TA - Programme Assistant, GS-5, Montevideo, Uruguay

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.

Salary

The salary for this job should be more than 4,863 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.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up

For every child, support

UNICEF has been present in Uruguay since 1992. Since then, it has provided technical cooperation and financial assistance to the Government and to the society in different areas to promote the rights of children and adolescents and generate opportunities for all of them to achieve the full development of their abilities. UNICEF work is based on a cooperation program that is agreed with the government every five years. A new cooperation program between UNICEF and Uruguay's Government started in March 2021.

UNICEF provides technical assistance and advice for monitoring, supporting and promoting children's rights on the following areas within the country:

• Support policies to reduce levels of poverty affecting children with special focus on early child development.
• Prevention of non-communicable diseases on children under five.
• Improve graduation rates in upper secondary education.
• Guarantee the access of children with disabilities to inclusive education.
• Reduce the number of children and adolescents living in institutional care.
• Prevention of violence against girls and boys.
• Empower adolescents to participate in decision making processes.
• Improve alternatives to deprivation of liberty for adolescents in conflict with the law.
• Raise awareness about child rights among Uruguay's general public and the engagement of the private sector, civil society organizations (CSOs) and academic institutions in promoting, protecting and monitoring child rights.

How can you make a difference?

Strategic office context:

UNICEF has been present in Uruguay since 1992, providing technical cooperation and financial assistance to the Government and to the society in different areas to promote the rights of children and adolescents and generate opportunities for all of them to achieve the full development of their abilities. UNICEF work is based on a cooperation programme that is agreed with the Government every five years.

The current cooperation programme is under implementation until 2025. It covers the following thematic areas: protection of children against violence, access to justice, education, social policies, early childhood development, nutrition, mental health, as well as evidence generation, monitoring, participation and mobilization for children and adolescents´ rights.

Purpose of the Position

Under the close supervision and guidance of the Programme Manager P3, the Programme Assistant supports the Programme section by carrying out a range of procedural, administrative, and operational tasks, to help develop, implement and monitor their country programme, ensuring timely and effective delivery that is consistent with UNICEF rules and regulations.

Key Accountabilities and Duties & Tasks

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Under the supervision of the Programme Manager, and in close coordination with the Programme Associate:

Provide administrative support to programme development, planning and implementation:

• Supports in the preparation of TORs and necessary background documents for consultancies and external services for programme section, taking into account applicable policies and procedures. This includes drafting terms of reference for consultancies and biddings, obtaining quotations from a variety of sources if required, preparing the necessary documentation for presentation to the CRCs, or for discussion by Project Officers with Representative or with vendors.
• Prepares programme requisitions for supervisor’s approval.
• Keeps vendor lists, partners, and consultant rosters up-to-date.
• Collects, codes, and certifies invoices for approval by supervisor and thereafter processing in VISION.
• Assists in the administrative process of implementing partners’ requests for assistance, following HACT processes.
• Carries out transactions in VISION ensuring programme results, activities and programme coding are as per annual work plans (AWPs).
• Provides support for the roll-out, implementation and periodic update of UNICEF electronic programme management tools/systems (e-Tools, e-Work Planning, e-Field Monitoring, e-PD, e-ZHACT).
• Maintains calendar and arranging meetings for programme area. Takes minutes of meetings and keeping the correspondence of the team well organized.
• Supports capacity development activities, meetings and conferences by making the logistical arrangements, through engaging with facilitators, caterers and hosts; arranging times through liaising with participants over availability; liaising with budget focal point and section over costs and needs; and preparing background materials for participants.
• Carries out specific administrative operational/control tasks for project/programme activities.

Provide support to financial management, budgeting, monitoring and reporting of programme results:

• Helps prepare and maintain records, documents and control plans for the budget monitoring of project/programme implementation and financial expenditures.
• Prepares monitoring and reporting information for supervisor and team on agreed performance indicators to drive more efficient management and accountability for results.
• Assists in the preparation of periodic or ad-hoc financial reports relating to country office and donors, to support the office in optimizing the use of programme funds.
• When needed, provides other procedural, administrative, and/or operational support pertaining to programme/financial management and monitoring.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate:

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Experience: A minimum of five years of progressively responsible administrative work experience is required.

Additionally, an asset will be:

• Thorough knowledge of UNICEF administrative policies and procedures.
• Strong organizational, planning, and prioritizing skills and abilities.
• High sense of confidentiality, initiative, and good judgment.
• Ability to work effectively with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Training and experience using MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other UNICEF software such as SharePoint.
• Strong office management skills.

Education: Completion of secondary education is required, preferably supplemented by technical o university courses related to finance, budget analysis, business administration, planning, development programming, economy, accountability or related areas.

A University degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) in any of those areas is an important asset.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English and Spanish is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter.

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1), Works Collaboratively with others (1), Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1), Innovates and Embraces Change (1), Thinks and Acts Strategically (1), Drive to achieve impactful results (1), Manages ambiguity and complexity (1).

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

Remarks:

Click on the following item to view the complete Job Profile: SJD Programme Assistant G-5 (UCO TA).pdf

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Non-Uruguayan candidates must be in possession of an existing Uruguayan visa or be a Uruguayan permanent resident/citizen, which allows them to legally work in Uruguay.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.