Office Assistant

​Requisition ID: 4304 
Grade: G5 
Country: Austria 
Duty Station: Vienna 
Category: General Service/Admin. Support 
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: Staff-Full-time
Appointment Type: Fixed Term – 100 series
Indicative Minimum Net Annual Salary: 56,137 EUR 
Application Deadline: 16-Aug-2024, 11:59 PM (CEST)  

Vacancy Announcement
This post is for local recruitment only.
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Organizational Context

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

The Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS) under the overall direction of the Director General, and in close collaboration with all relevant organizational entities within UNIDO, headed by a Managing Director, oversees the Organization’s development of capacities for industrial development as well as industrial policy advice, statistics and research activities and the Organization’s normative contribution to Member States and global development community in achieving the SDGs. The Directorate also ensures the application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to Environment, Energy, SMEs, Competitiveness and Job creation, as well as Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. Through coordination in-house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute toward effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results and on realizing any potential for scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora.

The Directorate houses the technical Divisions of Capacity Development, Industrial Policy Advice and Statistics (TCS/CPS); Circular Economy and Chemicals Management (TCS/CCM); Decarbonization and Sustainable Energy (TCS/DSE); SMEs, Competitiveness and Job Creation (TCS/SME); Montreal Protocol Division (TCS/MPD) and Digital Transformation and AI Strategies (TCS/DAS). The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions as well as with relevant entities in the Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO) and the Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET).

The position is located under the Office of the Managing Director. The Office Assistant works under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Deputy to the Director General and Managing Director of the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS) and in close consultation with the Executive Officer, as well as other relevant colleagues across the Directorate and other organizational entities within UNIDO to support the mandate of the Directorate.

At the G5 level the incumbent is expected to perform independent and specialized processes focusing on consistent service delivery and support services within the organizational environment and team.  His/her interventions result in process consistency.

The UNIDO Staff Performance Management System reinforces the collaboration within formal units as well as among cross-functional teams. In this context, the incumbent collaborates with his/her team and colleagues, in the country as well as in the region and in headquarters.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the Deputy to the Director General and Managing Director, the Office Assistant provides support in the development and administration of the Office of the Managing Director as well as clerical and administrative support and is responsible for the following key functions:

• Cover the tasks of the front office of the Managing Director and coordinate all its administrative matters while keeping track of pending matters, follow-up up with other offices on deadlines, and allow for planning and organization of businesses.

• Screen phone calls, visitors, and incoming mail of the Directorate’s account and coordinate with the front offices of the other Divisions of the Directorate and of the other Managing Directors’ offices, as needed. Draft routine correspondence and respond to complex information requests and inquiries as necessary, and refer queries to appropriate personnel for handling.

• Keep track and process documents for clearance, put them into adequate style, language and format; proofread documents and edit texts for accuracy, grammar, punctuation and style in accordance with standard practices and in compliance with the UNIDO Correspondence Manual.

• Prepare mission folders for the Managing Director, assist in the preparation of materials, routine compilation of inputs from Divisions, creation of monitoring tables, and undertake computer-based searches to support providing background information to assist the Office of the Managing Director.

• Coordinate the transmission of cleared documents to respective Offices for follow-up and/or to the Office of the Director General for appropriate action. Also coordinate with external counterparts in the transmission of communications and/or meeting arrangements, when needed.

• Using SAP, initiate and follow-up on actions related to recruitment of staff, experts, purchase of equipment, payments, security clearances and travel authorizations requests/claims and deal with all related inquiries for the Office of the Managing Director.

• Perform all administrative tasks such as booking and arrangements for meetings and other events, support the office space allocation in the Directorate, make reservations, research for information and reference material. Prepare requests/documents, e.g. requisitions, purchase orders, travel requests/authorizations, expenditure authorizations, visa applications, etc.

• Maintain an up-to-date filing system (both paper and electronic) and databases related to work.

• Carry out ad-hoc assignments and monitoring of activities, as required.

• Perform any other related duties as assigned.

CORE VALUES AND KEY COMPETENCIES

Core Values

WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.

WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.

WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.

Key Competencies

WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.

WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.

WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.

WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS AND DESIRABLE CRITERIA

Education: Completed higher secondary education (high school diploma or equivalent), is required. Formal administrative/secretarial/clerical training or equivalent, is desirable.

Credit towards total working experience may be considered on a year by-year- basis, up to maximum of four years, for a higher degree education (including first university degree or equivalent diploma and/or master’s degree), in a relevant field to the post.

Technical and Functional Experience

• A minimum of eight (8) years of working experience in providing support to managerial/professional staff and using administrative skills to assist in the execution of project and programme development and implementation of work, is required.
• Experience in office procedures and practices, preferably within the UN system or in a multicultural environment, is required.
• Experience/proficiency in using Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint), internet, is required.
• Experience with SAP or similar ERP software, is desirable.
• Experience in covering businesses of primary/front offices or senior management offices, is desirable.

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required.  Fluency and/or working knowledge of another official UN language, is desirable.

NOTE: Eligible internal UNIDO applicants are required to have served at least one year in their current post if applying for a higher-level position. However, the seniority-in-grade requirements for applying for higher-level positions, as per paragraphs 18 and 78 of the HRMF, have been waived.

For further information on salaries, refer to the International Civil Service Commission website: https://icsc.un.org/ 

Employees of UNIDO are expected at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for jobs at UNIDO.

All applications must be submitted online through the Online Recruitment System. Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process. Selected candidate(s) may be required to disclose to the Director General the nature and scope of financial and other personal interests and assets in respect of themselves, their spouses and dependents, under the procedures established by the Director General.