Partnerships Development Advisor

Up to 50 working days over a period of up to 12 months

The position focuses on senior-level advisory support to strengthen strategic positioning and programme pipelines. It involves identifying and advancing growth opportunities through technical support and institutional engagement.

The Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECR), based in Geneva, is responsible for the effective management, coordination and oversight of UNOPS operations across the region. The ECR region spans the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, South Caucasus, and Türkiye, where UNOPS works with partners to achieve sustainable impact in health, education, environmental management, housing, rule of law, good governance, economic development, and social inclusion.

With a wealth of experience in procurement, infrastructure, project and grant management, UNOPS in the region directly implements projects, provides technical advisory services and capacity building to advance the Sustainable Development Goals in support of national governments.

The UNOPS South East Europe Multi-Country Office (SEEMCO) supports sustainable development in Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Based in Belgrade with strong field teams, SEEMCO delivers project management, procurement, infrastructure, HR, and technical assistance to governments, donors, and international financial institutions. Partnering with national institutions, local authorities, civil society, and media, it contributes to sectors such as infrastructure, socio-economic development, social cohesion, rule of law, environment, healthcare, education, digitalisation, energy transition, and governance.

Since 2000, SEEMCO has advanced the EU integration agenda, national priorities, and the Sustainable Development Goals. It also provides emergency response, recovery support, and capacity building for institutions. Funders include the EU, European Investment Bank, governments of Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Montenegro, as well as UN agencies such as UNHCR and UNEP.

The South East Europe Multi-Country Office (SEEMCO) in Belgrade is responsible for the overall management and oversight of UNOPS activities within its geographical scope. It works closely with national governments, international organizations, and civil society partners to deliver high-quality projects and programmes that meet the needs of the region. The SEEMCO is committed to promoting transparency, accountability, and sustainability in all its operations.

In light of the changing development assistance context (decreasing grant funding, prominent role of International Financial Institutions, etc.), UNOPS SEEMCO needs to mobilise additional expertise for positioning and better shaping support to partners and countries.

The Partnerships Development Advisor will provide senior-level advisory support to strengthen the strategic positioning, programme pipeline and institutional engagement of SEEMCO across its countries of operation, contributing to identifying and advancing opportunities for the organisation’s growth.

• Strategic advisory support for partnership development and resource mobilisation.
• Technical support in programme/project formulation and proposal development.
• Institutional engagement and high-level stakeholder management.
• Analytical reporting and strategic planning contributions.

The incumbent will undertake the following responsibilities:

• Provide strategic advice to SEEMCO senior management on programme positioning, portfolio development and engagement with government institutions, international organisations, development partners and financing institutions.
• Support the identification and advancement of opportunities that contribute to the expansion and diversification of the SEEMCO portfolio across its thematic and geographic areas of operation, with a particular focus on International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and governments
• Analyse political, economic, institutional and development trends to identify…