Partnerships Specialist (Innovative Finance), NO-3, FT, #134943, Beijing, China – APR, (Open to nationals of the People`s Republic of China only)

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to a Future

How can you make a difference? 

Traditional funding is insufficient to meet today’s global challenges, requiring innovative financing to unlock new resources and accelerate progress toward the SDGs. UNICEF’s Innovative Financing for Children (IF4C) strategy promotes leveraging public and private capital to increase impact for children. In line with this, UNICEF China is strengthening innovative financing approaches to mobilize resources more effectively and efficiently.

Under the supervision of the Chief Private Sector and Fundraising, with dotted-line reporting to the Senior Advisor, Public Partnership Section (PPS), and in close collaboration with the Global IF4C team (PFP), the Partnership Specialist (Innovative Finance) develops and implements strategies and workplans to accelerate innovative financing solutions by engaging private sector partners to support investments in areas such as climate, environment, and disaster risk reduction.

The Partnership Specialist (Innovative Finance) leads the Innovative Finance function and supervises the team to mobilize and align capital from innovative financing transactions that contribute to child outcomes. The Partnership Specialist (Innovative Finance) is responsible for spearheading the design and implementation of innovative financing solutions with the private sector in China  (e.g., impact investing, climate risk financing) and leading collaboration with global, regional, and IF Hub teams on the child-lens impact investing framework.

Key functions and accountabilities:

1. Develop overall strategy, modalities, engagement, and pipelines

• Lead analysis of portfolio and identify innovative finance opportunities with private sector
• Spearhead development and implementation of financing strategies and instruments jointly with Private Sector
• Conduct financial, market, and risk analyses, including feasibility assessments
• Coordinate with global and regional teams on framework adoption
• Document strategic decisions and processes

2. Planning and Project Management

• Lead team planning, coordination, and timely delivery of workplans and outputs
• Supervise implementation and ensure alignment with governance, risk, and compliance requirements
• Monitor progress and maintain reporting mechanisms

3. Partnerships and Engagement

• Lead Innovative Finance partnerships and resource mobilization with private sector in China for implementation in either China or China and beyond.
• Provide technical guidance and oversee partnership development and management
• Guide development of knowledge products, proposals, and communication materials
• Oversee impact reporting and visibility efforts

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  Job Descriptions - Partnerships Specialist.pdf

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

• Education: An advanced university degree (Master`s degree or equivalent) in international development, finance, economics, public administration, business administration, law or any other related field is required.
• Work Experience: A minimum of five years of relevant work experience in development, innovative finance, ESG/impact investing, investment banking, risk analysis or market analysis is required.
• Skills: Experience in Partnership Management, Financial Analysis, Project Management, Strategic Planning, Stakeholder Engagement, or Market Research is required.
• Language Requirements: Proficiency in English and Mandarin Chinese (written and spoken) is required.

Desirables:

• Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
• Experience in innovative finance, impact investing, ESG, sustainable finance, investment banking, or development finance; proven track record in structuring partnerships with private sector and financial institutions; experience analyzing financial markets and developing innovative financing solutions; and demonstrated ability to manage complex multi-stakeholder initiatives that deliver both social impact and sustainable financing outcomes is desirable.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts is desirable.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others
(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per 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.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.