Marketing Expert - Retainer
- Narrow Requirements: Requirements appear unusually specific: precise experience year requirements; combines specific regional and thematic experience; unusually detailed qualification requirements.
- Short Posting Period (8d): 8 days between posting and deadline — shorter than the typical 2–4 week window for UN professional positions.
Job Highlight
Supports tender processes for marketing service providers.
Works closely with project teams, affiliates, and oversees external companies/service providers to ensure quality, consistency, and timely delivery of marketing outputs.
Support Duration of Assignment & Level of Effort:
The duration of the consultancy assignment will be (12 months maximum).
The consultancy assignment will be implemented based on the operational needs of this assignment.
About the Region
The UNOPS Middle East Region (MR) provides strategic leadership, performance oversight, and support to UNOPS operations across Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and the State of Palestine. MR is responsible for positioning UNOPS as a key development partner in the region through high-level engagement with regional bodies, UN coordination mechanisms, development banks, donors, and intergovernmental organisations. By fostering strategic partnerships and promoting operational excellence, the region supports country teams in delivering sustainable solutions to complex development, peace, and humanitarian challenges.
UN-Habitat, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. It is the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system. The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the United Nations agency for human settlements. UN-Habitat’s mission is to promote transformative changes in cities and human settlements through knowledge, policy advice, technical assistance and collaborative action to leave no one and no place behind. UN-Habitat works through a medium-term strategy approach. It has recently completed the Strategic Plan 2020-2025, and started working on the Strategic Plan 2026-2029, and produced a pre-final draft in February 2025, which introduces a strategic focus for 2026-2029 on: adequate housing, land, basic services for all, including the urgent transformation of informal settlements and slums.
With the aim of achieving impact on peoples’ lives, and to focus on sustainable urbanization, the new strategic plan for 2026-2029, adding value to the efforts of the United Nations and the broader multilateral system, seeks to address global challenges mirrored by three impact areas: a) equitable and inclusive prosperity for poverty eradication; b) preparedness, response, recovery and reconstruction; and c) environment and climate action.
As part of its crucial humanitarian and development work worldwide, UN-Habitat presents concrete examples of its engagement with partners working in the field of transport planning, service delivery and urban safety monitoring. Moreover, in humanitarian contexts UN-Habitat has been coordinating GIS and data-science based urban and neighborhood profiling in order to prioritize short-term humanitarian interventions and longer- term urban recovery efforts.
About the Project Office
The QUDSI-R4R project, funded by the European Union (EU), spans over a 5-year timeline with an overall objective of improving the socio-economic conditions for Palestinians in the Old City of Jerusalem (OCJ). This project builds upon the foundations that were laid by a previous EU-funded project; the Rehabilitation of Dar Al-Consul into a Residential and Civic Center, which spanned 8 years and shared similar rehabilitation and urban regeneration objectives.
The QUDSI-R4R project aims to rehabilitate historical sites towards revitalizing them, serving as a catalyst for Palestinian-integrated urban regeneration. This objective will be achieved by making progress against three main outcomes, focusing on:
Strengthening Palestinian coordination over the planning and implementation of rehabilitation projects in the Old City, leading to the development of a more coherent Palestinian vision for integrated urban regeneration in Jerusalem.
Improving access to sustainable employment, fostering resilience, and enhancing the urban environment for Palestinians in the Old City of Jerusalem. This stands as the rehabilitation of the local properties entails facilitating the establishment or expansion of viable Palestinian businesses, in addition to widening the planning scope to include adjacent surroundings, such as residential units (for lodging purposes) and public spaces.
Attracting more visitors to the Old City, increasing the share of urban regeneration-related revenues for the local Palestinian economy, and creating opportunities for entrepreneurship. This will be spearheaded through the use of innovative new technologies that will open up new and exciting opportunities to showcase the historical, religious, and cultural significance of the Old City, as well as engage a wider audience.
Building on QUDSI-R4R’s rehabilitation and integrated urban regeneration objectives, the Business Development track is designed to ensure that rehabilitated assets and supported initiatives in Jerusalem’s Old City transition from capital investments into economically viable, self-sustaining operations. The track focuses on strengthening the operational capacity, financial performance, and market positioning of selected sites, facilities, and local enterprises, enabling them to generate stable revenues, create employment opportunities, and contribute meaningfully to the local Palestinian economy. By embedding business development considerations within the rehabilitation process, the project ensures that physical restoration is directly linked to long-term socio-economic impact.
The Business Development track supports this objective through the development of market-responsive business models, procurement of operational equipment and capital assets, and the professionalization of management and service delivery systems. It facilitates value-chain integration by organizing rehabilitated sites and supported initiatives within a hub-based operational framework, where different functions, services, and programs are coordinated to complement, reinforce, and promote one another. This integrated approach enables shared use of spaces, joint programming, and cross-promotion across initiatives, fostering operational efficiencies and stronger collective visibility. Through this model, QUDSI-R4R enhances the capacity of Palestinian institutions and enterprises to compete within the Old City’s tourism and cultural economy, increases the local retention of regeneration-related revenues, and strengthens resilience by diversifying income streams and reinforcing local entrepreneurship.
Job Specific Context
As part of the Business Development and Economic Empowerment Track under the QUDSI-R4R project, UN-Habitat aims to strengthen the market positioning, visibility, and commercial performance of project-supported affiliates and initiatives in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Within this framework, the project will support selected affiliates through the development of high-quality marketing materials, tools, and systems to enhance their ability to attract customers, communicate their value proposition, and generate sustainable revenues.
This role is a technical marketing support assignment focused on the design, procurement, development, and delivery of tangible marketing outputs. The assignment will follow a structured approach whereby the Marketing Expert will:
Assess marketing needs and define a prioritized marketing support package for each affiliate.
Identify and select relevant items from a broader list of potential marketing outputs (physical, digital, and multimedia), based on budget and strategic priorities.
Prepare procurement-ready tender documentation for the recruitment of external companies/service providers responsible for implementation.
Oversee and supervise the work of contracted companies/service providers.
Ensure quality, consistency, and compliance of all outputs.
Coordinate final delivery and handover to project affiliates.
The Marketing Expert will act as the technical lead, ensuring that all marketing outputs are market-driven, professionally executed, and aligned with the affiliate’s business model and target audience, while external service providers will be responsible for the actual production and development.
Role Purpose
The Marketing Expert will be responsible for leading the end-to-end technical process for the development of marketing support packages, including scoping, procurement preparation, supervision of development with service providers, and final delivery.
The role aims to ensure that all marketing outputs are strategically aligned, technically sound, production-ready, and effectively implemented, contributing to improved visibility, customer engagement, and revenue generation for project-supported affiliates.
Functions / Key Results Expected
Marketing Needs Assessment & Scope Definition
The consultant shall assess the marketing needs of selected affiliates and define a prioritized marketing support package.
Expected Outputs:
Identification of priority marketing needs per affiliate.
Selection & prioritization of marketing outputs based on business needs and budget.
Defined scope of marketing package and deliverables.
Consolidated list of selected marketing items with technical descriptions.
Concept Development & Technical Direction
The consultant shall lead the conceptualization of selected marketing outputs and define their technical and functional requirements.
Expected Outputs:
Concept notes and creative direction for selected marketing outputs.
Defined branding, messaging, and communication approach.
Alignment of outputs with target audience and business positioning.
Initial technical and functional specifications for each item.
Tender Documentation & Procurement Preparation
The consultant shall prepare complete procurement-ready documentation for the recruitment of external companies responsible for developing the marketing outputs.
Expected Outputs:
Detailed Terms of Reference (ToR) / Scope of Work for service providers.
Technical specifications for all selected marketing outputs.
Defined deliverables, timelines, and milestones.
Evaluation criteria and technical requirements for tendering.
Procurement Support & Technical Evaluation
The consultant shall support the procurement process and contribute to the technical evaluation of submitted proposals.
Expected Outputs:
Technical clarifications during tendering process.
Participation in technical evaluation of proposals.
Technical assessment of bidders against defined criteria.
Recommendations for selection of service providers (if needed).
Supervision of Design, Development, and Production
The consultant shall oversee the work of contracted companies to ensure quality and alignment with project requirements.
Expected Outputs:
Review and approval of design concepts and drafts.
Validation of content, branding, and visual outputs.
Ongoing technical guidance to service providers.
Monitoring of progress against timelines and deliverables.
Quality assurance throughout development process.
Technical Specifications & Production Oversight
The consultant shall ensure that all outputs meet production-ready standards and comply with approved specifications.
Expected Outputs:
Verified print-ready and production-ready files.
Validation of materials, formats, and technical specifications.
Quality control checks for manufactured and printed items.
Compliance with branding and quality standards.
Delivery, Handover, and Final Validation
The consultant shall oversee the final delivery and handover of marketing outputs.
Expected Outputs:
Completed marketing materials (physical, digital, multimedia).
Final validation of outputs against approved specifications.
Handover documentation and usage guidance.
Consolidated summary of delivered outputs.
Deliverables:
D1: Marketing needs assessment and prioritized list of selected marketing outputs per affiliate.
D2: Concept notes and technical/functional descriptions for selected marketing outputs.
D3: Complete tender documentation (ToR, technical specifications, evaluation criteria, deliverables).
D4: Technical support to procurement, including evaluation of proposals and selection recommendations.
D5: Supervision and quality assurance of service providers, including validation of design, content, and production outputs.
D6: Final delivery and handover of completed marketing outputs, including confirmation of compliance and final summary report.
Skills
Competencies
Education Requirements
Required
Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business Administration, or a related field or related fields with 7 years of relevant experience
Desired
A Master’s degree in Marketing or Business Administration (MBA) is desired.
Experience Requirements
Required
Minimum of 7 years of relevant work experience
Demonstrated experience in:
Developing and overseeing marketing materials and campaigns.
Content development, messaging, and storytelling for marketing purposes.
Creative design direction and supervision of visual outputs (branding, layouts, digital and print materials).
Working with marketing agencies, designers, and production suppliers.
Preparing technical specifications and tender documentation.
Supervising service providers and ensuring quality delivery.
Experience working with SMEs, cultural initiatives, tourism, or retail sectors is required.
Desired
Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country is desired.
Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired.
Experience working with donor-funded projects, international organizations, NGOs, or development programs is desired.
Experience in East Jerusalem or similar contexts is desirable
Language Requirements
| Language | Proficiency Level | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Arabic | Native | Required |
| English | Fluent | Required |
Additional Information
- Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
- Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
- Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
- Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
- UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
- UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience requirements outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to considering all candidates in a fair and transparent manner, and we value diverse perspectives and experiences, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals with diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
- We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.
Terms and Conditions
- 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 (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here [link removed].
- For more details about the contract types, please click here. [link removed]
- All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
- It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.
