MEETINGS SERVICES ASSISTANT

Contract

This is a G-6 contract. This kind of contract is known as General Service and related categories. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 6 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be more than 7,928 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 Intergovernmental Support Service (ISS) of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Geneva.

Responsibilities Within delegated authority and under the supervision of the Chief, Group Liaison and in coordination with the Chief, Conference Services and Logistics, the Meetings Services Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:

• Organizes and coordinates preparatory meetings with relevant offices and delegations regarding procedural and organizational arrangements for the sessions of assigned committees, regional group meetings and meetings/conferences.
• Assists in drafting procedural notes for the chairpersons of assigned committees, regional group meetings and meetings/conferences.
• Ensures that all required services, including the availability and distribution of documents, and personnel are available in order for committees, regional group meetings and meetings/conferences to convene according to the schedule.
• Utilizes E-Dritis and ODS to track the status of and download documents.
• Organizes and maintains reference material and background documents, including resolutions and decisions of main organs, in documents booth.
• Reports on the proceedings of committees and meetings/conferences and submit reports, if required, to the supervisor.
• Produces daily and weekly programme of assigned committees and meetings/conferences prepared by senior staff for distribution.
• Supervise, as needed, the voting and election process and the preparation of tabulation of voting patterns.
• Assists in the preparation of the preliminary list and annotation of agenda items and daily material concerning the proceeding of committees and meetings/conferences.
• Prepares list of participants.
• Maintains a database of meetings based on requests and publishes the list indicating the interpretation requirements, venue, date and other relevant information, on a monthly basis.
• Prepares monthly statistics on meetings held at headquarters and offices away from headquarters.
• Determines the material and human resources requirements of meetings and prepares the cost estimates for consideration by the requesting office.
• Allocates conference facilities and meeting rooms.
• Maintains an accurate record of speakers and/or an attendance record and coordinate with delegations on their position on the list of speakers.
• Undertakes research and provides reference materials for preparation of briefs, notes and statements for the chairperson of committees and meetings/conferences.
• Ensures reports of committees and meetings/conferences meet the UN document standards and coordinate with the documents control office for reproduction of reports.
• Prepares floor plan of seating arrangements in accordance with meeting requirements and UN protocol.
• Attends coordinating/planning meetings, representing the Unit/Section regarding organizational arrangements for special committees and meetings/conferences and updates files accordingly.
• Prepares for committees and meetings/conferences to be held away from Headquarters, other UN Offices or Regional Commissions, coordinates with substantive offices and, and prepares cost estimates.
• Assists relevant regional coordinators, on demand, on matters related to logistics, coordination and communication.
• Drafts correspondence and notes for signature.
• Maintains and updates filing and reference system regarding procedures and reference materials for committees and meetings/conferences.
• Responds to queries from delegations and Secretariat.
• Replaces, as needed, senior staff in related functions.
• Participates in the recruitment of temporary assistants and schedules and supervises their work.
• Provides guidance/training, as needed, to junior staff.

• Performs other duties as required.

  Competencies - PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of the Organization’s conference policies, procedures and practices and functioning of UNCTAD’s intergovernmental bodies. Ability to research, select, organize and summarize information required for the preparation of meetings. 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.

• COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

• 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.

  Education High school diploma or equivalent.

  Work Experience A minimum of seven (7) years of experience in conference support or related area is required. Out of these, at least three (3) years of experience providing direct support to intergovernmental negotiations is desirable.

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

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

  Special Notice 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.

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 (ASAT) in French or English at the United Nations Headquarters, United Nations Office at Geneva, United Nations Office at Vienna, Economic Commission for Africa, Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda or International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia may be accepted in lieu of the GGST.

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.

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.

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.