Secretary to a Member of the Court - Roster for temporary appointments

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. More about G-5 contracts.

Org. Setting and Reporting

The Registry of the International Court of Justice is seeking to create a roster of suitable candidates to serve, on a temporary basis, as Secretary to a Member of the Court, in particular to temporarily replace staff members on different types of leave, such as parental leave. At least one position will be available for a period of around eight months starting in October 2023. Other positions may become available at any given time, including at short notice.

The incumbent reports directly to a Member of the Court. For administrative purposes, the incumbent also reports to the Co-ordinator of the Judges’ Secretaries, who supervises the other Secretaries to Members of the Court.

Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Member of the Court to whom they are assigned, the incumbent will perform the following duties: - Provide high-level administrative, secretarial and personal assistance to a Member of the Court; assist in the overall administration of the judge’s office; provide substantive and administrative support in managing priorities. - Screen and prioritize incoming correspondence; compile relevant background documents and references; identify issues requiring the judge’s attention; monitor and follow up on actions to be taken. - Serve as a communication link between the judge and other Court personnel; serve as a key liaison with the diplomatic corps, international organizations, Dutch local authorities and judicial and academic institutions. - Keep the judge’s team informed by conveying directives, status updates and other relevant information. - Prepare general correspondence in English and in French. - Transcribe, from handwritten drafts or audio files, judicial and other texts in accordance with the Court’s rules of presentation. - Proofread and edit all outgoing documents for adherence to format, grammar, punctuation and style. - Manage files and related databases on confidential judicial and non judicial matters. - Prepare, process and classify documents, often of a confidential nature. - Handle a wide range of administrative processes (leave and attendance records, travel arrangements, visa applications, authorizations, expense reports, conference room bookings). - Occasionally greet and escort high-ranking officials and visitors, and organize group visits and receptions. - Perform other related duties, as assigned.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Ensures high quality and accuracy of work; shows pride in work and achievements; 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Respect for diversity: Works effectively with people from all backgrounds; treats all people with dignity and respect; treats men and women equally; shows respect for and understanding of diverse points of view and demonstrates this understanding in daily work; examines own biases and behaviours to avoid stereotypical responses; does not discriminate against any individual or group.

Education

Completion of secondary school education. A post-secondary diploma would be an asset.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

At least five years of relevant and progressively responsible work experience in an international environment is required.

Experience working for a judge in an international court or tribunal or in a judicial setup would be an asset. Experience assisting a senior executive or official is desirable.

Experience in finalizing complex legal documents and preparing and proofreading documents before distribution and/or print is required.

Experience of etiquette and diplomatic protocol, together with the ability to maintain the utmost discretion, is desirable.

Experience using Microsoft Office Suite is required.

Knowledge of other IT tools is desirable.

Experience with an integrated information management system, such as Inspira, Umoja or other Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP) system is desirable.

Experience in the United Nations Common System or other comparable organization is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the official and working languages of the International Court of Justice. An excellent command of either English or French and a sound working knowledge of the other language is required. Knowledge of other official languages of the United Nations and of Dutch may be an asset.

Assessment

The assessment of qualified candidates will include a written test and a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

Remuneration Depending on professional background, experience and family situation, a competitive compensation and benefits package is offered.

Special notice The Court is an equal opportunity employer and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons with disabilities, to apply to become a staff member. This post 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 the seat of the Court, 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. Candidates living beyond commuting distance of the seat of the Court who meet the requirements of the position may be invited for tests and interviews remotely or at the seat of the Court in The Hague. In the latter case, such candidates will be required to cover their own travel, accommodation and subsistence costs. If the selected candidate is a staff member from an organization applying the United Nations Common System of Salaries and Allowances, the provisions of the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan shall apply.

Process Please note that applications received after the deadline will not be accepted. The selected candidates may be subject to security clearance, including verification of the information provided and a criminal record check. All candidates should be in a position to submit an electronic copy of their passport and all diplomas listed on their profile when requested. The Registrar reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level or on the basis of a modified job description.

Below United Nations considerations may not apply.

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.

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.

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.