Senior Programme Assistant
Provide administrative assistance and support in routine services and activities within Programme.
Overview
Provide administrative assistance and support in routine services and activities within Programme.
You have:
- Minimum 2 years of previous job experience relevant to the function.
- Completion of UNHCR learning programs or specific training relevant to functions of the position.
- Computer skills (in MS office) including advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, data management, etc.).
- Demonstrated experience in programme management, including strong command of the Programme and Operations Management Cycle, application of Results-Based Management (RBM) approaches.
- Experience in supporting operational planning processes, including the provision of technical guidance to apply RBM principles.
- Extensive experience in partner management, design and monitoring of project work plans, financial and narrative reports analysis.
- Demonstrated experience in preparation and design of donor proposals applying RBM approach.
- Experience in budget planning and financial monitoring, including tracking implementation, analyzing delivery rates.
- Experience in monitoring and reporting on programme performance data, generating evidence-based insights.
- Experience using dashboards and corporate systems for real-time monitoring of indicator performance.
- Bachelor's degree, analytical and effective communication skills.
- Knowledge of donors' priorities and financial logic.
Deadline for Applications
June 4, 2026Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)
A (least hardship)Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
FamilyStaff Member / Affiliate Type
UNOPS LICA5Target Start Date
2026-06-01Terms of Reference
Relevant Job Experience Essential - Minimum 2 years of previous job experience relevant to the function. - Completion of UNHCR learning programs or specific training relevant to functions of the position. - Computer skills (in MS office) including advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, data management, etc.). - Demonstrated experience in programme management, including strong command of the Programme and Operations Management Cycle, application of Results-Based Management (RBM) approaches, monitoring and evaluation processes, and coordination and management of operational and implementing partner networks, and key stakeholders. - Demonstrated experience in the preparation and design of donor proposals, applying RBM approach to ensure clear results frameworks, measurable indicators, and alignment with organizational priorities, reflecting strong results orientation and accountability. - Experience in supporting operational planning processes, including the provision of technical guidance to apply RBM principles in the development of multi-year and annual plans, ensuring clear prioritization, coherence between activities and expected results, and alignment with organizational strategic directions and operational contexts. - Extensive experience in partner management, design and monitoring of project work plans, analysis of financial and narrative reports, and budget implementation and follow-up. - Proven experience in supporting programme implementation, including the timely and quality registration and follow-up of requisitions, contracts, and invoices in institutional systems, ensuring compliance with policies and procedures, and that financial and administrative processes effectively facilitate the delivery of planned outputs, optimal use of resources, and alignment with programme priorities and results-based management principles. - Experience in budget planning and financial monitoring, including tracking implementation, analyzing delivery rates, and supporting corrective actions to ensure optimal use of funds and alignment with programme results, demonstrating strong accountability and resource stewardship, with high attention to detail and accuracy, and ability to manage deadlines and workload are required. - Experience in monitoring, analyzing, and reporting on programme performance data, generating evidence-based insights and providing technical inputs to support adaptive management, informed decision-making, and continuous improvement, reflecting analytical thinking and results-based programming. - Experience in monitoring project implementation to ensure alignment with donor requirements, including adherence to approved results frameworks, indicators, reporting obligations, and earmarking conditions, contributing to compliance, accountability, and strengthened donor confidence, while supporting the achievement of planned programme outcomes.
Desirable - Bachelor’s degree, analytical and effective communication skills. - Knowledge of Donors priorities and financial logic. - Completion of UNHCR Learning Programmes or specific training relevant to function of the position including Programme Management and Monitoring and Evaluation. - Framework for Implementing with Partners Learning Programme.
- The candidate must demonstrate solid practical experience in the rigorous tracking of output, outcome, and impact-level indicators. This includes the ability to: (i) support the definition of baselines, targets, and means of verification within logical frameworks or results plans; (ii) collect, clean, consolidate, and analyse databases derived from satisfaction surveys, or independent verification exercises; (iii) apply disaggregated analysis (by sex, age, diversity) to measure change among specific population groups; Experience using dashboards (Power BI) and corporate systems (COMPASS, PROMS, Cloud ERP, OSMOSYS, etc.) for real-time monitoring of indicator performance will be highly valued.Standard Job Description
Senior Programme Assistant
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships The Senior Programme Assistant would normally receive guidance from more senior programme staff in the operation/bureau/division. The incumbent may receive indirect guidance from other sections and units relevant to the country/region programme(s). UNHCR Manual, Operations Plans, UN and UNHCR financial/budgetary rules and regulations will guide the work of the Senior Program Assistant. S/he is expected to have contacts within the organization and outside the duty station, as well as with partners and other stakeholders to collect information, monitor programme activities and implement administrative requirements. The incumbent is expected to work in line with the multi-functional team (MFT) approach as defined within the Program Manual, ensuring the participation of relevant stakeholders in all phases of the Program Management Cycle.
All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.
Duties - Provide administrative assistance and support in routine services and activities within Programme thus better able to meet the needs of persons of concern. - Assist in organizing and documenting the selection of partners in accordance with the policy on selection and retention of partners, ensuring due diligence to meet the requirements of projects. - Provide support to ensure partnership agreements are established in a timely manner, regularly monitored and reported on, in compliance with established guidelines and procedures included in the framework for implementing with partners. - Guided by the MFT approach, support the development and implementation of monitoring plans for activities implemented through partnerships and those under direct implementation in line with Programme Manual and programming instructions. - Contribute to the review and analysis of operations plans, mid-year and year-end reports, ensuring quality assurance and compliance with established policies, guidelines, procedures and standards. Generate and maintain records of implementation rate (performance progress and expenditures) on a regular basis. - Assist in ensuring compliance with issuance of audit certificates for partners in line with the Policy on Risk-Based Project Audits. - Use UNHCR's ERP system for core activities related to planning, budgeting, implementation and reporting, generating data for evidence-based programmatic decisions and analysis. - Actively contribute to UNHCRs programming of community of practice and continuously contributing to improvements of programming tools and processes.
- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s). - Perform other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications Education & Professional Work Experience Years of Experience / Degree Level G5 - 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher
Field(s) of Education Not applicable
Certificates and/or Licenses Not specified
Relevant Job Experience Essential Demonstrated experience in Programme Management, Operation Management Cycle and related processes. Knowledge of Results Based-Management. Computer skills (in MS office) including advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, data management, etc)
Desirable Completion of UNHCR Learning Programmes or specific training relevant to function of the position including Programme Management Level 1. E-tutoring of PM1, Framework for Implementing with Partners Learning Programme. Experience in programme management training and capacity building activities.
Functional Skills *IT-Computer Literacy PG-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards) PG-Results-Based Management DM-Database Management PG-Programme Analysis (Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Language Requirements For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English. For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language. For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.
All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.
As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.
This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.
Required Languages
Spanish,
English,
Desired Languages
,
,
Additional Qualifications
Skills
Accountability, Budget Monitoring, Communication, Data Management, IT-Computer Literacy, PG-Development and monitoring of programme assessments and surveys, PG-Programme Analysis, PG-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards), Program Management, Results-Based Management (RBM), Teamwork CommunicationEducation
High school diploma (Required)Certifications
HCR Learning Program - UNHCRWork Experience
Other information
N/AThis position doesn't require a functional clearance Remote
No
Potential interview questions
| Can you describe a time when you had to manage multiple tasks under tight deadlines? | This assesses your ability to prioritize and manage workload effectively. | Provide a specific example where you organized your tasks and met all the required deadlines. |
| What steps do you follow when preparing a donor proposal? | This gauges your understanding of donor engagement and proposal processes. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you ensure compliance with established guidelines in partner selection? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Describe your experience with advanced Excel features and how you use them in programme management. | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Tell us about a successful program you managed and what indicators you used to measure success. | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you manage risks while implementing programs? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What experience do you have with monitoring programme performance data? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What is your approach to working in a multi-functional team? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
Added 2 hours ago
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Updated 2 hours ago
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Source:
unhcr.org
