Job Description

CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST - VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT: 2602029

Senior Partnerships Consultant

Job Posting

: 29/Sep/2026

Closure Date

: 13/Oct/2026, 9:59:00 PM

Organizational Unit: LOG - Liaison Office with the United Nations, Geneva

Job Type

: Non-staff opportunities

Type of Requisition: Consultant

Grade Level: N/A

Primary Location

: Switzerland-Geneva

Duration: 11 months with possibility of extension

Post Number: N/A

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture.Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply;Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's valuesFAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checksAll applications will be treated with the strictest confidentialityFAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations. Organizational SettingThe Liaison Office with the United Nations in Geneva is responsible for the liaison with the Government of Switzerland, the country’s civil society and the International Organizations based in Geneva, Switzerland. Considering the presence of a large number of international organizations, Member States and Non-Governmental Organizations, which provides a significant platform for engagement and partnership with key stakeholders, the Liaison Office i) ensures that relevant FAO Governing body decisions and the overall work of the organization are brought to the policy dialogues, mechanisms and relevant discussions in Geneva; ii) promote and raise awareness on FAO’s technical work and activities, among Member States and Organizations in Geneva, and the general public; iii) serve as the focal point for Member States that are accredited to FAO from Geneva.The position is located in Geneva, Switzerland.

Reporting LinesThe incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the Director of the FAO Liaison Office, under the guidance of the LOG Liaison Officer responsible for private sector and partnerships, and in consultation with SFNV management.

Technical FocusIn line with the Organization´s mandate on private sector, support LOG´s sustained dialogue with Swiss federal authorities and development cooperation actors and deepen collaboration with Swiss innovation and private sector ecosystems, dedicating approximately 80% of the incumbent's time to driving and leading the FAO partnership with the Swiss Food and Nutrition Valley (SFNV).In August 2024, SFNV and the FAO signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to strengthen resilience and sustainability of agrifood systems in targeted low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) tthrough the adoption and scaling of locally relevant innovations, contributing to enhanced food security and nutrition, improved food safety, and enhanced livelihoods. In this context, FAO and SFNV have been jointly exploring the establishment of the Swiss–Global Innovation Scaling Partnership. The Partnership is envisioned as a trusted, neutral, multi stakeholder matchmaking platform to connect Swiss and local capabilities with concrete, actionable, field based needs in LMICs.

Tasks and responsibilitiesAct as project lead of the Swiss Global Innovation Scaling Partnership (FAO-SFNV partnership) (Approximately 80%)• Facilitate linkages and dialogue between SFNV management, SFNV corporate members and FAO (including FAO HQs technical units, FAO LOG, and FAO country and subregional offices).

• Engage with SFNV members and with the Swiss agrifood innovation ecosystem (Swiss academic institutions, research institutes, private sector), in close coordination with SFNV and FOAG, to confirm technical and/or financial support of partners and its individual projects.
• Provide technical support to the implementation of the four main areas of cooperation of the Partnership (i) actionable needs identification, (ii) matchmaking, fund raising, co-creation, and partnership development, (iii) implementing: solutions development and deployment, and (iv) Scaling-up and knowledge management.
• Undertake recurrent national travel and occasional international field missions as needed.
• Develop and apply a monitoring, learning and evaluation framework for systematic improving and scaling of the Partnership model, ensuring consistent and sustained impact and potential for replication across different LMICs settings.
• Ensure overall management of the partnership, incl. coordination and supervision of individual project activities across the portfolio, monitoring progress against timelines and budgets, and supporting timely and effective delivery of results.Support LOG in strengthening linkages with the Swiss agrifood innovation ecosystem - including companies, research institutions, academia, and innovation actors - in line with FAO’s Private Sector and Science & Innovation Strategies and in close coordination with FOAG (Approximately 20%)• Promote Swiss agrifood innovation and related opportunities, raising visibility of Swiss capabilities and fostering linkages with international partners, particularly in support of initiatives in the Global South CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements• Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in Agriculture, Food Systems, Economics, Public Administration, International Relations, Political Sciences, Business Administration, Innovation Management or other field relevant to FAO's mandate. A bachelor's degree may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree in combination with two additional years of relevant professional experience.

• At least 10 years of relevant experience in project design and management, partnership development, innovation ecosystems, private sector engagement, resource mobilization and/or international development cooperation.
• Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of one other FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

FAO Core Competencies• Results Focus

• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills• Demonstrated experience in project and partnership management.

• Proven ability to engage and coordinate with governments, international organizations, research institutions, academia, funding institutions/foundations and private sector partners.
• Experience in innovation, agrifood systems and/or international development cooperation.
• Strong analytical, communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Experience in resource mobilization and multi-stakeholder initiatives is an asset.Selection Criteria• Demonstrated experience building and managing multi-stakeholder partnerships involving public, private and development actors
• Experience in agrifood innovation, innovation scaling, public-private partnerships and/or multi-stakeholder platforms would be an asset.
• Experience working with FAO, the United Nations system or other international development organizations would be an advantage.
• Deep knowledge and network within the Swiss Agrifood ecosystem
• Working knowledge of an additional FAO official language would be an asset.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONFAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing)Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO listPlease note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/ For more information, visit the FAO employment websiteAppointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. HOW TO APPLY• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills

• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/. These qualifications should be in alignment with the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) mappings.
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/cspFAO IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT