Executive Assistant

Volunteering Admin Communications & PR Interpretation & Translation

Overview

Provide high-quality administrative and coordination support to the Head of the UN Women Central Asia Liaison Office.

You have:

• Minimum of 2 years of progressively responsible experience in administrative or executive support, office management, or coordination roles
• Experience in supporting senior management or working in an international organization, preferably within the UN system, is an advantage
• Proficiency in MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and design tools such as Canva
• Fluency in Russian and Kazakh (both written and spoken)
• Working proficiency in English is required
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills; ability to handle multiple priorities under pressure
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with professionalism and discretion
• Proactive attitude and willingness to learn and adapt in a fast-paced environment

Contract

This is a UNV National University contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National University contracts.

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. Placing women’s rights at the centre of all its efforts, UN Women leads and coordinates the United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors. In support of UN Women’s Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (GEWE) mandate and the realization of women and girls rights contend in key normative frameworks such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA), Agenda 2030.

The UN Women Central Asia Liaison Office supports the realization of these goals across the region through a range of initiatives and partnerships. One of these initiatives is the Central Asian Alliance to End Gender-Based Violence (GBV), a regional, multi-stakeholder mechanism that provides a safe space for dialogue and collaboration among civil society, state agencies, and other relevant actors. Established in 2023 within the framework of the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative Regional Programme for Central Asia and Afghanistan, the Alliance brings together stakeholders from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to promote transformative change in the lives of women and girls and work toward the elimination of GBV in the region.

Purpose: The purpose of hiring an Administrative Assistant is to provide high-quality administrative and coordination support to the Head of the UN Women Central Asia Liaison Office. The position is intended to ensure the smooth and efficient functioning of the Office through effective management of daily operations, schedules, correspondence, and communication with internal and external partners. The Assistant will facilitate the Head of Office’s engagement with regional and national stakeholders by organizing meetings, maintaining documentation and records, and ensuring timely follow-up on action points. This role is essential to strengthening the overall operational effectiveness of the Liaison Office and supporting the delivery of UN Women’s strategic priorities in Central Asia.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Head of the UN Women Central Asia Liaison Office and UN Women colleagues or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer will solely provide support to the Head of the Central Asia Liaison Office, and will:

1. Administrative and Logistical Support

• Manage the Head of Office’s schedule, including arranging meetings, appointments, and missions.
• Coordinate travel arrangements, prepare travel authorizations, and process travel claims in - line with UN Women procedures.
• Prepare meeting materials, take minutes, and ensure timely follow-up on action points.
• Maintain and organize the office’s documentation, correspondence, and filing systems.

2. Communication and Coordination

• Serve as a focal point for communication in Russian, Kazakh, and English, ensuring professional and accurate correspondence.
• Liaise with internal and external partners, ensuring timely information exchange and coordination.
• Support the preparation and dissemination of official communications, announcements, and event materials.

3. Content and Presentation Support

• Draft and edit documents, talking points, meeting summaries, and presentations for the Head of Office.
• Design visual materials and presentations using MS Office, Canva, and other relevant tools.

4. Operational and System Support

• Assist with administrative processes related to procurement, finance, and HR in coordination with the Operations team.
• Support the use of UN Women corporate systems (such as Quantum, GST, etc.), as applicable.

5. Professionalism and Learning

• Work efficiently under pressure, demonstrating strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Proactively seek opportunities to learn and enhance knowledge of UN administrative and operational systems.

Key performance indicators:

• Calendar, travel, and meeting logistics for the Head of Office are managed accurately and on time; meeting notes and action points are prepared and circulated promptly.
• Clear, professional, and timely correspondence and coordination in Russian, Kazakh, and English with internal and external partners.
• High-quality presentations, briefs, and talking points delivered within deadlines and aligned with UN Women’s standards.
• Accurate and timely use of corporate systems (Quantum, GST, etc.) and maintenance of organized, up-to-date documentation.

• Demonstrates reliability, discretion, responsiveness under pressure, and continuous learning to enhance efficiency and service quality. Support in timely updating of social media.

• Accountability

• Adaptability and flexibility
• Creativity
• Judgement and decision-making
• Planning and organising
• Professionalism

• Self-management

• Minimum of 2 years of progressively responsible experience in administrative or executive support, office management, or coordination roles

• Experience in supporting senior management or working in an international organization, preferably within the UN system, is an advantage
• Experience in organizing meetings, managing schedules, travel arrangements, and preparing documentation and correspondence
• Proficiency in MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and design tools such as Canva
• Fluency in Russian and Kazakh (both written and spoken)
• Working proficiency in English is required
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills; ability to handle multiple priorities under pressure
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with professionalism and discretion
• Attention to detail and accuracy in documentation and record keeping
• Proactive attitude and willingness to learn and adapt in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a multicultural team

Almaty is the largest city in Kazakhstan, with a population of 2,2 mln people, about 11% of the country's total population. Almaty is the major commercial and cultural center of Kazakhstan. The city is in the mountainous area of southern Kazakhstan in the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau at an elevation of 700–900 m (2,300–3,000 feet), where the Large and Small Almatinka rivers run into the plain. Almaty is a safe city, but the usual precautions should still exercise.

Medical services: No special vaccination is required to travel to Almaty, Kazakhstan. Medical services (including dental care) are provided at European standards. Clinics working 24 hours are available in the city. There are both private and state clinics and hospitals. Pharmacies (Kazakh: darikhana, Russian: apteka) all over Almaty sell many Western medicines. Emergency numbers: In case of emergency, please call "101" (Fire services), "102" (Police), "103" (Ambulance), "104" (Gas Service), "112" (Rescue service in emergency situations).

As of February 2025 National UN University Volunteers receive USD 703/month as their Volunteer Living Allowance in Kazakhstan.

Other benefits include: • Pre-assignment Entry lump sum - USD 400 (one time payment) • Volunteer living allowance (as mentioned above) - USD 703/month • Learning - Access to UNV's learning and career development resources • Annual leave - 2.5 days per month • Insurance - Private insurance: Health, dental, life and dismemberment (100%) coverage by CIGNA

The above summary is provided as information only and is subject to change. For further information on the full range of entitlements and eligibility criteria, please read the UN Volunteer Conditions of Service at https://explore.unv.org/cos

You can also check full entitlements at the duty station FYI at https://app.unv.org/calculator

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 7 months ago - Updated 6 months ago - Source: unv.org