Senior Administrative Officer

Overview

Provide administrative and operational support to client entities in peace and security.

You have:

• Advanced university degree in business or public administration, human resources, finance, accounting, law or related area is required.
• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in administration, budget, finance, human resources management, or related field is required.
• Experience in preparing analytical reports using large and complex datasets from ERP systems such as Umoja and Inspira.
• Experience in leading process simplification, automation, or digitization of administrative services.
• Experience in drafting responses to legislative and oversight bodies in an international organization such as the United Nations is required.
• English is required; French is desirable.

Contract

This is a P-5 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 10 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 194,686 USD and 243,986 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 within the Common Administrative Platform at United Nations Headquarters, referred to as the One Executive Office ("One EO"), under the Division of Administration in the Department of Operational Support (DOS). One EO has started its transition phase on 1 January 2026 as part of the UN80 reform initiative, which aims to consolidate common administrative functions across Secretariat entities into unified service platforms. One EO provides the full range of administrative and operational services required by New York–based Secretariat client entities to fulfill their mandates, including human resources management, financial administration, travel, and general administrative support. Specifically, this position is located at the Client Desk providing administrative and operational support to entities with mandates pertaining to peace and security including Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and Department of Peace Operations (DPO). The incumbent will report to Chief of the Client Desk under the overall guidance of the Director of Administration.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Senior Administrative Officer will be responsible for the following duties: Policy and Planning • Assists the Desk Chief in the development and implementation of the administrative framework. • Advises senior management on budgeting, financial, human resources and general administration and management information issues, policies and practices. • Produces major/complex reports on behalf of the Client Desk for the One EO management and relevant client entities. • Provides advice and support for the senior management in client entities in such areas as special reviews of operational objectives and related administrative policies/procedures, etc. • Participates, on behalf of the Client Desk and client entities, in task forces of the Secretariat on human resources and administrative matters, including the implementation of any information management system. • Participates in the weekly Directors’ management meetings to provide advice on administrative, financial and human resources matters, as required. Human Resource Management • Takes the lead in coordinating the full range of staff and human resource administration-related issues, ensuring client entities’ requirements are met. This involves overseeing development and maintenance of staffing table records; interpretation and application of staff rules relating to human resource issues; preparation of staffing projects and other ad hoc status reports on those issues. • Identifies potential management reviews of high sensitivity and complexity. Defines problems to be addressed in management reviews; directs the work of review teams through all stages. • Prepares responses for legal cases pertaining to the UN Internal Justice System. • Ensures all actions are in compliance with Umoja and Inspira operational procedures for recruitment, transfer, placement and separation of staff, promotions as well as mobility and career development; gender equality and staff-management relations. • Serves as Conduct and Discipline focal point for relevant client entities. • Produces human resources reports with statistics and analyses to facilitate effective human resources management for all client entities as well as responses to legislative and oversight bodies. • Provides expert advice with respect to conditions of service, duties and responsibilities, and privileges and entitlements under the Staff Rules and Regulations. Budget and Finance • Supports the Client Desk in securing the required resources for the client entities from United Nations’ administration resources, trust funds and grant programmes. •Assists the Desk Chief in monitoring expenditures to ensure that they remain within authorised levels as well as released allotments. Exercises control over budgetary expenditures from these resources and advise more senior staff regarding the allocation/availability of budget resources. •Develops, establishes and maintains a set of sound policies, procedures, standards and tools that are consistent with UN policy and practice in order to ensure proper financial management and control. • Provides support in formulating strategic direction and evaluating strategic options, particularly in terms of resource implications. General Administration • Plans, organises and implements support services. • Oversees preparation of KPI reports and monitoring of client entities’ compliance in terms of completion of performance reports and mandatory training. • Supports the Desk Chief in identifying and implementing innovative solutions to achieve better efficiency. • Manages administrative staff and prepares performance reports for the staff. • Leads team members efforts to collect and analyse data and provides insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need. • Oversees work related to internal and external audits, delegation of authority, office space, and other cross-cutting administrative matters. • Performs other duties as needed.

Competencies

Professionalism: Ability to provide specialized advice in a broad range of human resources management, financial, administrative areas to senior management of client entities. Ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations and prepare reports or rational with respect to key administrative decisions. Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality drafts with clarity and logical structure. 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Able to analyse and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Planning& 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. Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable. Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing. Judgement/Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business or public administration, human resources, finance, accounting, law or related area is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is an advantage.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in administration, budget, finance, human resources management, or related field is required. Experience in applying human resources rules and policies in the United Nations or a comparable international organization is required. Experience in preparing analytical reports using large and complex datasets from Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems such as Umoja and Inspira, in support of strategic decision-making in the United Nations or a comparative international organization is required. Experience in leading process simplification, automation, or digitization of administrative services, including the use of dashboards, to improve service quality and timeliness, is required. Experience in drafting responses to legislative and oversight bodies in an international organization such as the United Nations is required. Experience in financial management in the United Nations or a comparable international organization is desirable. Experience in managing conduct and discipline related matters in the United Nations or a comparable international organization is desirable

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. French is desirable. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).

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LanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeakingEnglishUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level II

Desirable Languages

LanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeakingFrenchUN Level IUN Level IUN Level IUN Level I

Assessment

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

Special Notice

• The appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year. The appointment or assignment and renewal are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate. • Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfil the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover letter. • 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. • The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. • 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. • Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. • For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 May 2026, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China (People's Republic of), Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu.

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. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. 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.

Potential interview questions