Benefits Officer (Deputy Chief)

Contract

This is a P-4 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 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 171,478 USD and 221,086 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 The Participation and Entitlements Section of the Geneva Office of the Pension Administration of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF) is responsible for fund participation and for the calculation and processing of pension entitlements. The incumbent reports to the Chief of the Participation and Entitlements Section.

Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the Benefits Officer (Deputy Chief) will be responsible for the following duties:

1. Serves as Deputy to the Chief of Pension Entitlements Section, assists the Chief of Section in performing his/her supervisory responsibilities in respect of the Participation and Entitlements Section, which is entrusted with administering and managing participation and separation processes, as well as post retirement matters in respect of staff of member organizations of the Fund, including the determination and calculation of all types of pension benefits as well as the complex pension adjustment system. In this respect, among other things, participates in: a. planning and organizing the work of the Section, including the assignment of work and setting of priorities; b. developing and implementing new methods and procedures, as necessary to ensure the smooth functioning of the section; c. in cooperation with the Information Management Systems Services (and the Financial Services Section and the PES New York), providing analyses and other technical input in respect of systems and processes used by the Section and advising on the design and evaluation of new or enhanced systems and ensures the implementation of changes in the Regulations and Rules Fund or of the Pension Adjustment System as approved by the General Assembly; d. Originating and/or approving communications prepared by the Section; e. replacing the Chief of Section during his/her absence.

2. Assists the Chief of Section in performing other duties such as: a. carrying out inter-agency activities related to the determination and clarification of procedures and practices regarding participation and separation matters; b. in the preparation of studies and analyses on various aspects of participation in and processing of benefits, as well as on related systems, procedures and practices including information systems used by the section; c. providing input to senior management on policy issues concerning benefits and entitlements.

3. Serves as supervisor of the Section. In connection with his/her supervisory duties, the incumbent, among other things: a. Oversee the day-to-day operations of the Section; b. In the absence of Chief of Section, is the representative of the Fund’s secretariat for all contacts between the Section’s work units and the Secretaries of Staff Pension Committees and other administrative staff of the organizations/entities of the Pension Fund in respect of the Section’s work units’ activities; c. Authorizes and/or approves the work processed by the Section, including the benefit amount to be paid for processed benefits, the release of completed cases for payment and the recovery of monies owed to the Fund as well as all correspondence and other materials prepared by the Section d. Investigates and resolves particularly difficult cases which require intervention at the supervisory level; e. Performs all administrative supervisory functions, including performance evaluations of Section’s work units’ Chiefs.

4. Undertakes special assignments at the request of the Chief of Section and/or senior management.

Competencies PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge and understanding of the UNJSPF Regulations, Rules and Pension Adjustment System. Knowledge of pension administration and specifically with regard to Benefit Entitlements. Ability to provide specialist advice on pension entitlement issues. Ability to produce high quality reports and papers on technical issues related to pension administration and entitlements. Ability to review and edit the work of others. Ability to apply UNJSPF rules, regulations, policies and guidelines desirable. 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

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.

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.

MANAGING PERFORMANCE: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority, makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member, accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills, monitors progress against milestones and deadlines, regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff, encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative, actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff, appraises performance fairly.

JUDGEMENT/DECISION-MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly-Gathers relevant information before making a decision-Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them-Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization-Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information-Checks assumptions against facts-Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision-Makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in finance, human resources management, business administration, public administration, or related field is required. A first-level university degree 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 seven years of progressively responsible experience in the area of pension or employee benefit administration, finance, human resources or related area is required.

Three years of relevant experience at the international level in the United Nations Common System, similar national or international organization is desirable.

Three years of experience in managing teams is desirable.

Experience with ERP system is desirable.

Experience working in defined benefits pension schemes is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English or French and knowledge of the other is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

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

Special Notice The UNJSPF is an inter-agency body established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1949. The Pension Fund pays benefits in 17 currencies about 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.

The applicable human resources procedures are governed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the UNJSPF and the UN 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.

The 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.