Programme Associate (GS-6), PG Generation Unlimited New York HQ (Temporary Appointment 364days) # 00129582

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfil their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere. Over the decades, UNICEF has worked to protect the rights of children of all ages — from earliest childhood through adolescence – and will continue to deliver for all children and adolescents under the five goal areas of the Strategic Plan. In recent years, our work to support the unique needs of adolescents has gained momentum, as the challenges facing them have come more sharply into view. The second decade of life is a time of tremendous opportunity – but for far too many adolescents, great risk and increasing challenges.

Building on work across the UN with and for young people, and in line with the UN Youth Strategy, in 2018 UNICEF launched a new global partnership dedicated to expanding opportunities for young people, ages 10-24.  Generation Unlimited (GenU) is centered on finding new ways to ensure that every young person is in school, learning, training or employment by 2030 — with a focus on those in the greatest danger of being left behind, including girls, the poorest, those with disabilities, young people on the move and those affected by conflict and natural disasters. This partnership brings together leaders from governments, UN agencies, the private sector, academia, international and civil society organizations, and young people, and identifies, co-creates, resources and scales-up innovative solutions to expand opportunities for young people. Young people participate meaningfully in the co-creation of solutions, informing, advising and helping implement at every step of the way.

The Girls Education Skills Partnership is an innovative partnership bringing together the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), a range of private sector partners and UNICEF/Generation Unlimited seeking to provide high quality skills training to adolescent girls and young women and connect them to economic opportunities. 

For every child, a voice…

Under the supervision and guidance of GenU’s  Deputy Director (Programmes), the Programme Associate is responsible for executing a broad variety of procedural and specialized tasks for the section, requiring in-depth knowledge of UNICEF procedures, processes and policies for GenU Programmes, including a focus on Girls’ Education Skills Partnership (GESP). These tasks will provide crucial support in budget monitoring, financial expenditures, recruitment and procurement support, human resources, invoice processing, travel coordination and facilitation, meeting coordination and minuting, and other tasks as specified by the supervisor, which will support GenU as well as our public-private GESP partnership.

How can you make a difference?

Budget Monitoring and Reporting

• Monitors budgets and financial expenditures of the team, ensuring compliance with UNICEF rules and regulations, keeping supervisor and other relevant team members informed and advised on actions for decision/follow up.
• Provides support on budget revision/preparation, implementation status, determination position of funding utilization, operational, and financial closure.
• Prepares and maintains records, documents and control plans for the budget monitoring of project/programme implementation.
• Carries out transactions in VISION pertaining the section’s grants, including registering grant allotments and tracking expiring programme grants.

Communications & Workflow

• Facilitates the communications and workflow of the team to enhance the efficiency and timeliness of operations and outputs.
  Communicates routine and some non-routine information pertaining to the work of the team.
  Establishes and maintains the team’s filing and reference systems, both traditional and digital; and ensures the inter/intra-net websites are up to date and accurate.

Calendar/Meetings/Correspondence Management

• Maintains the team’s calendar and arranges meetings
• Takes minutes of meetings, ensuring accuracy, attention to detail and coherence.

Travel

• Provides travel assistance to staff members in the team for travel arrangements and entitlements based on the organization’s rules and policies. Liaises with relevant travel focal points to ensure that the team obtains the best service and price for all travel.
• Briefs/de-briefs staff members on issues relating to related administrative matters such as visas, security clearance, and documentation procedures. 
• Extracts, inputs, maintains, and verifies correctness of travel records in the organization’s travel system to ensure accurate transactions related to travel costs and staff travel.
• Assists in the preparation of budgets on travel costs and maintain travel plan and budgetary control records.
• Monitors travel certification and report back to the team.

Procurement and HR

• Supports in preparing for recruitments including reviewing TORs, collating recruitment packages, supporting on relevant administration, and working with POH/PG-HR on finalizing and issuing contracts. 

Events/Logistics

• Supports the organization of meetings and events by making the necessary logistical arrangements, through engaging with facilitators, caterers and hosts.
• Arranges times through liaising with participants over availability.
• Prepares background materials for participants and uploads cleared materials on the intranet.
• Prepares and maintains agendas on meetings and events related to the team’s commitments.

Invoice Processing

• Responsible for collecting invoices and filing documents for approval and, thereafter processing in VISION.
• Uploads electronic files and verifies results to destination system.
• Responds to client transaction status and other inquiries.

Supplies/Equipment

• Supports management of administrative supplies, office equipment, and updating inventory of items.
• Monitors and supervises adequate and appropriate use of supplies. Ensures that services and maintenance of premises are in accordance with organizational standards.
• Arranges for the purchase and timely distribution of office supplies.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Completion of secondary education is required, preferably supplemented by technical or university courses related to the field of work is required.
• For this position, a bachelor’s degree from a recognized academic institution in a relevant field may replace three years of related work experience.
  * A master’s degree may replace additional two years.
• A minimum of 6 years of relevant administrative services or clerical work experience is required.
• Experience in budget and financial planning, monitoring and management is highly desirable.
• Advanced computer literacy and the ability to effectively use standard office software tools (MS Office, Enterprise database) and other office technology to create documentation, exchange and archive e-mail, and maintain electronic filing systems.
• Proficiency in using SAP/ERP systems (VISION) will be an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children.

All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.