repository of proposal templates, project briefs, and donor-specific documentation.
• Lead the preparation of business and project proposals for donors and partners.
• Draft agreements and related documentation for new projects, addressing partners' and donors' questions to ensure timely approval.
• Support the design, formulation, and negotiation of new projects and programmes, ensuring quality, coherence, and results alignment.

Coordination and Relationship Management

• Coordinate inputs from internal UNOPS personnel across practices and divisions (HQ, Regional, and Country levels) to ensure coherence in partner engagement.
• Establish and maintain contacts with potential clients and partners, organizing meetings, briefings, and follow-up actions for business acquisition.
• Strengthen the office’s relationship with existing partners (government, UN, IFIs, and donors) to identify new opportunities and ensure sustained collaboration.
• Support the preparation of briefing packages, background notes, and visibility materials for high-level partner missions.

Market Research and Strategy Support

• Conduct analytical research on development priorities, donor trends, and opportunities for UNOPS engagement in Haiti and the region.
• Identify key entry points for project development and partnership expansion.
• Contribute to the development and regular update of the Country Office Business Development Plan, aligned with UNOPS corporate strategies.
• Monitor the policy and funding landscape to anticipate emerging opportunities and risks.

Communication, Outreach, and Knowledge Management

• Maintain an internal database of project concepts, proposals, and donor intelligence.
• Capture lessons learned from proposal development and share knowledge within the team to strengthen institutional capacity.

Strategic Advisory Support

• Provide analytical inputs as per requested
• Support the integration of gender equality, sustainability, and resilience considerations in project design.
• Advise on innovative financing modalities (blended finance, pooled funds, SDG-linked instruments) relevant to Haiti’s development context.

Deliverables

• Drafted and finalized project concept notes, proposals, and expressions of interest.
• Draft project agreements and related partnership documentation.
• Updated donor and market intelligence reports.
• Periodic business development reports summarizing pipeline progress and opportunities.
• Skills
• Business Development, Business Planning, Partnerships, Proposal Writing, Stakeholder Engagement
• Competencies
• Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organisation. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organisation.
• Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organisational 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 Requirements

Required

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in International Development, Business Administration, Public Policy, Political Science, or a related field.
• A Bachelor’s degree with two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a Master’s.

Experience Requirements

Required

• Minimum of 5 years (with Master’s) or 7 years (with Bachelor’s) of progressively responsible experience in business development, project formulation, or donor relations.
• Proven experience in writing and coordinating proposals for international donors (EU, World Bank, IDB, USAID, Canada, UN, etc.).
• Demonstrated experience in coordinating multidisciplinary teams and engaging with government counterparts.