Director, German Rep Office [Open To Internal And External Applicants]

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0 : UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1 : Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2 : UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated : All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

For six decades, and in some 170 countries and territories, UNDP has shaped the progress of human development, providing integrated support at scale to improve lives for millions of people worldwide. UNDP’s 2026-2029 strategic plan helps countries and communities in their progress towards high human development while protecting the planet through four strategic objectives – prosperity for all, effective governance, crisis resilience, and healthy planet. The plan is powered by three accelerators: digital and AI transformation; gender equality; and sustainable finance. All are underpinned by a commitment to human rights and to leaving no one behind.

The Bureau for External Relations and Advocacy leads and supports UNDP to build and deliver essential strategic relationships and alliances. It creates and delivers a strong public narrative about the organization, impact of our work, and how we align with partners to identify and build solutions towards achieving sustainable development. The Bureau also leads UNDP’s work with traditional donors, as well as building innovative and diversified funding relationships. BERA partnership work enables strong strategic relationships aligning with financial backing and provides partners and supporters with a clear understanding of what UNDP does and how our mission, capabilities and services reinforce global, regional, and national development priorities.

The UNDP Representation Office in Germany, located in Berlin, is a reflection of the complementary agenda between UNDP and Germany and the shared ambition of supporting country-led efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals through the promotion of democratic governance, poverty eradication and prosperity, stabilization and recovery in fragile contexts and action on inequalities, climate change and the environment, making for a highly convergent partnership agenda. The Office is expected to sustain and deepen the partnership with Germany, increase the visibility of UNDP and its work among German constituents and the German public as well as support UNDP at headquarter, regional and country levels in better positioning with German counterparts. The office will cultivate, build and nurture strategic relationships including with parliament and its committees, Chancellery, Ministries, KFW, BMZ, civil society, the private sector, foundations, academia, think tanks and the media.

Job Purpose and Organizational Context

Under the supervision of the BERA Deputy Director, the Director of Germany Representation Office represents and strategically position UNDP to key constituencies, mobilises resources for the work of UNDP and demonstrates accountability for these investments. The Director serves as the connector between UNDP programmes and countries and key German constituencies, such as parliamentarians, public servants, the private and philanthropic sectors, civil society and public, showing how German government investments create impact and acceleration towards development goals; influences discussions for decisions and policy options in favor of multilateralism, development and the achievement of the SDGs; raises the profile and visibility of the work of UNDP through strategic and targeted communications, marketing and advocacy, in collaboration with communications teams at HQ level; coordinates and advises on the creation and strengthening of partnerships with Germany, including coordinating and securing new and updated resource commitments; leads and coordinates the UNDP presence in Germany as the senior relationship focal point.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Represent and strategically position UNDP to key constituencies and influence policy options in favor of multilateralism, development and the achievement of the SDGs

• Serve as UNDP’s Representative to Germany, representing a gateway between UNDP and the German development constituencies;
• Meet regularly with key focal points and policymakers at the Bundestag, Foreign Affairs, BMZ, Chancellery, sectoral ministries and other executive and legislative branch counterparts;
• Lead engagement with German NGOs and foundations, private sector, German local authorities and other opinionmakers to promote the interests of UNDP;
• Advocate for UNDP policy positions and deliver presentation on flagship reports and policy papers;
• Position UNDP by participating in public and academic debates and organize or personally deliver UNDP presentations to the various German development audiences;
• Undertake other representational activities upon request of the BERA Director.

2. Raise the profile and visibility of the work of UNDP through strategic and targeted communications, marketing and advocacy, in collaboration with communications teams at HQ level

• Lead the organization of UNDP public events (such as the Hamburg Sustainability Conference, Munich Security conference and other events) including as relates to special UN and German dates and national opportunities;
• Seek opportunities for media exposure for UNDP through special events;
• Oversee the preparation of special events, ensure timely preparation of periodic publications and promote organizational presence in local media (interviews, newspapers);
• Participate in local academic fora (lectures, student briefings, briefings to expert or diplomatic groups).

3. Coordinate and advise on the creation and strengthening of partnerships with Germany, including coordinating and securing resource commitments

• Advise the BERA Director on optimal corporate strategies and policies to maintain, nourish, deepen and broaden UNDP’s partnership with Germany;
• Scan and analyse the policy and partnership environment (political, economic, and social) in Germany and provide advice as to how best position UNDP and mobilize support and resources;
• Negotiate agreements on behalf of the Director in close collaboration with appropriate units at headquarters and country office levels, including for non-core cost-sharing agreements with German officials;
• Persistently obtain, and process information with respect to political, economic, institutional and policy developments and trends that may impact UNDP;
• Provide strategic advice and guidance and supervise training and support to Country Offices on German development policy and support Country Offices in the management of their relationship with Germany;
• Implement strategic initiatives that advance the cause of flexible resources including core and non-core resources, actively supporting the diversification of UNDP’s funding base.

4. Lead and coordinate the UNDP presence in Germany

• Lead, as the senior focal point, the UNDP relationship with Germany;
• Overall supervision and management of office staff, including matrixed staff;
• Supervise the preparation of annual work plans and budgets for the Germany RO;
• Oversee the Office’s work plan and ensure financial integrity of the Office and full accountability of human resource management (e.g. PMDs, training, development) and supervise the implementation of any projects as may be managed by the Germany RO;
• Ensure office plans and activities support the UNDP Strategic Plan and the strategic objectives of BERA and other related bureaux, including advocating adherence to UN and multilateral standards and norms;
• Interface regularly with other UN agencies in Germany for effective UN partner positioning and common messaging regarding German counterparts;
• Engage closely with the other RO Directors and the Public Partnerships Group to implement best practices in advocating for the work of UNDP to various German constituencies.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced University degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Political Science, International Law, Economics, International Development, International Relations, Public Administration, Management or related field.
• OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of fifteen (15) years with master’s Degree and seventeen (17) years with bachelor’s Degree, of relevant work experience is required;
• Proven representational, diplomatic, resource mobilization and negotiation skills and ability to interface effectively at the high political level, senior levels of government, development agencies, and other organizations;
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain excellent relationships with key partners; politically astute in partnership building, especially in the European setting and within the UN system;
• Strong communications and advocacy skills and the ability to mobilize support from a wide range of audiences, including government organizations, parliamentarians, academics, CSOs, and private firms;
• Field experience related multilateral development work in a Country Office setting at senior management level is required;
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of UN System policies, and operational activities is desirable;
• Experience in dealing with the media, and sensitivity to media concerns and interests;
• Fully conversant in current issues and trends in development policy and practice.

Language Requirement:

• Fluency in written and spoken English and German languages are required;
Working knowledge of additional EU languages is an asset.

Expected Demonstration of Competencies

Core

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 4: Prioritize team workflow, mobilize resources, drive scalable results/strategic impact
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 4: Easily navigate complexity, encourage/enable radical innovation, has foresight
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 4: Create systems and processes that enable learning and development for all
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 4: Proactively initiate/lead organizational change, champion new systems/processes
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 4: Able to make difficult decisions in challenging situations, inspire confidence
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 4: Construct strategic multi-partner alliances in high stake situations, foster co-creation
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 4: Create ethical culture, identify/address barriers to inclusion

People Management

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site .

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Business Management

Partnerships Management - Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies

Business Development

UNDP Representation - Ability to represent UNDP and productively share UNDP knowledge and activities; advocate for UNDP, its values, mission and work with various constituencies

Business direction and Strategy

Strategic Thinking - Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions

Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP

Business Management

Risk Management - Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks

Business Direction and Strategy

Negotiation and Influence - Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and creates ‘win-win’ situation

External Relations and Advocacy

Partnership: Multistakeholder engagement and funding- Knowledge and ability to forge multi-stakeholder partnerships, and remove any obstacles to resource mobilization and multistakeholder funding platforms

External Relations and Advocacy

Partnership: Brand & Quality Management - Ability to position a UNDP brand and uphold it to a high level of quality

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Probation

For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

Scam alert

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