Senior Programme Management Assistant

Contract

This is a G-7 contract. This kind of contract is known as General Service and related categories. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be more than 2,443 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

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. UNEP's Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and advisory services for the implementation of environmental policy and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. This post is located in the Biodiversity, People, and Landscapes Unit in the Biodiversity and Land Branch (BLB), Ecosystems Division, at the Nairobi duty station and reports to the Head of the Unit.

The position provides programme management assistance to the Nature Programme Coordination Projects (PCPs), specifically with regard to implementing and overseeing the PCP's operational implementation.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of the Unit, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

Responsibilities

• Independently provides a full range of programme/project management and implementation assistance at all phases of the programme/project cycle, including IPMR (Integrated Planning, Management and Reporting) management and reporting, programme monitoring and evaluation, and seeking guidance only in exceptional circumstances.

• Researches, compiles, analyses, summarizes, and presents basic information and data on a wide range of programs, projects, and related topics, highlighting noteworthy issues and trends for consideration by appropriate parties.

• Tracks resolutions and other legislative decisions that affect program or project content and oversees the preparation of the relevant database(s) to ensure the incorporation of programmatic and other changes enacted by legislation.

• Reviews, appraises, and revises, as necessary, all submissions for substantive programs or projects, ensuring compliance with guidelines and program or project objectives; identifies problems or issues; seeks clarification from departments; assesses replies; and prepares a summary for the manager with suggestions for further action.

• Works with funding agencies in arranging financing modalities; obtains requisite clearances; ensures the establishment of proper monitoring systems through scheduled reporting, review meetings, and missions.

• Drafts budget and forecast based on submissions; prepares monitoring checklists; identifies stages of program or project development, funding sources, inputs by reviewing internal and external bodies; and follows up on actions required.

• Monitors budgetary commitments, including verification of charges and obligation documents in UMOJA for all financial transactions; prepares periodic budget revisions and ensures appropriate resource allocations; reconciles accounts with the amended budget; evaluates trends of financial implementation; and makes necessary recommendations to the line manager.

• Prepares newsletters on program- or project-related activities, drafts inputs for a wide range of documents, reports, briefings, debriefings, correspondence.

• Serves as focal point for coordination, monitoring and expedition of implementation activities and participates in programme/project evaluation; monitor implementation at all stages to ensure work is proceeding according to established plans, including analysing implementation difficulties and initiating remedial action; liaises with diverse organizational units to initiate requests; prepares standard terms of reference against programme/project objectives, obtains necessary clearances, processes and follows-up on administrative actions and resolves issues related to project implementation, e.g. recruitment and appointment of personnel, travel arrangements, organization of and participation in training/study tours, authorization of payments, disbursement of funds, procurement of equipment and services.

• Arranges for the formal closure of projects, final budget revision, transfer of equipment, clearance, publication, and distribution of the final report.

• Provides secretariat services to committees, ad hoc tasks forces; drafts and circulates agenda notes to members and participants; assembles background documentation; drafts minutes of the meeting; monitors follow-up actions.

• May undertake mission or field work in support of the above activities, e.g., specific administrative, operational, or control tasks for program or project activities.

• Establishes internal databases; sets up, files, stores, and manages data and information relevant to the scope of program or project activities.

• Supervises office support staff, including distribution and review of work assignments, training, and inputs to performance evaluation.

• Assists with the collection and analysis of data as well as the preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning, and decision-making.

• Assists with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to programme coordination and implementation, monitoring and evaluation, finance and budgeting or related field. Ability to perform analysis, modelling and interpretation of data in support of decision-making. 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. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work.

PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates an 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; and uses time efficiently.

ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors 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 or her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Education

A high school diploma or equivalent is required.

Job - Specific Qualification

Additional technical training and/or supplementary courses in business administration, programme/project management or other related fields are desirable.

Work Experience

Ten (10) years of experience in programme or project administration, technical cooperation, or a related area is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to eight (8) years for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher.

Experience in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, such as SAP (Umoja) or other equivalent platforms, is required.

Experience in results-based planning and reporting is required.

Experience using Microsoft Office or Office 365 is required.

Experience in conducting research and preparing statistical or analytical reports from various databases is desirable.

Experience in the application of relevant regulations and rules of the United Nations, or any similar public service organization, in an operational environment is desirable.

Experience in processes and procedures related to travel, procurement, finance, or human resources is desirable.

One (1) year or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable.

NOTE: "Fluency equals a rating of "fluent" in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand), and "knowledge of" equals a rating of "confident" in two of the four areas.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

Appointment against this post is for an initial period of one (1) year and may be subject to extension.

Pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules, appointment against this post is on a local basis. External candidates will be considered only when no suitable internal candidate from the duty station is identified. The candidate is responsible for any travel expenses incurred in order to take-up the appointment.

All staff in the General Service and related categories shall be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of each office, irrespective of their nationality and of the length of time they may have been in the country. Staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment.

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.

Internal Applicants: When completing the form, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you.

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. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. Online applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira "Need Help?" link.

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.

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.