External Engagement and Strategic Communications Advisor Full Time NEW

The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) brings together diverse expertise to help partners deliver impact worldwide. With hubs in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, and expert teams operating globally, GPO leads multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding – including in some of the world’s most challenging environments. By leveraging our collective expertise and global networks, GPO supports UNOPS’ strategic priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals across more than 130 countries. We work closely with major global partners – including governments, international financial institutions, and UN agencies – to deliver a wide range of services, such as project management, fund management, hosting services, and HR support.

As part of the Global Portfolio Office, UNOPS Geneva provides comprehensive solutions in secretariat hosting, operational support, and fund management. We manage global programmes, including the Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) Portfolio, offering project management, procurement, HR, and financial services. Geneva hosts the secretariats of eight global partnerships focused on health (RBM, Stop TB, ATscale), nutrition (SUN), water/sanitation (SHF), humanitarian leadership (GELI),  energy(SEforALL) , urban development (Cities Alliance), and disaster displacement (PDD). We also provide fund management for EIF and UN Water, and operational support to Geneva-based partners like the Global Fund and UNHCR.UNOPS Geneva Office is providing support to a wide range of portfolios, including UNEP, UNICEF, UNHCR, and other partners. 

RBM Partnership to End Malaria

The past fifteen years have seen tremendous gains in reducing the burden of disease and progressing towards malaria elimination. Since 2000, global malaria deaths have been cut by more than half, saving 12.7 million lives, primarily among children less than five years of age. Expansions in financing, strong political commitments, novel diagnostic and preventative measures, and multi-sectoral co-ordination have facilitated this progress.

Since 1998, RBM Partnership to End Malaria has been central to the global fight against malaria. It has been essential to mobilizing resources and scaling up innovative interventions, putting the world onto a path towards eliminating malaria. The Partnership comprises more than 500 partners committed to end malaria, including malaria endemic countries, their bilateral and multilateral development partners, the private sector, nongovernmental and community-based organizations, foundations, and research and academic institutions.The Big Push against Malaria provides the overarching collective approach to nurture an eradication ready ecosystem through six coordination pillars.

The RBM Partnership’s Vision is guided by the Unity30 2026-2030 strategic framework for a world free from the burden of malaria.

The RBM Partnership, hosted by UNOPS, is based in Geneva with several small hubs on the African Continent, including in Addis Ababa.

UNOPS Global Portfolios bring together a range of expertise to help partners deliver impact Worldwide. With hubs in New York, Geneva and Vienna, and expert teams operating across regions, we lead complex, multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development, peacebuilding and climate action. We work in close collaboration with the UN family, governments and other local and international partners. Our work ranges from supporting mine action in some of the world’s most fragile and conflict-affected contexts, to expanding access to healthcare and clean water, to help protect the environment.

RBM Partnership to End Malaria

The past fifteen years have seen tremendous gains in reducing the burden of disease and progressing towards malaria elimination. Since 2000, global malaria deaths have been cut by more than half, saving 12.7 million lives, primarily among children less than five years of age. Expansions in financing, strong political commitments, novel diagnostic and preventative measures, and multi-sectoral co-ordination have facilitated this progress.

Since 1998, RBM Partnership to End Malaria has been central to the global fight against malaria. It has been essential to mobilizing resources and scaling up innovative interventions, putting the world onto a path towards eliminating malaria. The Partnership comprises more than 500 partners committed to end malaria, including malaria endemic countries, their bilateral and multilateral development partners, the private sector, nongovernmental and community-based organizations, foundations, and research and academic institutions.The Big Push against Malaria provides the overarching collective approach to nurture an eradication ready ecosystem through six coordination pillars.

The RBM Partnership’s Vision is guided by the Unity30 2026-2030 strategic framework for a world free from the burden of malaria.

The RBM Partnership, hosted by UNOPS, is based in Geneva with several small hubs on the African Continent, including in Addis Ababa.

The External Engagement and Communications Advisor, in close collaboration with partnerships, regional economic communities (RECs), and program colleagues, will lead the organization’s high-level strategic engagement, diplomatic outreach, and external relations efforts across Africa and globally.

Based in Addis Ababa, the role will focus on positioning malaria elimination as a strategic political and development priority, building influential relationships with senior government leaders, regional institutions, multilateral organizations, and donors.

The Advisor will support the CEO in advancing malaria elimination within regional and global political agendas, strengthening the organization’s visibility and influence, and mobilizing political commitment and sustainable financing for malaria programs.

The role also provides strategic oversight of the organization’s advocacy and communications efforts, ensuring that external messaging and engagement effectively support high-level diplomacy, partnerships, and resource mobilization objectives

Required

• Advanced degree in Public Health, International Relations, Communications, Development Studies, Political Science, or related field.

• A bachelor’s degree in Public Health, International Relations, Communications, Development Studies, Political Science, or related field with a combination of two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the master’s degree.

Required:

• Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in external engagement, strategic communications, policy advocacy, diplomacy, or international development, preferably in the global health sector.

• Within this experience, at least 5 years must include direct engagement with senior government officials at Ministerial level or above, or senior leadership of international organizations.

• Demonstrated experience advising senior leaders (e.g., CEOs, Ministers, Heads of State offices, or senior leadership of international organizations) and supporting diplomatic engagement at major global or regional forums such as the African Union Summit, United Nations General Assembly, World Health Assembly, or similar platforms.

• Demonstrated experience leading or supporting external engagement, advocacy, or strategic communications initiatives aimed at influencing policy agendas, mobilizing political commitment, or positioning development priorities.

• Demonstrated experience engaging bilateral donors, development banks, and philanthropic institutions in support of resource mobilization for global health or development initiatives.

• Demonstrated experience working on global health policy, malaria, infectious diseases, health systems strengthening, or related development sectors.

Desired

• Experience working in global health partnerships or malaria programs.

• Prior experience within UN agencies, multilateral organizations, or international NGOs.

• Strong understanding of the African Union system, regional economic communities (e.g., ECOWAS, SADC, EAC), and multilateral global health governance structures.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience requirements outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to considering all candidates in a fair and transparent manner, and we value diverse perspectives and experiences, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals with diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.