Job Description

Please note that this vacancy is only open to eligible staff members who have been individually notified of their eligibility to apply for positions advertised in the Accelerated Posting Compendium.

June 12, 2026

A (least hardship)

Family

PR3

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-05-27

External Relations Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
Direct supervision is normally exercised by a Senior External Relations Officer of Representative who provides guidance on the applicable procedures. Advice may also be provided by relevant functional units at HQ. The incumbent may supervise some support staff. External contacts are predominantly with Partners, media, government embassies and other international organizations on matters of importance to the Organization.

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
- Stay abreast of the challenges posed by the political context, the UN and humanitarian reform, and institutional developments in the area of forced displacement and humanitarian operations.
- Assist in the planning of a consultative process with UNHCR colleagues (Programme, Protection, etc.) with external actors and partners, so as to develop and implement protection and assistance strategy, with clearly articulated objectives, timelines and outputs.
- Assist the implementation of a communications strategy that generates support for UNHCR s operations from external partners (e.g. the general public, governments, partners, the media, academia and forcibly displaced and stateless persons).
- Assist in the articulation of all issues pertaining to the needs of the forcibly displaced and stateless persons and the strategies in place to respond to their needs.
- Inform the UNHCR Country Team on the UNHCR priorities so as to ensure that they are given adequate weight in the publications and documentation of the UN Country Team.
- Assist in the dialogue with donors and embassies and provide accurate information by organizing regular briefings, bilateral meetings and missions. Prepare reports as appropriate.
- In accordance with the operational context and in close cooperation with headquarters, propose new and non-traditional funding sources, as appropriate, including private sector and humanitarian pooled/basket funds (e.g. Central Emergency Response Fund, Human Security Fund).
- Through a consultative process with headquarters, disseminate information on UNHCR's global funding situation and mobilize additional funds to implement special projects aimed at enhancing the quality of protection for forcibly displaced and stateless persons in the country operation.
- Participate on behalf of the Representative and other supervisors in inter-agency cooperation and communication strategies, initiatives and tools.
- Support senior management in representing UNHCR in the UN Country Team and other UN coordination fora.
- Support, and participate in, local UN integrated missions, Inter-Agency Standing Committee, Emergency Relief Coordinator and Cluster communication strategies and initiatives.
- Assist in the management of information flows within the country operations by identifying priority matters, securing, analyzing and disseminating documentation and information to support country operations and corporate communication processes and priorities.
- Consolidate information on UNHCR's country operations and identify appropriate messages for campaigns and appeals.
- Assist in the coordination of the drafting of, situation reports, briefing notes, background material, talking points, fact sheets, press releases and articles.
- Assist in the development of targeted communications strategies and media packages for situations and/or activities that require focused attention.
- Propose events and initiatives (e.g. commercial, cultural, political and sports) to promote the work of UNHCR and take action as appropriate.
- Support the management of media relations by, inter alia, responding to direct queries, publishing press releases and organizing regular briefings and visits to country operations.
- On behalf of the Representative, approve fundraising messages.
- On behalf of the Representative, approve any relevant expenditure for the implementation of fundraising activities.
- Propose which donors to approach and which operations or activities to prioritize for special fundraising appeals.
- Implement all aspects of a communications strategy.
- Approve budgets and expenditures for communications activities.
- Clear external relations/communication products and tools as appropriate.
- Represent UNHCR on behalf of senior management in fund-raising and communication priorities in inter-agency initiatives and fora.

- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P3/NOC - 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Political Sciences, Social Sciences, International Relations, Journalism,

or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Experience in humanitarian operations in a field environment.
Excellent knowledge of local institution, politics and culture.

Desirable
Good knowledge of UNHCR operations both at Headquarters and in the Field.
Fund-raising and programming/programme management experience.
Experience of working with social media.

Functional Skills
IT-Web Content Management
IT-Computer Literacy
CO-Drafting and Documentation
ER-Inter-Agency External Relations
(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.

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.

ESSENTIAL
• Substantial relevant professional experience in donor relations, partnerships, or resource mobilization, preferably within an international or UN environment. Proven ability to support the negotiation and management of funding agreements, including multi-year contributions, and to oversee donor reporting and compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated experience in managing relations with government donors and institutional partners, including in highly centralized or politically sensitive contexts.
• Strong drafting and communication skills, with the ability to produce high-quality proposals, donor reports, briefing notes, and visibility materials in English.
• Sound analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to align organizational priorities with donor interests and position UNHCR effectively.
• Ability to coordinate across multiple internal and external stakeholders, including field operations, regional bureaux, and headquarters divisions.
• Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills, with demonstrated experience engaging at senior levels.

DESIRABLE
• Familiarity with Qatar’s institutional landscape, including MOFA, QFFD, and key charitable and semi-governmental organizations.
• Knowledge of the GCC context, including regulatory frameworks governing humanitarian funding and partnerships.
• Experience with Islamic philanthropy and innovative financing mechanisms.
• Working knowledge of Arabic.
• Demonstrated adaptability and ability to perform effectively in a fast-paced and evolving operational environment.

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Arabic

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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:

Qatar is a key strategic partner for UNHCR within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), consistently ranking among the organization’s top donors and providing both earmarked and flexible multi-year contributions through key counterparts such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD).

Under the supervision of the Representative, the External Relations Officer (P3) in Qatar contributes to the design and implementation of UNHCR’s external engagement strategy, with a strong focus on partnership development, resource mobilization, and strategic positioning. The incumbent operates in a highly centralized and relationship-driven environment, requiring sustained engagement with senior governmental counterparts and the ability to position UNHCR as a trusted partner aligned with Qatar’s foreign policy, humanitarian, and development priorities.

The position carries substantial responsibility for managing and expanding strategic partnerships with government entities and national institutions. This includes supporting the negotiation and follow-up of multi-year funding agreements, advancing funding pipelines, and maintaining predictable and flexible contributions in line with UNHCR’s global financing needs. The incumbent ensures effective stewardship of donor relations, including timely and high-quality reporting, compliance with funding conditions, and development of tailored visibility products.

The broader operating environment is influenced by regional geopolitical developments and economic pressures. The recent conflict in the Middle East has had direct economic repercussions for Qatar, including damage to critical liquefied natural gas infrastructure and disruptions to exports, resulting in reduced revenues and increased fiscal pressures. These dynamics, coupled with rising domestic expenditures and shifting national priorities, may impact the volume and predictability of humanitarian funding and necessitate increasingly strategic and results-oriented donor engagement.

In parallel, the global humanitarian financing landscape remains constrained, while the increasing presence of UN entities in Qatar intensifies competition for limited resources. Donors are placing stronger emphasis on value for money, measurable impact, and alignment with strategic objectives, alongside heightened expectations for detailed financial and narrative reporting and high-visibility recognition. In this context, the incumbent plays a critical role in ensuring the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based reporting and in coordinating closely with field operations to demonstrate the impact of funded interventions.

The External Relations Officer (P3) also contributes to advancing UNHCR’s advocacy and visibility in Qatar by supporting engagement with academic institutions, media, high-profile supporters, and national and international platforms hosted in Doha. Strengthening UNHCR’s public positioning and reinforcing its narrative on forced displacement are essential to sustaining partnerships and mobilizing additional support.

In practice, the incumbent’s responsibilities are centered on negotiating and sustaining large-scale government contributions, managing multi-year funding frameworks, advancing pipeline agreements with key partners, and coordinating high-level donor engagement. These functions are carried out in a context of increasing fiscal constraints, heightened donor scrutiny, and growing demand for accountability, visibility, and demonstrable impact, requiring a proactive, solutions-oriented, and strategically minded external relations professional.

Living and Working Conditions:

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts: International Relations, Bachelor of Arts: Journalism, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science, Bachelor of Arts: Social Science

Certifications

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Innovation & creativity, Judgement & decision making, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Teamwork & collaboration

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

Compendium

Accelerated Posting Compendium 2026 - Part B

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance