Expected duration
6 months – Desired star date : May / June 2024
Duties and Responsibilities
This position is located in the Special Assessments Section (SAS), Staffing Service (SS), Human Resources Services Division (HRSD), Department of Operational Support (DOS). The Department of Operational Support (DOS) was established to provide end-to-end operational support, advisory services and other solutions to operating entities across the Secretariat, including departments, offices away from headquarters, peace operations, and regional commissions. The Human Resources Services Division (HRSD) provides dedicated services in support of human resources requirements of client entities, from process development through service delivery. The Division establishes and manages rosters across all job families, organizes testing and examinations, provides operational support and other advisory service for clients for the full spectrum of their delegated authorities, and supports managers and business partners in the use of non-staff personnel. The Staffing Service (SS) offers expertise in the areas talent acquisition and innovation, testing and examinations, in addition to operational workforce planning and Organizational design across UN Secretariat entities. This integrated approach enables the Service to provide cohesive guidance and includes the regular review of staffing requirements against models and benchmarks. This ensures appropriate linkage of the dynamic operational needs of clients with multiple staffing programmes to anticipate vacancies, required skills and potential candidate requirements while ensuring consistency for client entities. This integrated approach is designed to enable entities to meet their targets in regards to the provision of an effective and efficient recruitment process with due consideration for various facets including gender and geographic representation as well as troop and police-contributing countries. The Special Assessments Section (SAS) is responsible for the development and administration of various competitive examinations and tests used for talent selection. It is responsible for the United Nations Secretariat flagship assessment, the Young Professionals Exam. This opportunity is designed for an intern to work on different phases of pre-employment assessment at the United Nations. Interns will be assigned to specific projects based on individual backgrounds and preferences. A variety of projects centered on psychometric test development and administration activities are currently on-going. Depending on the assignment, project tasks may include the following: • Provide support in the administration of various examinations managed by the Special Assessments Section, including Language Proficiency Examinations, the Young Professionals Programme and the Global General Service Test; • Schedule and coordinate test administration, including in-person or internet-based; • Conduct item writing and review; • Compile and analyse examinations-related quantitative data; • Manage large sets of data (e.g., item bank); • Administer and analyse surveys; • Draft communication for informative purposes for candidates, hiring departments, Member States; • Engage with a wide variety of UN managers to make sure their needs are met during the testing process; • Support process improvement projects (e.g., test content, test format, communication plan); • Support outreach and communication activities in social media, and • Other administrative tasks and projects as needed.
Qualifications/special skills
To qualify for an internship with the United Nations Internship Programme, the following conditions must be met: Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: (a) be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); (b) be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent) Applicants must also: – Be computer literate in standard software applications, especially MS Excel; – Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter; and – Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views. – Preference will be given to applicants with an educational background in Industrial/Organizational/Occupational Psychology, Human Resources and Quantitative Methods. No working experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme. Your training, education, advance course work or skills should benefit the United Nations during your internship.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an asset. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat.
Additional Information
Visa and Work Authorization Mandatory Requirements: For internships in the United States of America, interns who are not United States citizens, permanent residents or on another non-immigrant (such as F1 visa) status, will be required to obtain a G4 visa. Interns will be responsible for ensuring that they have a valid visa, and if required, employment authorization (CPT/OPT), allowing them to undertake the internship. Terms of the internship programme: -The minimum duration of this internship is three months which can be extended up to a total period of six months. -Interns are expected to work on a full-time or part-time basis in the entity that has selected them, under the supervision of a staff member at an appropriate level. The working hours will be discussed with your supervisor at the time of the interview. Internships may be undertaken on the basis of flexible working arrangements if: -The receiving entity agrees in writing to accept an intern on the basis of flexible working arrangements. -Interns agree that they are required to work the equivalent of a minimum of at least two months on a full-time basis or four months on a part-time basis in order to receive recognition of service as an intern. An internship under such arrangements must be completed within a six- month period. -A record of attendance shall be maintained by the receiving entity in order to ensure that the intern meets this requirement. -Interns serving in one entity do not have a right to transfer to another entity. -Full provisions related to the conditions and terms of the United Nations Internship Programme can be accessed on the following link: https://undocs.org/ST/AI/2020/1 Potential candidates will be contacted by the Hiring Manager directly for further consideration. A completed online application (Cover Note and Candidate Profile) is required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. The Cover Note must include: -Title of degree you are currently pursuing -Graduation date from your current program -List of IT skills and programmes you are proficient in -List your top three areas of interest/department preferences -Explain why you are the best candidate -Explain your interest in the UN Internship Programme in your Candidate Profile, be sure to include all past work experiences (if any), skills, and three references. Due to a high volume of applications received, only successful candidates will be contacted.
Intern Specific text
Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken, may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.