Partnerships Manager (Foundations), P-4, Fixed Term Position, Rome, Italy Private Fund Raising and Partnerships, #00121602

UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund; Roma; On-site; EUR 78,000 - 103,000; Part time

Job summary

UNICEF in Rome seeks a Partnerships Manager (Foundations) to lead the implementation and ongoing development of the Global Foundations Strategy. You will secure, grow and deepen high-value partnerships to leverage financing, influence, and expertise for children.

This role works across UNICEF HQ, regions, and national committees to shape new business opportunities and strengthen existing collaborations. Required are a Master’s degree in a relevant field, 8+ years in foundations and partnership

Qualifications

• Education requirement: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in a relevant field.
• Work Experience: 8+ years in foundations, grants, partnerships, programming, communications or project management.
• Skills: proven ability to develop and implement partnership strategies.

Responsibilities

• Drive UNICEF’s Global Foundations Strategy implementation and growth of high-value partnerships.
• Coordinate with UNICEF HQ, regional/ country offices, National Committees and Centres of Excellence.
• Identify, negotiate, secure and manage complex partnerships valued at USD 10 million+ at global level.
• Adapt partnership approaches to changing external environments and advocate for foundation engagement models.

Skills

Partnership development

Strategic engagement

Communication

Influencing

Project management

Education

Master’s degree (International Development / Public Administration / Business Management)

Bachelor’s degree + 2 years relevant experience

Job description

Partnerships Manager (Foundations), P-4, Fixed Term Position, Rome, Italy Private Fund Raising and Partnerships, #00121602

Job no: 595667
Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment
Duty Station: Rome
Level: P-4
Location: Italy
Categories: Partnerships

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 Calling

How can you make a difference

As Partnerships Manager (Foundations), you will drive the implementation and continued development of UNICEF’s Global Foundations Strategy, helping to secure, grow and deepen high-value partnerships that leverage financing, influence and expertise for children. Working across UNICEF headquarters, Regional and Country Offices, National Committees and Centres of Excellence, you will shape new business opportunities, strengthen existing partnerships, guide strategic engagement and introduce innovative approaches that respond to evolving trends in philanthropy and social financing.

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

• Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in International Development, Public Administration, Business Management, Communication, or another relevant technical field.
  A Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in a relevant area combined with 2 additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• Work Experience: At least 8 years of progressively responsible professional work experience in or with a combination of the following is required: private foundations and/ or public or private grant‑making bodies or organizations, partnership development, programming, communications, and project management.
• Skills: Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing partnership strategies is required.
• Demonstrated experience identifying, negotiating, securing, developing, growing and managing complex, high‑value strategic partnerships with foundations or other institutional/ technical partners in an international context, is required.
• Proven track record of securing and managing partnerships valued at USD 10 million or more at the global level, is required.
• Demonstrated experience working across complex organizational settings and coordinating diverse stakeholders, is required.
• Strong communication and influencing skills, is required.
• Proven experience adapting partnership approaches in response to changing external environments, is required.
• Demonstrated understanding of foundation engagement models and partnership development practices, is required.
• 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.
• Direct experience working with Foundation partners and familiarity with UNICEF programmes, is an asset.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

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

The 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

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.

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 candidates 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: 11 Sep 2026 W. Europe Daylight Time
Deadline: 25 Sep 2026 W. Europe Daylight Time