Office & Programme Assistant
Provide administrative and operational support to the UNESCO-IICBA in Addis Ababa.
Overview
Provide administrative and operational support to the UNESCO-IICBA in Addis Ababa.
You have:
- Completed secondary, technical or vocational education.
- At least five (5) years of relevant professional experience in secretarial, administrative or related tasks in an international environment.
- Excellent knowledge (oral and written) of Amharic and English.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships, team-worker oriented.
- Excellent communication skills, both in writing and orally, in Amharic and English.
- Excellent organizational and coordination skills.
- Ability to work effectively within tight deadlines and deal with complex and sensitive situations.
- Excellent IT skills (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).
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.
Salary
The salary for this job should be more than 1,540 USD.
Salary for a G-5 contract in Addis Ababa
The salary of a G-5 depends on the duty station. The minimum salary there is 1,540 USD Please note that depending on the location, a higher post adjustment might still result in a lower purchasing power.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.
More about G-5 contracts.**OVERVIEW** ------------ Post Number : 6ETEDPA028CB Grade : G-5 Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED) Duty Station: Addis Ababa Job Family: Education Type of contract : Project Appointment Duration of contract : 1 year Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 22-SEP-2025 **UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism *(This post is one (1) year contract, renewable subject to performance and availability of funds)*** Long Description ---------------- Under the overall supervision of the Director of the UNESCO-IICBA (International Institute for Capacity-Building in Africa), the Assistant to the Director will provide administrative and operational support to the UNESCO-IICBA in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). The incumbent will liaise closely with programme staff to support the effective implementation of activities and coordinate with administrative staff to ensure smooth operations of the Institute. Long Description ---------------- **Main Duties and Responsibilities** - Arrange and be responsible for the Director’s travel logistics (organizing meetings, booking flights, obtaining visas and purchasing tickets in cooperation with the Administrative Officer) which also include preparing travel plans, and completing request and claim forms. Make appointments and maintain the Director's calendar, place and screen telephone calls, and answer queries with discretion. - Manage the immediate office of the Director with respect to communications, meetings and workflow; process and classify information; communicate sensitive information to the attention of the Director. - Receive, analyse, register and distribute correspondences, determine the importance and priority of documents received and gather documents concerning missions. - Prepare various documents, reports, minutes of meetings, concept notes and briefing materials for the Director on official trips and/or special meetings. Maintain policy, confidential and general management files. - Edit studies as needed - proofreading and other improvements and transcribe interviews and other audio materials in a format that can lead to publication. - Keep lists of names, addresses and telephone numbers of minsters, government officials and members of diplomatic corps. - Assist in organizing high level meetings, including the governing board meetings and international meetings, draft and dispatch letters of invitations when required, liaise with UNESCO Headquarters, Ministry of Educations, National Commissions, Africa Union and other UN Agencies. Participate in staff meetings or special meetings and take minutes or notes. - Manage communication with the governing board members. Organize the face-to-face meetings and virtual meetings and keep a record of the meetings and the board related issues. - Provide administrative and logistical support to the programme staff by coordinating and monitoring multiple and diverse activities and work processes. - Support the programme staff in the development of project proposals in reviewing national documents, reports, data, studies, literature and research papers. - Support administrative tasks on the preparation of staff UN Laissez-Passer (UNLP), visas, UN Identification (ID) and residence identification. - Provide overall secretarial and administrative support in the implementation of different projects in IICBA. Perform any other duties assigned by the management of the Institute. **COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)** ------------------------------------ Accountability (C) Communication (C) Innovation (C) Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C) Planning and organizing (C) Results focus (C) Teamwork (C) Professionalism (C) **-** ----- For detailed information, please consult the [UNESCO Competency Framework](https://en.unesco.org/sites/default/files/competency_framework_e.pdf). **REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS** --------------------------- ***Education*** - Completed secondary, technical or vocational education. ***Work Experience*** - At least five (5) years of relevant professional experience in secretarial, administrative or related tasks in an international environment. ***Skills & Competencies*** - Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships, team-worker oriented. - Excellent communication skills, both in writing and orally, in Amharic and English. - Excellent organizational and coordination skills. - Ability to work effectively within tight deadlines, to deal with complex and sensitive situations and flexibility to adjust work schedules. - Capacity to deal efficiently and tactfully with different partners/institutions and other stakeholders at all levels in a multicultural environment. - Ability to set priorities and monitor own work plans. - Sense of diplomacy, discretion and professional integrity. - Excellent IT skills (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.). ***Languages*** - Excellent knowledge (oral and written) of Amharic and English. **DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS** ---------------------------- ***Education*** - Specialized training/certification in administration and/or office management or related field. ***Work Experience*** - Work experience in similar functions within the UN system or an international organization/institution, or for a supervisor with senior management responsibility and/or high-level officials. ***Skills & Competencies*** - Familiarity with the work and general functioning of international organizations and/or of the UN system. - Excellent proof-reading skills. ***Languages*** - Knowledge of another official language of UNESCO (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish). **BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS** ----------------------------- UNESCO’s salaries consist of a basic salary and other benefits which may include if applicable: 30 days annual leave, family allowance, medical insurance, pension plan etc. The approximate annual starting salary for this post is 18,481 US $. For full information on benefits and entitlements, please consult our [Guide to Staff Benefits](https://unesco.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/HRMTeam/ESzDuIMSjEtIqYwVozjc3I8Bb5Kj-P0DrTgbm4BIjD17nQ?e=41cm7D). **SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS** ------------------------------------- Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the [UNESCO careers website.](https://careers.unesco.org/careersection/2/joblist.ftl) No modifications can be made to the application submitted. The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as an interview. UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates. Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided. **Footer** ---------- UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of staff members shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity. UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. UNESCO is committed to achieving and sustaining equitable and diverse geographical distribution, as well as gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Candidates from non- and under-represented Member States ([last update here](https://www.unesco.org/en/geo-distribution)) are particularly welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. Worldwide mobility is required for staff members appointed to international posts. UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. Please note that UNESCO is a non-smoking Organization.
Potential interview questions
| Can you describe a situation where you had to deal with complex and sensitive information? | The interviewer is assessing your ability to manage sensitive information effectively. | Share a brief example that highlights your tact and discretion. |
| How do you prioritize tasks when faced with tight deadlines? | This question evaluates your organizational skills and ability to work under pressure. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Describe your experience coordinating meetings and travel logistics. | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Can you give an example of how you successfully handled diverse stakeholders? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What strategies do you employ to maintain effective communication in a team setting? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you manage competing priorities and ensure deadlines are met? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Can you describe a time when you prepared important documents or reports? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What methods do you use to ensure that you keep up to date with office software and tools? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |