Internal Vacancy: Partnerships Specialist (Team Lead), P3, FT, #138579, Bridgetown, Barbados, Multi-Country Office for the Caribbean

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 voice

UNICEF’s Caribbean Multi-Country Office (MCO) serves twelve English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. As part of UNICEF's Future Focus Initiative, the Caribbean MCO brings together policy influence, technical expertise and strategic partnerships to advance results for children across the region through one integrated programme, one management structure and a shared pool of resources. The Multi-Country Programme 2027-2031 focuses on three shared outcomes: equitable access to primary health care, learning and skills; protection of children from all forms of violence; and child poverty reduction and resilience strengthening.

Children across the Caribbean face interconnected challenges including learning losses, mental health concerns, violence, child poverty and increasing exposure to climate-related disasters. Despite many countries being classified as upper-middle or high income, significant inequalities persist, particularly for vulnerable children, adolescents, indigenous communities and those living in remote areas. Small island developing states also face fiscal constraints and heightened vulnerability to economic and climate shocks, requiring stronger regional cooperation and system-based solutions.

The Caribbean MCO’s management strategy is governed by four principles that together translate the new business model into concrete ways of working:

• Impact-driven: technical expertise is organized in shared multi-country working groups rather than replicated in each country, with enabling functions aligned around UNICEF’s strongest comparative advantages.
• Effective and agile: parallel country ecosystems are replaced by harmonized systems and flexible cross-country staffing, keeping management lean and decisions close to implementation.
• Grounded: regional scale is balanced with national depth through country-specific workplans, Heads of Office in each duty station, and matrix management that anchors authority and accountability at country level.
• People-centered: structural and managerial choices are guided by staff wellbeing, transparency and inclusion, with clear role definitions, meaningful consultation, and continuous investment in learning and development.

The operational expression of this model is the working group model. Rather than replicating similar roles across four separate country offices, technical and operational expertise is organized into 16 thematic and functional working groups, each distributed across different duty stations and each serving the full 12-country MCO — not just its host location. Roles are designed around three organizing principles: shared regional service, meaning every specialist contributes to the wider MCO; complementary expertise, meaning team capabilities reinforce each other rather than repeating the same profile in multiple places; and agile presence, meaning the workforce can be rapidly deployed across countries through travel, surge support or remote modalities in line with evolving needs and priorities. This working group model is the foundation of a fundamentally new way of working for UNICEF in the Caribbean: depth replaces duplication, and shared capacity replaces fragmented country-by-country coverage

Under the Area Representative with a dotted line to the Deputy Representative, Programme, three strategic shift working groups –Communication & Advocacy, Partnerships, and Evidence Generation & Evaluation/Knowledge Management – provide the enabling capacities required to deliver a more influential, partnership driven and evidence rich multi country programme. Together, they position the MCO to shape public debates, build and leverage high value partnerships, and systematically use data, evidence and learning to drive results for children across the 12 countries.

The Partnerships working group drives the MCO’s partnership and resource-leveraging agenda, supporting the strategic shift towards positioning UNICEF as a partnership powerhouse in the Caribbean, with a primary strategic focus in public sector engagement and International Financial Institutions, including IDB, CAF, the Caribbean Development Bank, and the European Investment Bank. It develops and manages relationships with governments, multilateral banks, regional organizations, private-sector actors, including the philanthropic ecosystem, aligning financing, influence and capabilities around the three child-rights priorities and helping to unlock new, diversified resources for the multi-country programme.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the supervision of the Area Representative of the MCO and in close coordination with the MCO Deputy Representative, the Partnership Specialist will play a critical role in supporting UNICEF Multi-Country Office’s fundraising and programmatic goals by building and managing strong partnerships with a range of stakeholders. Whilst this includes securing and developing global partners and prospects, a key component will be to build a high value, high impact pipeline of businesses, leaders and organisations to support the region’s vital programs for children. The role will involve developing and implementing both financial and non-financial partnerships strategies to mobilize resources and expertise for the region. The role involves building and nurturing relationships with existing and potential partners across the region, including businesses, National Committees, foundations, philanthropists, Public and Private Partnerships and member and faith -based organisations. The Partnerships Specialist will work closely with program colleagues to identify partnership opportunities and develop proposals for funding and collaboration.

This position covers both analytical and strategic contributions to all aspects of UNICEF partnerships and resource mobilization work in the Caribbean Multi-Country Office. They may also serve as focal point and resource for colleagues on specific thematic areas of strategic relevance for partnership development.

 If you would like to know more about this position as well as a list of the key functions, please review the complete Job Description here:  P3 Partnerships Specialist (Team Lead) Barbados.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Education: An advanced university degree is required in one of the following fields: international relations, political science, communications, international development, or another relevant technical field
• Work Experience: A minimum of five years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: philanthropy, private sector partnerships, (ESG) and fundraising public sector engagement or partnerships, resource mobilization, external relations, or other relevant area, including demonstrated experience engaging with governments, public institutions and/or International Financial Institutions (IFIs) is required.
  • Demonstrated experience supervising teams is required for this role.
  • Experience developing or supporting investment cases, partnership proposals, or child-sensitive financing frameworks (e.g., climate finance, innovative financing for children, or blended finance mechanisms) and direct experience working with IFIs is highly desirable.
  • Experience working across multiple countries or a regional/matrix structure, coordinating with in-country teams to align funding opportunities with programme priorities is an asset.
• Required Skills: 
  • Ability to influence and build partnerships, in close coordination with diverse stakeholders across countries is required.
  • Strong coordination and communication skills, with the ability to coordinate effectively across multiple reporting relationships and geographic contexts is required.
  • Diplomatic communication and very strong negotiation skills to establish and maintain trusted partnerships for achievement of objectives and to develop close and effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders from the private sector.
  • In-depth knowledge of development and humanitarian issues, strategies, as well as programming policies and procedures in international development cooperation.
  • Proven experience and practical knowledge of partnership development and resource mobilization with the private sector.
  • Demonstrated ability to conceptualize and implement new private sector engagement approaches, and fundraising and outreach related activities.
  • Sound business judgement and capacity to identify and prioritize partnership opportunities, to comply with requirements in the field and to effectively navigate changes.
  • Excellent communications skills, verbal and written. Ability to conduct sound data and policy analysis is an advantage.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

(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 are conditional on the selected candidates’ willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel.Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service

• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

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, candidates that meet all the requirements and are legally allowed to work in the respective DS 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.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.

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.

Advertised: 18 Sep 2026 SA Western Standard Time
Applications close: 05 Oct 2026 SA Western Standard Time

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