Benefits Assistant

Contract

This is a G-5 contract. This kind of contract is known as General Service and related categories. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education. More about G-5 contracts.

Org. Setting and Reporting This position is located in the Operations, Coordination and Liaison Unit (OCLU) of the Operations Support Section (OSS), within the Operations Service of the Pension Administration / United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund.

OCLU ensures the liaison between the Fund and the Member Organizations at the operational level, provides regular training to Member Organizations’ Pension Focal Points and Staff Pension Committee Secretariats on the Fund’s processes. OCLU administers the participation process as it relates to electronic data exchanges between the Fund and its Member Organizations, including Human Resources interfaces, data quality assurance, interaction with the employing offices on missing separation documentation, management and follow-up of the non-actionable and Human Resources data feed workflows.

The incumbent reports to the Chief of OCLU under the overall guidance of the Chief of OSS.

Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the Benefits Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:

•Screens and sorts all incoming communications and forwards to appropriate team/individual. •Provides information to individual participants and retirees/beneficiaries as well as administrative staff of member organizations of the Pension Fund with respect to participation, entitlements and benefits, including validation, restoration and all benefit options available. •Drafts routine correspondence and responds to telephone enquiries in connection with pension enquiries. •Undertakes necessary research in order to provide accurate information ensuring response conforms to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the Pension Fund, and contacts appropriate member organizations to resolve issues. •Assists in the determination of eligibility and enrols new entrants. •Monitors and records all changes of status, e.g., family history, change in employment situations. •Originates and updates pension files from enrolment to separation ensuring that all relevant documentation has been received. •Initiates other administrative actions or procedures required by changes in the status of individuals or in the pension plan. •Calculates estimates of future benefit options as well as estimates under the Pension Adjustment System. •Calculates withdrawal/residual settlements, transfer of pension rights and all types of periodic pension benefits, such as retirement, early retirement, disability, deferred retirement, survivors and related benefits, including the application of the Pension Adjustment System. •Reviews documentation required for proof of residence and changes in country of residence to determine eligibility and effective date. •Reviews Certificate of Entitlement signatures to ensure continued eligibility to pension benefits. •Participates in the standardization of procedures and texts for communications originated by the Section •Participates in training activities related to the Section’s work, including the preparation of drafts and training material; compilation of relevant information; and provision of training to individuals outside the Section. •Performs other related duties, as assigned.

Competencies •Professionalism: Knowledge of various employee benefit schemes related to health, life insurance and pension. Knowledge of accounting processes and procedures applicable to the administration of employee benefit schemes. Ability to maintain accurate records, interpret and analyze a wide variety of data. Ability to identify and resolve data discrepancies and other problems. 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.

•Planning& 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.

•Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education High school diploma or equivalent.

Work Experience A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in the area of employee benefit administration, finance or human resources or related area is required. Experience in analyzing and presenting data using MS Excel and MS Office is desirable. Experience within a post-employment benefit scheme is desirable. Experience within the UN common system is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is an advantage.

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

Special Notice Please note that this is a temporary job opening, open to internal as well as external candidates. This position is available through 31 December 2021 with the possibility of extension, which is subject to extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds. The selected candidate is expected to start as soon as possible.

The UNJSPF is an inter-agency body established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1949. The Pension Fund pays benefits in 15 currencies to more than 80,000 beneficiaries who reside in 190 countries, and services more than 130,000 participants who work in the 25 Member Organizations of the Pension Fund.

These positions are 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. Passing the Global General Service Test (GGST) is a prerequisite for recruitment consideration in the General Services and related categories in the United Nations Secretariat. Applicants who have not passed the GGST at the time of application may be invited for the test after submitting an application. Having passed the Administrative Support Assessment Test in English at the United Nations Headquarters, Economic Commission for Africa, Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, United Nations Office at Geneva, United Nations Office at Vienna, International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda or International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia; or the United Nations Accounting or Statistical Assistant Examination at the United Nations Headquarters may be accepted in lieu of the GGST.

Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

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.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side 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.