Senior Programme Management Assistant

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Office of ECLAC in Brasilia. The Programme Management Assistant reports to the Chief of Section. The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean is one of the five regional Commissions of the United Nations. It was founded in 1948 with the purpose of contributing to the region’s economic and social development. Its mission includes the design, monitoring and evaluation of public policies and the provision of advisory services, expertise and training to Governments, as well as support for regional and international cooperation and coordination activities. 

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority and depending on location, the Programme Management Assistant may be responsible for the following duties:

• Independently provides full range of programme/project management and implementation assistance at all phases of the programme/project cycle for, typically, a large and highly complex component of the departmental programme/project initiatives, seeking guidance only in exceptional circumstances.
• Researches, compiles, analyses, summarizes, and presents basic information/data on wide range of programmes/projects and related topics, highlighting noteworthy issues/trends for consideration by appropriate parties.
• Tracks resolutions and other legislative decisions that affect programme/project content and oversees the preparation of the relevant database(s) to ensure the incorporation of programmatic and other changes enacted by legislation.
• Reviews, appraises and revises, as necessary, all submissions for substantive programmes/projects, ensuring compliance with guidelines and programme/project objectives; identifies problems/issues, seek clarification from departments, assess replies, and prepares a summary for the manager with suggestions for further action.
• Works with funding agencies in arranging financing modalities; obtains requisite clearances; ensures establishment of proper monitoring systems through scheduled reporting, review meetings and missions.
• Drafts budget and forecast based on submissions; prepares monitoring checklists, identifying stages of programme/project development, funding source, inputs by reviewing internal and external bodies, and follow-up actions required.
• Monitors budgetary commitments, including verification of charges and obligation documents in Umoja for all financial transactions; prepares periodic budget revisions and ensures appropriate resource allocations; reconciles accounts with amended budget; evaluates trends of financial implementation and makes necessary recommendations to line manager.
• Prepares reports on programme/project-related activities; drafts inputs for a wide range of documents/reports, briefings/debriefings, correspondence, etc.
• Serves as focal point for coordination, monitoring and expedition of implementation activities and participates in programme/project evaluation; monitor implementation at all stages to ensure work is proceeding according to established plans, including analysing implementation difficulties and initiating remedial action; liaises with diverse organizational units to initiate requests; prepares standard terms of reference against programme/project objectives, obtains necessary clearances, processes and follows-up on administrative actions and resolves issues related to project implementation, e.g. recruitment and appointment of personnel, travel arrangements, organization of and participation in training/study tours, authorization of payments, disbursement of funds, procurement of equipment and services, etc.
• Arranges for formal closures of projects, final budget revision, transfer of equipment, clearance, publication and distribution of final report.
• Provides secretariat services to committees, ad hoc tasks forces, etc.; drafts and circulates agenda notes to members/participants; assembles background documentation; drafts minutes of the meeting; monitors follow-up actions, etc.
• May undertake mission/field work in support of above activities, e.g. specific administrative, operational/control tasks for programme/project activities.
• Establishes internal databases; sets up, files, stores and manages data and information relevant to the scope of programme/project activities.
• Supervises office support staff, including distribution and review of work assignments, training, and inputs to performance evaluation.
• Supports the Raul Prebisch Library, including record keeping, library circulation functions and assistance with completeness of UN print and electronic documents collection.
• Assists the Office with communication (including relationship with press and media) and liaison with a wide range of stakeholders, including the UNCT and governmental authorities in Brazil.
• Assists with the collection and analysis of data as well as preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision making.
• Assists with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Job – Specific Qualification

• Technical or vocational certificate in programme and/or project management is desirable. Formal training in international cooperation projects is desirable.

Work Experience

• At least ten years of experience in programme or project administration is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to eight (8) for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher. At least seven years of experience in international technical cooperation with the government of Brazil is required. Prior experience with project management in the United Nations system is desirable. 1 year or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of Spanish is desirable. Fluency in Portuguese is desirable.

Source: https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/240003?language=en