Chief of Foundations Section

December 22, 2025

B

FamilyFamily

PR5

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-01-01

Chief of Foundations Section

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Chief of Foundations Section is a strategic leadership position within the Private Sector Partnerships Service (PSP), reporting directly to the Head of Private Sector Partnerships Service.

The incumbent provides visionary leadership and sets the global strategy for UNHCR’s engagement with independent and institutional foundations worldwide. This includes developing, overseeing, and executing a high-ambition global strategy to rapidly scale foundation income, influence, and solutions while ensuring deep, mission-aligned partnerships.

As the principal liaison for foundations, the Chief ensures alignment between donor priorities and UNHCR’s operational needs, working closely with Regional Bureaux, Headquarters divisions, and field operations. The incumbent advises the Head of Private Sector Partnerships Service and other senior leaders on foundation trends and global philanthropic developments.

The Chief oversees a global team managing or co-managing UNHCR’s largest foundation partnerships and ensures excellence in strategic development, cultivation, and stewardship for this critical donor segment. The incumbent collaborates with regional PSP teams, UNHCR’s national associations, PSP markets, and operational colleagues to align partnership efforts with UNHCR’s strategic and programmatic priorities.

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

Global Foundations Strategy and Growth

• Develop, lead, and implement the ambitious global strategy and multi-year workplan for foundation partnerships, explicitly targeting accelerated income growth and diversification of the foundations portfolio in line with the PSP Global Strategy and the Private Sector Engagement Strategy.

• Establish and drive global income targets and performance indicators for the Foundations Section, overseeing annual planning and monitoring the execution of high-value, multi-country engagements.

• Oversee the global pipeline of priority foundations, ensuring robust research, due diligence, and strategic cultivation for securing multi-year, multi-million-dollar commitments.

• Represent UNHCR in high-level donor engagements, inter-agency coordination mechanisms, and philanthropic networks.

• Speak on behalf of UNHCR at public events, conferences, and forums to promote collaboration and showcase impact.

• Monitor trends in global philanthropy to identify new partnership opportunities and inform strategic planning.

• Ensure that foundation collaboration contributes to UNHCR’s operational priorities, adheres to donor reporting and compliance requirements, and strengthens UNHCR’s visibility and credibility as a trusted humanitarian partner.

• Standardize and promote best-in-class tools, resources, and donor products specifically tailored to the unique interests and requirements of institutional foundations across the global PSP network.

• Lead the cultivation and stewardship of the most significant, strategically important, and high-value foundation partnerships at the global level.

Internal and External Alignment

• Serve as the strategic focal point and advocate for foundation partnerships across UNHCR's Headquarters divisions and Regional Bureaux, ensuring their buy-in and proactive engagement in developing field-ready proposals.

• Work closely with UNHCR programme and technical leads at HQ, Regional Bureaux, and Country Offices to translate major operational needs into compelling, high-impact, and large-scale programmatic opportunities suitable for major foundation funding.

• Oversee the development of transformational and value-driven proposals and impact reports for foundation partners.

• Represent UNHCR at high-level external fora, global philanthropic summits, and donor meetings to elevate the organization's profile within the foundation community.

• Ensure that foundation partnerships are established in compliance with UNHCR's ethical, due diligence, and risk management standards, particularly for complex, long-term investments.

Team Management and Leadership

• Manage, mentor, and guide the Foundations Section, fostering a culture of high performance, innovation, and philanthropic expertise.

• Function as the organizational knowledge hub on global foundation trends, compliance requirements, and successful giving models, ensuring this expertise is disseminated to PSP colleagues and relevant UNHCR staff globally.

• Ensure effective and efficient use of the Foundations Section budget and resources to maximize Return on Investment (ROI) and impact aligned with fundraising targets.

• 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

Marketing;                          Business Administration;                  International Relations;

Law;                                    Social Sciences;                               or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

Not specified.

(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

International experience in foundation fundraising, private sector partnerships, or external relations, with a proven track record of securing and managing multi-million-dollar grants from major international foundations. Extensive experience in resource mobilization, partnership management, or external relations at the international level. Extensive experience working in the field, interacting with host governments, local civil society, refugee-led organisations, NGOs, INGOs and inter-agency frameworks. Demonstrated ability to translate operational and programmatic priorities into fundable partnership opportunities, working closely with technical and field colleagues. Experience developing concept notes, proposals, and results-based reports that articulate impact in alignment with donor interests and organizational strategy. Solid understanding of results-based management, the humanitarian programme cycle, and multi-sectoral response frameworks, preferably gained through direct collaboration with or within field operations.

Desirable

Proven understanding of UNHCR’s operational priorities, programming cycles, and reporting requirements for foundation donors. Experience working with leading global philanthropic foundations (e.g., Mastercard Foundation, OSF, etc.). Familiarity with the UN system, humanitarian assistance, or development cooperation. Experience with innovative philanthropic mechanisms such as pooled funds, impact philanthropy, and catalytic giving.

Functional Skills

Not specified

 (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 6 core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The 6 core competencies are listed below.

Core Competencies

Accountability

Communication

Organizational Awareness

Teamwork & Collaboration

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies

Empowering & Building Trust

Judgement & Decision Making

Strategic Planning & Vision

Leadership

Managing Performance

Managing Resource

Cross-Functional Competencies

Negotiation & Conflict Resolution

Analytical Thinking

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 ideal candidate brings deep experience in managing strategic partnerships with leading global foundation partnerships, and a proven ability to secure and manage complex, multi-year grants. They have a strong grasp of UNHCR’s operational priorities and understand how foundation funding can drive impact across sectors such as protection, education, livelihoods, and inclusion. The candidate is adept at aligning programmatic needs with donor interests, ensuring high-quality proposals, implementation oversight, and timely reporting. They are comfortable engaging directly with senior leaders, representing UNHCR in international and inter-agency forums, and advising colleagues across headquarters and the field. Combining strategic vision, programmatic literacy, and credibility within the philanthropic community, the candidate will strengthen UNHCR’s position as a partner of choice for global foundations.

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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:

UNHCR’s Private Sector Engagement (PSE) Strategic Framework 2025–2033 calls for a bold expansion of partnerships that deliver Solutions, Income, and Influence. From a current baselineof USD 700M in 2025, UNHCR aims to mobilize USD 2 billion annually in financial and non-financial value by the next decade. 
Within the Division of External Relations (DER), the Private Sector Partnerships Service (PSP) drives this effort, fostering collaboration with companies, foundations, and philanthropists across nearly 30 markets worldwide. 
The Foundation team reports directly into PSP Head of Service and work in close coordination with local and regional PSP colleagues, regional bureaux, Representatives, National Association Partners, and field operations. The unit supports a coherent and coordinated approach to foundation engagement and the management of high-value partnerships with foundations across markets. Close collaboration with the field is essential to ensure alignment with operational priorities, provide insight into programme design and impact, and strengthen reporting and stewardship expectations from major foundations.
Operating at the intersection of income generation, advocacy, innovation, and shared-value solutions, the unit positions UNHCR as a trusted partner for leading foundations and ensures that foundation partnerships contribute meaningfully to the PSE growth trajectory.

Living and Working Conditions:

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts: Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts: International Relations, Bachelor of Arts: Law, Bachelor of Arts: Marketing, 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, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational 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