Org. Setting and Reporting

This post is located in the Central and Southern Africa Division of the Department of Political and Peace Building Affairs, under the direct supervision of the Team Leader of the Great Lakes and Southern Africa Region. The Department of Political and Peace Building Affairs plays a central role in United Nations efforts to prevent and resolve deadly conflict around the world. The Department provides close support to the Secretary-General and his Special Envoys, as well as to United Nations political missions deployed in areas of tension around the world with mandates to help defuse crises or promote lasting solutions to conflict as well as political and executive direction to UN Peacekeeping operations around the world and maintains contact with the Security Council, troop and financial contributors, and parties to the conflict in the implementation of Security Council mandates.

Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Team Leader of the Great Lakes region and Southern Africa the incumbent is responsible for the following duties: – • Providing administrative support to desk officers and senior officials in the Division; • Undertaking necessary administrative tasks such as photocopying; • Assisting the Team in preparing and finalizing various documents such as briefing materials and notes, talking points, personal profiles, and other correspondence; • Researching and updating factual data/statistics, and providing quality assurance of documents being submitted by the Team (e.g. formatting, style); • Drafting responses to routine correspondence; • Handling routine inquiries and process incoming and outgoing correspondence; • Coordinating extensively with service units and liaise with internal team members both at HQ and in the field; • Providing administrative support to the inter-agency task forces and working groups; • Providing administrative support to the visits of the Special Envoy and other visiting senior officials; • Assisting in coordinating and preparing internal and external meetings, tele- and video-conferences as necessary; • Providing administrative support to the preparation of meetings related to the Peace, Security and Cooperation (PSC) Framework, including the Regional Oversight Mechanism; • Maintaining files of rules, regulations, administrative instructions and other related documentation; • Maintaining up-to-date work unit files (both paper and electronic); • Serve as focal point for specific Division-wide administrative tasks under the supervision of the Administrative Assistant Focal Point in the Central and southern Africa Division; • Performing other related work as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of the Organization’s structure, protocol policies and administrative procedures. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work. Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others. Places team agenda before personal agenda. Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. Planning and organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required. Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. Uses time efficiently.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of three years of experience in general office support or related area is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to one for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher. Experience using computer software applications (MS Office applications, Internet Explorer) and project management tools (e.g. UMOJA, Unite Docs, iNeed) is required. Experience providing support to senior officials is desirable. Experience working within UN Secretariat, UN Common System or other international organization is desirable. Experience providing support to field operations is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working knowledge of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. All staff in the General Service and related categories shall be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of each office, irrespective of their nationality and of the length of time they may have been in the country. A staff member subject to local recruitment shall not be eligible for the allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment. Applicants who have reached the mandatory age of separation are not eligible to apply for job openings. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

United Nations Considerations

According to 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. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

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.