Senior External Engagement Coordinator

November 25, 2025

A (least hardship)

FamilyFamily

PR5

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-01-01

Senior External Engagement Coordinator

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Senior External Engagement Coordinator reports directly to the Bureau Deputy Director, is supported by, and directly supervises staff, and oversees: 

• Communications and Public Information;
• Donor Relations;
• Partnerships;
• Inter-agency coordination;
• Information management and analysis.
• Internal and external reporting.

The role of the Senior External Engagement Coordinator in overseeing a vast platform of diverse and interrelated activities, ensuring strategic coherence and collaboration among the different functional areas of the Bureau and synergistic use of resources including through a multi-functional team, is key to the Bureau’s success in this external sphere. S/he provides direct support to the Bureau Director and other senior managers in the Bureau, as well as Representatives on issues related to external engagements, in a context of greater decentralisation of resource allocation and management to the field.

The Senior External Engagement Coordinator engages with the Division of External Relations or any other Bureau or Division to seek guidance and engage on strategic topics, in order to ensure information and knowledge sharing. Supporting the development of regional and functional strategies and priorities in line with UNHCR corporate and regional objectives, through engagement with a wide array of stakeholders and regional actors, s/he will collaborate closely with the other functional pillars in the Regional Bureau and with HQ-based Divisions and deliver strategic guidance of planning and management services to the Bureau and Country Operations through relevant technical teams.

The incumbent will lead the development and the implementation of UNHCR’s integrated communication strategy aimed at building awareness of, empathy with, and concrete support for refugees and other forcibly displaced persons while positioning UNHCR as an effective, impactful organization. Seeking to achieve the UNHCR’s resource mobilization goals within the region while simultaneously enhancing the visibility and reputation of country operations’ programme, the incumbent will lead in developing and implementing partnership and coordination and external engagement strategies in order to strengthen UNHCR’s position globally, regionally and/or locally and is responsible for the mobilization of public, political, operational and financial support for the work of UNHCR and comprehensive responses in his/her AOR.

The Senior External Engagement Coordinator will be responsible for ensuring UNHCR fulfils its coordination lead and catalytic roles and responsibilities, in line with its mandate, the Global Compact for Refugees, the IDP policy and cluster lead responsibilities and will advise the Director on UNHCR’s engagement in regional inter-agency processes, as required (e.g. regional economic commissions, regional United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs)). S/he is also responsible for ensuring the Regional Bureau provides timely support to Country Operations on inter-agency and coordination matters, in line with corporate policies, guidance and positions.

The incumbent supervises a team of senior staff in the Bureau and will also be responsible for providing support or guidance to host Governments whenever required on developing comprehensive plans under national leadership setting out policy priorities, institutional and operational arrangements, requirements for support from the international community, including investment.

In the Regional Bureaux, the incumbent is responsible for ensuring, in an effective and efficient manner which supports the Organization’s Mandate, overall quality assurance and managerial support of operations, in line with the Bureau’s 2nd line function, within the three lines of defence conceptual framework for effective control and risk management adopted by the UN system.

S/he will, further, cover the full spectrum of managerial oversight, manage performance and monitor the adherence of Country Operations to UNHCR’s rules and regulations, monitoring, identifying and addressing any emerging issues and risks as appropriate.  The incumbent also promotes a culture that is results-oriented, efficient and based on trust and pursues measures to ensure that inclusion, gender balance and diversity are taken into due consideration in staffing, resource allocation and representation at all levels throughout the region.

As a key custodian of the organization’s standards of conduct, s/he will proactively establish a working environment where all personnel feel safe, heard, equipped and empowered to speak up; demonstrate no tolerance for sexism, gender inequality, discrimination of any kind, abuse of power, harassment or sexual harassment; foster ongoing dialogue on those matters; take seriously all issues of inappropriate behaviour and actions reported, whether formally or informally; and seek guidance and support as necessary to ensure that appropriate follow-up is taken, working on the basis of zero tolerance for any form of misconduct.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties

• Develop, implement, strengthen and monitor UNHCR’s external engagement strategies in the region in alignment with UNHCR’s regional and global strategies, through an inclusive process that ensures buy-in from all stakeholders.
• Ensure consistent and cohesive messaging aligned with the Organization’s strategic and operational plans.
• Ensure that Bureau and Country Operations implement and adhere to UNHCR corporate fundraising priorities and procedures.
• Guide Bureau Director, Representatives and staff in Country Offices in identifying communications challenges and emerging issues in the region.
• Lead government and interagency resource mobilization activities in the Bureau and engage with current and prospective donors, including briefings and missions, to expand the donor base to meet growing needs.
• Develop country or regional strategies to raise locally available funds.
• Provide guidance and support for country or regional strategies to raise locally available funds.
• Provide guidance on and develop funding submissions to local funding sources.
• Ensure and maintain dialogue with donors, providing information and analysis to ensure support.
• Ensure that Country Operations receive support to identify, develop and strengthen development and private sector partnerships that bring additional resources, technical advice, services and technology to refugee-hosting and return areas.
• Develop and implement UNHCR’s regional inter-agency and coordination strategy and advise the Director on UNHCR’s engagement in regional inter-agency processes, as required.
• Lead and launch the Refugee Response Plans (RRPs) and mixed situation response plans, and ensure appropriate participation in Humanitarian Response Plans and processes. Maintain an overview of country level RRPs.
• Ensure an open dialogue and information sharing with NGOs and civil society partners to enlarge UNHCR’s support and tap into complementary resources/ support to refugees.
• Represent UNHCR at external meetings and fora, including inter-agency and international engagements to advance UNHCR's ability to deliver protection, assistance, and solutions to persons of concern to the Organization.
• Champion innovative partnerships meeting the organizational needs in adherence also to UNHCR’s inter-agency commitments.
• Organize annual regional NGO consultations and facilitate events, meetings, conferences, and other events, as requested.
• Explore opportunities for activation of international burden and responsibility sharing tools provided by the Global Compact on Refugees including national arrangements, support platform, regional and sub-regional approaches and Global Refugee Forum.
• Exercise judgement to prioritize media opportunities, and prepare talking points, speeches, presentations and other supporting materials, as needed.
• Provide timely support to Country Operations on inter-agency and coordination matters, in line with corporate policies, guidance and positions.
• Provide required support & training/capacity building of external engagement staff in the region to help streamline external engagement across relevant functions.
• May act as Officer-in-Charge in the absence of the Deputy Director.
• Lead risk assessments and discussions with team(s) to proactively manage risks and seize opportunities impacting objectives. Ensure that risk management principles are integrated in decision-making both at strategic and operational levels. Allocate resources for planned treatments with resource requirements in Strategic Plans. Ensure that risks are managed to acceptable levels and escalate, as needed. If a Risk Owner, designate the Risk Focal Point and certify that the annual risk review is completed and ensure that the risk register is updated during the year, as needed.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level

For P5 - 12 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 11 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 10 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

International Relations;                     Political Science;                              Social Sciences;

Public Administration;                       Journalism;                                       Public Relations;

Digital Communications and Multimedia Studies                                       or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

Not specified.

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Experience in external engagement strategy development. Experience in strategic external engagement with donors, NGOs/civil society, UN agencies, and governments. Track record in communication/media strategies, resource mobilisation, and/or strategic partnership building. Understanding of humanitarian programming and financing and demonstrated ability to effectively advocate.

Desirable

Experience in campaign planning and implementation. Good understanding of the role of the UN in humanitarian emergencies, its agencies and ways of working. Good research, policy analysis and report writing skills. Representation to major program donors in a highly professional manner, in person and in writing. Experience in senior management positions. Clear understanding of the workings of major donor perspectives, requirements and standards. Media relations. Excellent press release, media advisory, spokesperson skills. Ability to build productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Functional Skills

CO-Cross-cultural communication

CO-Strategic Communication

CO-Public Speaking

CO-Preparation of key messages/talking points/speeches                       

CO-Brand Management

CO-Public Information

CO-Journalism (incl. print, broadcast, photography, video, layout & graphics)       

CO-Campaign Tracking

(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements

For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.

For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.

For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

Competency Requirements

All jobs at UNHCR require six core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The six core competencies are listed below.

Core Competencies

Accountability

Communication

Organizational Awareness

Teamwork & Collaboration

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies

Empowering and Building Trust

Judgement and Decision Making

Leadership

Managing Performance

Managing Resources

Strategic Planning and Vision

Cross-Functional Competencies

Analytical Thinking

Political Awareness

Stakeholder Management

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination, and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

The position requires political awareness and analysis in order to advise the MENA Director and senior management on UNHCR positioning, partnerships, external messaging and advocacy opportunities. The incumbent should therefore have strong analytical capacity and ability to forge consensus among diverse internal and external stakeholders. In this regard, experience working within the MENA region is a highly desirable asset.

S/he should have a demonstrated ability to develop donor/ partner engagement strategies, including high-level drafting skills, proficiency in management and analysis of budgets encompassing a diverse range of activities.

The incumbent will supervise an integrated External Relations/ Inter-Agency team and therefore prior experience in successfully managing external relations, donor relations and inter-agency teams is required, ideally with accumulated expertise in these different functions.

To succeed in this position, the incumbent should have proven organizational skills in advocacy and effective stakeholder management with demonstrated experience in strategic external engagement with donors, UN agencies, partners and governments. S/he should have experience in inter-agency systems management in humanitarian or development contexts, including experience in facilitating inter-agency meetings, workshops and planning processes. Experience of working with the Refugee Coordination Model (RCM) is required, while experience of IDP cluster coordination or UNSDCF processes is considered an asset.

In overseeing MENA’s engagement with development partners in the context of the GCR, previous experience in managing such relationships and leveraging data to catalyze the interventions of such partners would be crucial.
The role does not cover Communications functions, which is managed by a dedicated Bureau Communications Unit.

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

The MENA Regional Bureau covers multiple operations as well as several large-scale and complex emergency situations. Within this context, the Bureau sustains regular engagement with a variety of external stakeholders including governments, embassies, media, academia, UN agencies and other international organizations, NGOs, the private sector and persons of concern. The Bureau is also responsible for co-leading at the regional-level the interagency Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP) in response to the Syria crisis - a USD 4.6 billion appeal covering 4 countries and over 200 partners.

 In the area of External Engagement, the Bureau focuses on securing, sustaining and increasing financial and political support for UNHCR and forcibly displaced and stateless people in the MENA region through engagement with external stakeholders, catalyzing the interventions of development partners, guidance to country operations as well as support to a large number of high-level meetings, missions and inter-agency processes related to the 3RP.

 

The Senior External Engagement function in MENA reports directly to the Bureau Director and is supported by, and directly supervises staff, and oversees: 

• Donor Relations;

• Partnerships, including UNHCR’s catalytic role through development partnerships;

• Inter-agency coordination;

• Internal and external reporting.

 

The Senior External Engagement Coordinator provides direct support to the Bureau Director and other senior managers in the Bureau, as well as Representatives and country-level technical staff on issues related to external engagement. 

The Senior External Engagement Coordinator engages with the Division of External Relations and the Division of Resilience and Solutions or any other Bureau or Division to seek guidance and engage on strategic topics, in order to ensure information and knowledge sharing. Supporting the development of regional and functional strategies and priorities in line with UNHCR corporate and regional objectives, through engagement with a wide array of stakeholders and regional actors, s/he will collaborate closely with the other functional pillars in the Regional Bureau and with HQ-based Divisions and deliver strategic guidance of planning and management services to the Bureau and Country operations through relevant technical teams. 

The Senior External Engagement Coordinator defines UNHCR’s resource mobilization and partnerships strategies within the region while simultaneously enhancing the visibility and reputation of country operations’ programme, in order to strengthen UNHCR’s position globally, regionally and/or locally and is responsible for the mobilization of public, political, operational and financial support for the work of UNHCR and comprehensive responses in his/her AOR. 

The Senior External Engagement Coordinator will be responsible for ensuring UNHCR fulfils its coordination lead and responsibilities, while catalyzing the intervention of other partners, in line with its mandate, the Global Compact for Refugees (GCR), the Refugee Coordination Model (RCM), IDP policy and cluster lead responsibilities and will advise the Director on UNHCR’s engagement in regional inter-agency processes, as required (e.g. regional economic commissions, regional UNSDGs). S/he is also responsible for ensuring the Bureau provides timely support to Country Operations on inter-agency and coordination matters, in line with corporate policies, guidance and positions. 

In the MENA Bureau, Communications and Public Information are managed by a separate team, also reporting to the Bureau Director, with whom the Senior External Engagement Coordinator should ensure close coordination, including for integrated fundraising and communications strategies.

Living and Working Conditions:

Jordan has a total population of 9.4 million people. Amman houses 42% of Jordan’s population, 4.008 million, making it the populous city in the country. Amman is categorized as (A) duty station. Several International airlines operate daily flights from Amman (Queen Alia International Airport). The local currency is the Jordanian Dinar and the exchange rate is fixed and equivalent to ( 1 JOD=0.71 USD), Money traders and good local banking system are available.

Jordan is visa free for UNLP holders; however appointed staff must obtain a residency permit. Residency permits and other local protocol remain a challenge due to governmental procedures, subject to frequent changes. The process of obtaining residency in Jordan may vary depending on nationality of applicant, type of contract offered and its length. 

Staff members assigned to Amman are residing in private accommodation. Rent in Amman can vary depending on the size of the property itself, number of bedrooms and the area of Amman in which it is located. Renting a 3-bedroom apartment can range from 1100 – 2500 USD per month.

Food and other commodities are widely available in the local shops and markets.

Amman tends to have a Mediterranean climate; summers are mildly hot, winter usually starts around the end of November and continues until mid-March, there is occasional snowfall.

The medium for teaching in international schools is English, however there are a few French language schools as well. There is a plethora of institutions for children of all ages from pre-school to high school as well universities.

The majority of international educational institutions are in Amman.

Amman is the home to many top-end hospitals and clinics. Due to Jordanian healthcare’s international appeal, nearly all doctors and many support staff speak English. Healthcare here is also very accessible and affordable.
 

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CO-Brand Management, CO-Campaign Tracking, CO-Cross-cultural communication, CO-Journalism (incl. print, broadcast, photography, video, layout & graphics), CO-Preparation of key messages/talking points/speeches, CO-Public Information, CO-Public Speaking, CO-Strategic Communication

Bachelor of Arts: Digital Communications and Media/Multimedia, Bachelor of Arts: International Relations, Bachelor of Arts: Journalism, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science, Bachelor of Arts: Public Administration, Bachelor of Arts: Public Relations, Bachelor of Arts: Social Science

Certifications

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Leadership, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Strategic planning & visions, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Flash Vacancy Notice

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance