External Relations Officer; Capacity Building

EXTERNAL RELATIONS OFFICER (CAPACITY BUILDING)

P-4 OHCHR 31 July 2026 Other Geneva 17 June 2026

Official job description Sourced from OHCHR
· Last verified

This position is located in the Donor and External Relations Section (DEXREL) of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in Geneva, Switzerland. The incumbent reports to the Chief of the Donor External Relations Section.

Within delegated authority, the External Relations Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Builds resource mobilization capacity throughout the Office at Headquarters and for the Field by acting as the focal point for capacity building; leading training activities on resource mobilization at HQ's, regional, and country levels; writing training modules and presentations, undertaking necessary background research; developing and introducing standardized tools, templates, and guidelines; adapting and writing training materials for a specific audience; liaising with relevant departments to ensure resource mobilization is incorporated into all new staff trainings;
  
  exploring new technologically advanced training methods; ensuring the internal and external promotion of all relevant tools.
• Contributes to ensuring an office-wide consistent and coherent approach to resource mobilization by providing advice to Division/Branches and field offices on office-wide resource mobilization policies, strategies, and approaches; providing advice on resource mobilization priorities and principles; coordinating with key personnel to apply project management principles to proposals and agreements; preparing various written outputs like briefing notes and position papers for senior management as requested;
  
  drafting correspondence for donors, researching, compiling, maintaining, and updating information on donor relations; ensuring in cooperation with the Programme Support and Management Services and other relevant units that UN rules and procedures are duly respected; ensuring that resource mobilization tools and templates are used consistently; producing and/or providing oversight of fundraising proposals, ensuring their completeness, adequacy, and quality; supporting and accompanying the Chief of Section and senior management as appropriate on their missions to State capitals or relevant donor headquarters for resources mobilization purposes.
• Develops and maintains key strategic partnerships with newly assigned donors (governments, intergovernmental organizations, private donors) to achieve a broad donor base for UN Human Rights by advising senior managers in the Division/Branches/Sections about resource mobilization strategies and issues, promoting partnership with the UN common system, leading and developing resource mobilization and outreach strategies, coordinating joint efforts to mobilize resources, mapping interests of potential donors, initiating contracts with new and emerging partners, developing partnerships in line with the defined priorities of the UN Human Rights, developing an in-depth understanding of assigned donors' human rights, development, and humanitarian policies, analyzing opportunities for enhanced cooperation with UN Human Rights, organizing and participating in donor briefings, traveling to capitals to discuss with interlocutors.
• Contributes to the organizational effectiveness of UN Human Rights by representing the Chief of Section in relevant meetings when requested; coordinating the work of the overall unit in various fields of activity, including administrative matters (recruitment, budget, project management, etc.); ensuring implementation of the resource mobilization strategy; assisting the Chief of Section in any tasks as required.

Knowledge of different aspects of public information and communication; ability to address a range of issues in the context of political developments, public attitudes, and local conditions; ability to conceptualize, design, and implement major information campaigns; ability to rapidly analyze and integrate diverse information from varied sources; ability to diplomatically handle sensitive situations with target audiences and cultivate productive relationships; ability to produce a variety of written communications products in a clear, concise style;

ability to deliver oral presentations to various audiences; shows pride in work and achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; 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 equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens and interprets messages, responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify;…