Programme Assistant

Assist in coordination of programme and budget activities

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FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

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Application deadline 2 years ago: Thursday 14 Dec 2023 at 22:59 UTC

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Overview

Assist in coordination of programme and budget activities

You have:

  • Secondary School Education.
  • Four years of relevant experience in the provision of programme/projects support services.
  • Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of French and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of English.
  • Good knowledge of the MS Office applications, Internet and office technology equipment.
  • Limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of Arabic is an asset.

Organizational Setting

Through its Country Offices or FAO Representations, FAO assists governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to address hunger and malnutrition, and provides technical support for the sustainable development of their agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors. The activities carried out by the FAO Country Offices include the design and implementation of country-tailored field programmes, liaison with local donor representatives, and active public awareness-raising as well as other outreach activities related to FAO initiative.

The position is located in the FAO Representation in Tunis, Tunisia.

Main Purpose

The Programme Assistant is responsible for the coordination of specialized and complex processes and activities in support of the delivery of the division's work programme, planning and budgeting activities. He/she provides procedural guidance to managers and staff in the division.

Supervision Received/Exercised

The Programme Assistant works under direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative (Programme) and general supervision of the FAO Representative. The incumbent operates independently and takes decisions on work priorities. Supervision received is focused on the quality of work outputs. He/she provides guidance and advice to other programme support staff.

Working Relationships

The Programme Assistant works closely with a wide range of colleagues in the division and with client offices, ensuring the consistency and quality of programme/project support services provided by the division.

Key Functions/Results

• Monitor both Regular Programme and Project budgets, ensuring that funds are properly allocated and reported upon, and take corrective action if required; inform management of any budget issues that may require attention; • Provide support to budget holders in the preparation of the Periodic Budgetary Reports (PBR), the biennial Programme of Work and Budget (PWB) and related work plans for the division as needed; • Prepare project budget revisions in consultation with budget holders; • Respond to a variety of routine queries and provide clarifications on programme and project matters; inform management and team members of processes, procedures and timeframes to secure administrative services needed for programme/project execution; initiate correspondence to verify data, obtain additional information on transactions and budgetary matters; • Review data quality and maintain office records and reference files on various subjects; compile and synthesize data from various sources to support financial analyses on programme/project activities; generate periodic or ad-hoc management reports; • Coordinate the full array of administrative and financial actions related to staff management, non-staff support, travel, payments and procurement; • Provide procedural guidance to junior Programme Assistants and other staff in the work unit; • Review and make recommendations to improve current programme/project administration procedures and processes; • Perform other functions as required.

Impact of Work

The incumbent's work impacts directly on the smooth operations and performance of the division's programme/project activities. He/she plays a lead role in the provision of programme support services for successful achievement of the organizational unit's mandate.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

Education: Secondary School Education. Experience: Four years of relevant experience in the provision of programme/projects support services. Languages: Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of French and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of English. IT Skills: Good knowledge of the MS Office applications, Internet and office technology equipment.

Residency: General Service Staff are recruited locally. To be eligible for this position, candidates must be nationals of the country of the duty station or possess an existing visa/work permit, and reside within commuting distance of the duty station at the time of the application. "Commuting distance" means the distance within which staff members can travel daily between their place of work and their residence.

Competencies

• Results Focus • Teamwork • Communication • Building Effective Relationships • Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical Skills

• Very good knowledge of corporate information systems. • Very good knowledge of programme and budget processes and procedures. • Very good knowledge of common administrative and financial rules and regulations. • Very good knowledge of communication and documentation standards

Desirable Qualifications and Skills

• Relevant Experience in programme/project management • Limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of Arabic is an asset. • Experience in UN system and /or FAO work environment.

Potential interview questions

Can you describe a time when you had to manage a budget? This question assesses your budgeting skills and experience in financial management. Provide concrete examples focusing on how you tracked expenses and adjusted allocations as needed.
How do you prioritize your tasks when managing multiple projects? This question evaluates your time management and organizational skills. Pro members can see the explanation.
Describe an instance where you had to work as part of a team to complete a project. Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What steps do you take to ensure data quality and accuracy in your reports? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Tell me about a time you provided procedural guidance to others. What was the outcome? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 2 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: fao.org