BENEFITS OFFICER

Contract

This is a P-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 140,639 USD and 184,155 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

Org. Setting and Reporting This position is located in the Client Services and Outreach Section (CSOS), under the Operations Service of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF) Secretariat. The incumbent reports to the Chief of CSOS through the Deputy Chief of CSOS. The goal of CSOS is to provide all participants, retirees and other beneficiaries of the Fund with responses to their inquiries in an accurate, timely and professional manner, with an aim of enabling such individuals to make informed financial decisions concerning their entitlements from the Fund.

Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the Benefits Officer will be responsible for the following duties: (1) Assists in the management of one of the Work Units of the Section by: a. Planning, organizing and overseeing the work and activities of the Unit, including distribution of work, the assignment of short- and long-term priorities and the allocation of staff to meet the priorities; b. Establishing quality and quantity work standards and ensuring they are met; c. Administering and managing participation, separation and post retirement concerns of the staff of UNJSPF member organizations in the respective area of responsibility, including the handling of queries relating to participation, separation, retirement and post-retirement matters of such staff and records management; d. Ensuring consistent and uniform application and interpretation of the Fund’s Regulations, Rules and Pension Adjustment System; e. Ensuring that correct, accurate and prompt advice is given to UNJSPF clients on the application, interpretation and benefit entitlements under UNJSPF Regulations, Rules and Pension Adjustment System; f. Providing staff, participants and beneficiaries as well as organizations with guidance and advice with respect to the financial implications of choices to be made under the UNJSPF Regulations and in other complicated cases. g. Ensuring clear, accurate and efficient records management; h. Recommending to the Chief of Section solutions to problems which require his/her attention; i. Performing all administrative supervisory functions for the Work Unit, including performance appraisals of the Unit’s staff; j. Assisting in the management of UNJSPF Emergency Fund cases and the preparation of the relevant reports. (2) Provides user input to design of new computer subsystems, ensuring that full account is taken of the relevant provisions of the Regulations, Rules, Pension Adjustment System and administrative procedures of the Fund. This includes: a. Providing input to the design of specifications of subsystems; b. Testing the various subsystems and providing corrective information when required; c. Ensuring that subsystems can be used in an efficient way to produce accurate and consistent results. (3) Conducts information sessions and briefings on pension matters to member organizations, participants and beneficiaries, including: a. The formulation of programs and dissemination of related material; b. Preparing and updating relevant publications; c. Updating relevant information on the UNJSPF’s website. d. Planning and delivering the relevant services in the area on pension-related issues to the local participants, retirees and other beneficiaries in close cooperation with the New York office; e. Representing the Fund’s interests in the region; promoting awareness of the Fund and its Regulations, Rules and Pension Adjustment System among participants and focal points in HR and Finance in local member organizations; f. Serving as focal point and first point of contact for all pension matters in the duty station and provide personal assistance to all the Fund’s clients in the region, including replying to the individual enquiries by phone, email, mail or in person, advising on the conditions of participation and related pension entitlements, documentation requirements for benefit implementation, including post-retirement advice on all pension-related matters; (4) Assists in the development, review and issuance of procedures and training programs for the Unit, HR community and/or Pension Focal in local offices serviced by the Fund;. This includes: a. Ensuring that staff become proficient in all areas of work in their unit; b. training staff in correct application of the computer systems; c. Reviewing and evaluating various aspects of the current work, recommending to the Chief of Section changes to policies and procedures, and implementing changes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness; d. Preparing the relevant documents to ensure efficiency, accuracy and consistency of the work produced by the Work Unit. e. Contributing to the ongoing review of service delivery processes and procedures in order to recommend changes, when required, to the pension focal points in HR, Payroll and Finance in the local offices serviced by the Fund; f. Drafting performance reports, recommendations, statistics, cost analysis, trends and periodic reports to the senior management of the Fund relating to his or her regional activities.

Competencies Professionalism: Knowledge of employee benefit entitlements. Knowledge of the Regulations and Rules of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund or of those of a similar international organization. Ability to apply rules and regulations; ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues related to pension administration and entitlements; ability to review and edit the work of others. Demonstrated knowledge of and familiarity with computer and transaction processing systems. Demonstrated research, analytical and evaluative skills. Shows pride in work and in achievements; 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring equal participation of women and men in all areas 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 Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in business or public administration, finance, human resources management, law or other related area is required. A first-level university degree in any of these fields, in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in business or public administration, finance, human resources management, law or related field is required. At least two years of experience in the area of employee benefit schemes is desirable. Experience in client management is desirable. Experience in supervising staff is desirable. Experience in pension management in the United Nations or a similar international organization 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 UN official language is an advantage.

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

Special Notice The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF) is an independent inter-agency body established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1949. The Pension Fund pays benefits in 17 currencies to about 80,000 beneficiaries who reside in over 190 countries, and services more than 130,000 participants who work in the 25 Member Organizations of the Pension Fund. The applicable human resources procedures are governed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Fund and the UN Secretariat.

On the basis of the MoU and in light of the status of the UNJSPF, it was decided that General Services staff members at the GS-6 and GS-7 levels shall be eligible to apply to the positions in this job opening, provided they meet the requirements of the positions as set forth in this job opening. Eligibility of GS staff extends to all entities of the UN common system. If selected, a General Service staff member would be required to resign from their appointment in the General Service category and be reappointed on a fixed-term appointment limited to service with the UNJSPF. The period of ineligibility for re-employment following resignation shall not apply to such staff resigning from the General Service or related category to take up the functions of these positions in the Fund secretariat.

Any candidate from a member organization of the UNJSPF applying for this post is considered as an internal candidate provided he/she has been appointed through the appointment and promotion procedures applicable in his/her respective organization.

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. UNJSPF is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

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.