Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located within the Office of the Assistant Secretary-General of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to assist in the investigation and prosecution of persons responsible for the most serious crimes under International Law committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011 (IIIM) located in Geneva, Switzerland. Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Staff, the incumbent will develop and implement fundraising strategies to strengthen IIIM-Syria's partnerships with current donors will contribute to building new partnerships.
The incumbent will negotiate contributions with IIIM-Syria's donors and monitor implementation. S/he will provide feedback to the Chief of Staff and Head of the IIIM and advice to IIIM-Syria staff on resource mobilization as appropriate.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:
1) Develops and maintains key strategic partnerships with donors, current and prospective in order to achieve a broad donor base for IIIM-Syria by:
(a) Developing an in-depth understanding of donors' accountability, human rights, development and humanitarian policies and analyzing opportunities for enhanced cooperation;
(b) Developing and leading fundraising and outreach strategies with governments, intergovernmental organizations and other potential donors;
(c) Organizing and participating in donor briefings virtually or in person when required.
2) Contributes to ensuring an office-wide consistent and coherent approach to fundraising by:
(a) Providing advice to the Head and other members of the Leadership Team on fundraising strategies and approaches;
(b) Regularly updating donor profiles. Researching, compiling, maintaining and updating information on donor relations;
(c) Accompanying the Head and other members of the Leadership Team as appropriate in meetings with donor representatives;
(d) Preparing various written outputs including briefing notes, strategy and position papers for the Leadership Team, as requested;
(e) Ensuring, in cooperation with the Administrative Section and other relevant units, that UN rules and procedures are duly respected;
(f) In partnership with the Administration Team, monitoring the use of contributions in order to provide accurate and relevant information to donors.;
(g) Informing donors in writing and orally about implementation of ongoing projects and future planned needs in order to ensure maximum funding stability for IIIM-Syria activities. Drafting related correspondence, as required;
(h) Coordinating compliance with the IIIM-Syria's donor reporting obligations. Maintaining a calendar of reporting deadlines. Preparing narrative reports, incorporating input from section heads, in compliance with specific donor requirements.
3) Serves as focal point for portfolio of current and prospective donors to generate and encourage the highest level of donor contributions by:
a) Negotiating contributions and funding arrangements with donor governments and intergovernmental organizations: preparing funding submissions;
b) Coordinating the presentations of strategies and results to donors with IIIM-Syria section heads;
c) Together with the External Relations Officer, assisting in the conceptualization of effective communications, including visuals, to convey results and key messaging to donors. 4) Contributes to the organizational effectiveness of IIIM-Syria by:
(a) Representing the Head in relevant meetings, when requested;
(b) Participating in the planning and preparation of IIIM-Syria’s annual budget and work programme;
(c) Assisting the Chief of Staff in any of her/his tasks as required.
Competencies
PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of the international donor community and familiarity with the UN system, including the Financial Rules and Regulations. Knowledge of donors’ funding mechanisms and priorities. Knowledge of IIIM-Syria's mandate and activities. Demonstrated ability to analyze problems and present arguments in a clear, conscience and tactful manner, both orally and in writing. Good negotiating skills. Shows pride in work and in achievements, is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.
Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges. Remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in social and political science, public administration, business administration and management, economics, international relations, or related fields. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in human rights/humanitarian or development work, out of which five years of experience in donor relations and resource mobilization is required. Experience in donor relations in the UN common system is required. Proven experience in negotiating with donors and/or governments is required. Experience in results-based management is required. Working on Syria (especially regarding the situation from 2011), with in-country experience, is desirable. Working experience with enterprise resource planning systems and fund management tools or other similar systems is desirable. Experience in developing partnerships with non-traditional donors (e.g. foundations, private sector entities, individuals) is desirable
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English and Arabic are required. French is desirable. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).
Required Languages
Language | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking
English | UN Level III | UN Level III | UN Level III | UN Level III
Arabic | UN Level III | UN Level III | UN Level III | UN Level III
Desirable Languages
Language | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking
French | UN Level II | UN Level II | UN Level II | UN Level II
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview.
Special Notice
Appointment against this position is for an initial period of one year. The appointment or assignment and renewal thereof are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate. An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.
At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities.
Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.
United Nations Considerations
According to 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. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts.
The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.
The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.
Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.
By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised.
This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage.
The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening.
No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2
(a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2.
(c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.