Job Opening
Job Opening ID: 226001
Job Network : Economic, Social and Development
Job Family : Programme Management
Category and Level : Internship, I-1
Duty Station : NEW YORK
Department/Office : Department of Operational Support
Date Posted : Jan 26, 2024
Deadline : Mar 1, 2024

Work Location
In-person in New York (full time internship assignment).
Expected duration
We recruit interns for assignments of at least 3 months. Please note that start and end dates are flexible:

• Summer (May/June 2024 to August/September 2024)
PLEASE NOTE: We are seeking interns who are available for our Summer 2024 session. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with the aim of finalizing a selection by mid-March 2024. We encourage eligible candidates to apply as soon as possible.
Duties and Responsibilities
Org. Setting and Reporting

The mission of the United Nations Department of Operational Support (DOS) is to help Secretariat entities, including peace operations, departments, and offices, succeed by providing rapid, effective, efficient, and responsible support services. Its core services include supply chain management, operational human resources management, health-care management, support for uniformed capabilities, support to entities in special situations, information and communications technology (ICT) support, and UNHQ facility management.

A core role of the Division for Special Activities (DSA) is to lead the Department’s efforts to further review, develop, and enhance the UN Secretariat’s global operational support architecture, in partnership with regional commissions, offices away from headquarters, and peace operations. Within DSA, the Resource Planning and Analysis Section (RPAS) focuses on continued change management efforts and cross-functional enhancements to increase the integration, harmonization, improvement, and simplification of operational support at various levels and across all stakeholders, including the wider UN system.

More information on the work of the team can be found in the Secretary-General’s report on Improving service delivery in the United Nations: development of the Secretariats’ global operational support architecture (A/78/391)

The internship is unpaid and full-time. Interns work four to five days per week (20 to 35 hours), with supervision and support of a staff member. We also can consider part-time or remote internship modalities.

Responsibilities:

The intern(s) will contribute to Section’s project assignments in various areas that may continue to evolve over time. Intern(s) will also have opportunities to learn about the United Nations overall.
Area 1: Strategic and Project Support
• Help gather and analyze information on key resources and standards across functional areas and entities;
• Help monitor the progress of key service improvement efforts and identify innovations in service delivery across the Secretariat;
• Provide support on other key programmes or projects – including the data analysis and visualization of datasets; and
• Support the design, drafting, and implementation of other service improvement initiatives.

This area resembles consulting-like work, and draws on conceptualization, PowerPoint, and project management skills.

Area 2: Analytics on Operational Performance
• Support the team in operational performance setting, including data preparation;
• Help develop surveys, data models, dashboards, and visualizations; and
• Support data optimization, metrics development, and predictive analysis.

Area 3: Communications and Design
• Support the development and implementation of larger communication strategies and efforts;
• Design core products that help share the progress and success of service improvements across the Secretariat;
• Design and prepare content/copy for briefings, presentations, fact sheets, snapshots, articles, and other internal and external communications materials;
• Support the development of a platform to highlight and disseminate innovative practices across the Secretariat; and
• Provide design support across a range of print and online products.
This track resembles consulting-like work, and draws on conceptualization, PowerPoint, and graphic design / web design skills.
Qualifications/special skills
We are open to a broad range of educational backgrounds. Typically, our interns are pursuing studies in the following areas:

Area 1: Strategic and Project Support
We seek candidates with relevant coursework in Business Administration, Management, Strategy Development, Project Management, Operations Research, or Public Administration

Area 2: Analytics on Operational Support
We seek candidates with relevant coursework in Computer Science, Economics, Statistics, Operations Research, Engineering, Mathematics, Data Visualization or Analytics

Area 3: Communications and Design
We seek candidates with relevant coursework in Communication, Journalism, International Relations, Web Design, Graphic Design, Data Visualization, Marketing

Please note that to qualify for an internship with the United Nations Internship Programme, applicants must meet the following requirements:

1) Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
(a) be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
(b) be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s degree or equivalent); or
2) Be computer literate in standard software applications, especially MS Excel, and ideally also SAP;
3) Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter; and
4) 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.

Candidates for our internship positions are not required to have significant professional experience, though it can be an advantage if you have interests, skills and knowledge in the areas below:

Area 1: Strategic and Project Support
• Keen interest in strategy development and management
• Interest or experience in data-driven decision-making, continuous improvement, innovation
• Knowledge of project management techniques and approaches
• Strong knowledge of key business tools (e.g. Excel, PowerPoint)
• Experience with working in strategy consulting-like projects can be an advantage

Area 2: Analytics on Operational Performance
• Keen interest in analytics, information management, visualization, and performance management
• Strong knowledge of data management techniques, quantitative analysis, and methods
• Knowledge of key business tools (e.g. Excel, PowerPivot, PowerPoint)
• Knowledge of analytics tools (e.g. Microsoft SQL, PowerBI, SAP Business Objects, Tableau, Qlik)
• Experience in management analytics, visualization, or survey design can be an advantage
Area 3: Communications and Design
• Keen interest in strategic communications
• Strong knowledge of communications platforms and tools
• Strong knowledge of key business tools (e.g. Excel, PowerPoint)
• Experience in developing communications content.
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 advantage. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat.