Partnerships Officer - Liaison at UNOPS

Role Purpose

• The position focuses on providing technical advice, maintaining open communication channels, and facilitating information exchange to support national treaty obligations and the mainstreaming of explosive ordnance risk education and other mine action activities. This role includes occasional travel to north-east Nigeria.

Functions / Key Results Expected

Key Responsibilities and Functional Duties

• Under the supervision of the EORE specialist, the Partnerships Officer - Liaison is responsible for the following:

Coordination and Information Exchange

• Act as the focal point for routine information sharing between the organisation and relevant federal ministries (e.g., Ministry of Education (MoE), and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), the Ministry of Defence, etc.) and national counterparts. Stakeholder coordination should include the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs (as the custodian of Nigeria’s National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325), the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, and other gender and protection-focused federal and state-level counterparts, consistent with the UNOPS GESI Mainstreaming Strategy
• Support the mainstreaming of Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) into the national school curriculum by coordinating technical meetings and sharing curriculum materials with educational authorities. EORE mainstreaming efforts should address the differentiated needs and access barriers of girls, boys, out-of-school children, internally displaced children, and children with disabilities, consistent with the UNMAS Gender Guidelines for Mine Action Programmes (3rd ed. 2019) and the UNOPS GESI Mainstreaming Strategy 2026–2029.
• Monitor the evolution of the inclusion of mine action concerns in all relevant sectors and liaise with colleagues for follow-ups as relevant 
• Contact Directory Maintenance: Maintain up-to-date lists of all project key contacts and stakeholders, and provide regular updates to national contacts.

Technical Assistance & Workflow Management

• Assist national counterparts by providing day-to-day technical inputs, suggestions, and data required for drafting obligatory national reports under international conventions (e.g., relevant Mine Action treaties).
• Task Registry Management: Maintaining a registry of tasks and agreed next steps/actions to ensure continuity and strengthened workflow management with government focal points.
• Provide technical inputs, suggestions, and relevant data to support national counterparts in the preparation of reports required under relevant international mine action treaties and conventions, and assist in drafting relevant standards and standard operating procedures (SOPs) in accordance with International Mine Action Standards (IMAS).
• Support knowledge management and programme coordination activities, including identification and monitoring of risks/issues related to government liaison functions. 

Operational and Administrative Facilitation

• Facilitate the scheduling, logistics, and documentation of formal meetings, technical working groups, and workshops between organizational leadership, government officials and other stakeholders.
• Prepare official correspondence, briefing notes, meeting minutes, and routine operational updates for both internal and external government audiences.
• Ensure that meeting, workshop, and event logistics reflect inclusive and accessible practices (including consideration of venue accessibility, mixed-gender participation, and participant safety) and that official correspondence aligns with UNOPS DEI and PSEAH standards.

Skills

• Facilitation, Partnerships, Technical Assistance, Technical Communication

Competencies

• Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organisational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.
• Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.
• Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).
• Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.
• Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.
• Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.
• Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education Requirements

Required

• First-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) with 2 years of relevant experience is required.

Desired

• An Advanced University Degree (Master's degree or equivalent) is desired

Experience Requirements

Required

• Relevant experience is defined as progressive professional experience in liaison, public administration, program management support, or coordination roles
• A minimum of 2 years of relevant experience is required

Desired

• Experience working in Nigeria with related stakeholders, such as the Ministry of Education or the State Universal Basic Education Board, is highly desired.
• Experience in coordinating with diverse stakeholders, including national authorities, UN agencies, and other international and national partners, is desired. 
• Experience applying gender-sensitive, inclusive, or protection-responsive approaches in liaison, coordination, or stakeholder engagement, including in education, child protection, or community-facing contexts, is desirable.
• Fluency (speaking, reading, and writing) in local languages spoken in Abuja and northeastern regions of Nigeria is desired.