Project Officer (Partnerships & Operations), Local Pathways Fellowship

ABOUT SDSN

The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) has been operating since 2012 under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General. SDSN mobilizes global scientific and technological expertise to promote practical solutions for sustainable development, including the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement. We aim to accelerate joint learning and promote integrated approaches that address the interconnected economic, social, and environmental challenges confronting the world.

ABOUT SDSN YOUTH

SDSN Youth is one of the initiatives of SDSN. It was launched in 2015 with a mission to empower youth globally to create sustainable development solutions. Since then, SDSN Youth is committed to supporting the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data, focusing on outreach of youth communities for raising awareness, capacity building of youth for sustainable development, and advocacy and collaboration.

ABOUT LPF

The Local Pathways Fellowship is a 12-month training program and peer-to-peer learning network that provides young urban innovators with the tools to design and implement programs that champion local pathways to sustainable development. By training and building their capabilities, we hope to empower a generation of youth who will work together with local authorities in planning, building and maintaining cities that are sustainable, inclusive and resilient.

ROLE DESCRIPTION

We are looking for a Project Officer to spearhead the partnership & fundraising efforts in our Local Pathways Fellowship, to help scale the program and increase support for the Fellows. This role falls under the Admin & Management, within the Local Pathways Fellowship team - in which there are 3 pillars:

Content & Training → Training and upskilling our fellows so that they are able to localize SDG 11 in their city.

Visibility & Engagement → Bringing together a peer-to-peer network of young urban leaders and innovators that advance dialogue and demonstrates potential to implement the New Urban Agenda in fellow cities. Increasing LPF´s visibility and ensuring that the voice of young people is heard in international fora .

Admin & Management → Ensure that the program is contributing to the key priority areas, targets and overall goals of SDSN Youth and manage the program operations. Ensures the longevity of LPF. Enable the program to scale.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Operations

• Work closely to develop a fundraising strategy that will enable scaling the program and increasing support to fellows
• Identify opportunities, draft grant applications and submit in coordination with global SDSN Youth leadership team
• Develop sponsorship sales strategy and implement
• Issue monthly progress bulletins

Partnerships

• Developing partnerships strategy
• Managing relationships with existing partners and fostering new partners
• Drafting relevant partnership content

Please note: As a virtual network, it is IMPORTANT for Project Officer to communicate effectively with their respective team. In this vein, Project Officer will be expected to:

• Attend the monthly team calls with the Project Lead, and any other relevant calls with any other team members;
• Ensure effective communication by providing timely responses in internal channels;

QUALIFICATIONS

The Project Officer will be someone who:

• Is driven and can work autonomously, and has impeccable communication skills
• Excels in both high-level and detailed planning.
• Enjoys problem-solving, and work well with people.

Minimum qualifications:

• Have experience in managing multiple stakeholders/partners.
• Have experience in a sales, fundraising, sponsorship, or copywriting position.
• Have professional or volunteer work experience in a team.
• Be a proven team player with excellent interpersonal skills and ability to coordinate and manage workload across several projects/teams.
• Must be responsive and able to manage regular communication with the team - including after-hours conference calls, as the network spans 10 different time zones.
• Be aged between 18-30 in order to be eligible for this role (exceptions may apply).

Preferred qualifications:

• Interest and knowledge in sustainable cities
• Has an interest in sustainable development, be passionate about the mission of the SDSN, including the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on climate change.
• Possesses an excellent command of the English language, including writing, speaking and listening.
• Is able to demonstrate that they have the time and resources to commit to this role – candidates with too many overlapping commitments will be exempt from running for this position.

COMMITMENT

• 10 hours per week

CONDITIONS

• Duration of Position: The first term is 12 months in total, with a 3 months trial period in the beginning. However, subject to review of work performance, this position may be extended on a 12-month basis.
• Location: This position is remote.
• Reporting: This position reports to the Project Leader of the Local Pathways Fellowship.
• Compensation: Voluntary (not paid).
• Training: All Project Officers are required to complete all SDSN Youth online induction courses, including.

BENEFITS

In becoming part of the team as a Project Office, individuals will be responsible for fostering strong interest for the SDGs in order to drive youth-led and youth-focused solutions to the 2030 Agenda. This is an incredibly rewarding role that will enable Project Officers to develop their knowledge, harness their skills, and come across a series of life-changing opportunities that may include:

• Representing SDSN Youth at different levels whenever possible and if appropriate;
• Attending global conferences and decision-making processes whenever possible and if appropriate;
• Engage with key stakeholders from government, NGOs to private sector;
• Build a personal brand around sustainability and the SDGs;
• Work in a multicultural environment and be immersed in a global workplace;
• Receive capacity-building trainings to grow personally and professionally whenever possible;