UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

The Partnerships and Liaison Group (PLG) supports UNOPS efforts to build closer ties with partners across the full spectrum of UNOPS activities.

By forging strategic relationships and working with partners, both in the field and at headquarters, PLG seeks to not only ensure high partners satisfaction with UNOPS project implementation and support, but also to integrate best practices and innovative solutions from experienced non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the private sector into UNOPS operations. The PLG also supports or leads resource mobilization efforts across the organisation. Based in Copenhagen, PLG has active liaison offices in New York, Geneva, Brussels and Washington DC and supports partners such as the World Bank, the European Union, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the United Nations Mine Action Service, the United Nations Environment Programme, the Global Fund, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, national governments, and others.

Tokyo Liaison Office (TLO) aims to develop strategic partnerships with organisations based in Japan. We work with the Government of Japan, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the private sector and NGOs. The office further assists UNOPS operational teams to manage the portfolio funded by Japanese donors.

Under the guidance of the Head of Office, the Intern will be responsible for:

Partnership building:

• Organize and attend meetings with various partners in Japan, including the government counterparts, private sector, NGOs and other UN agencies, and draft minutes of meetings.
• Conduct research to explore potential partnerships with new stakeholders in Japan and make recommendations to the Head of Office.

Research and analysis:

• Conduct research and summarize information on topics such as country data, partner profiles and strategies, UNOPS projects and market trends.
• Review, edit and translate documents assigned by the Head of Office.

Advocacy and public outreach:

• Maintain and update the Tokyo Liaison Office (TLO) website, Twitter account and intranet and serve as a communications focal point in the TLO.
• Liaise with UNOPS Communications Group to analyze TLO’s tweets and make recommendations to the Head of Office.

Coordination support:

• Liaise with UNOPS country offices across the world to monitor Japan-funded projects and ensure timely implementation, reporting and closure.
• Support procurement and payment processes for office maintenance.
• Support missions and event organization, including logistics, preparation of briefing materials and post-event summaries.
• Assist the internal and external reports and publications.
• Manage visibility items such as booklets, fact sheets and envelopes.

Education:

• The applicant must be pursuing a university degree such as Bachelor, Masters or Ph.D. (or the equivalent), or have graduated from such studies within three years prior to the application date of the internship.
• The preferred candidate would have a combination of degrees or pursuing studies in the areas of development studies, public policy and administration, international relations, economics, business, communications, engineering, or other related areas.

Work Experience

• The candidate should also have knowledge of, and experience with, Microsoft Office programs, particularly with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Experience with G suite would be a strong asset.

Languages

• Fluency in English is required.
• Fluency in Japanese is required.
• Fluency in other UN languages, in particular Spanish and French, is an asset.

The Tokyo Liaison Office utilizes teleworking mode as necessary. However, the Intern is expected to be based in the duty station.

Contract type: Internship
Contract level: Internship
Contract duration: 6 months, with possibility of extension maximum up to 12 consecutive months; subject to satisfactory performance and available budget

This internship is not designed to lead to a staff position with UNOPS. Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of the internship.

Interns may be eligible for a monthly stipend from UNOPS provided that they do not receive funds from other institutions. However, they must make their own arrangements for accommodation, travel and necessary visa arrangements.

For more details about UNOPS internships please follow this link:

https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Internships-and-volunteering.aspx

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization – UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.
• Please note that completing all the relevant sections of the applicant profile is essential for the successful screening procedure, and is in the applicant’s best interest.

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.