Team Assistant

Contract

This is a G-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as General Service and related categories. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 4 years of experience, depending on education. More about G-4 contracts.

Org. Setting and Reporting This position is located in the Office of the Director (OD), United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Programme Management Officer of the Office of the Director and under the overall guidance of the Director, Office for Outer Space Affairs.

For more information on UNOOSA, please visit: www.unoosa.org .

Responsibilities Within assigned authority, the Team Assistant will be responsible for the following duties: - Perform a wide range of office support and administrative (including programme/project administration and budgeting) functions for the Office of the Director and the United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER). - Provide secretarial, administrative and logistics support to meetings, workshops, conferences, special events and other activities. Assist in preparing notes and minutes of team meetings as requested/assigned. - Assist with performing the administrative functions required for the recruitment of staff, consultants, contractors, non-reimbursable loans and interns. - Provide assistance and support in monitoring the status of expenditures, in preparing draft cost plans and update and prepare background documents for budget and programme planning purposes, submissions and related outputs. - Provide assistance in the applications for workshops and meetings, supplement mission information and make administrative arrangements for official travel for senior staff, participants and consultants/experts. Assist with monitoring the status of all travel authorizations and prepare travel expense reports following the conclusion of the activity. - Respond, draft and dispatch responses to routine correspondence and other communications. - Provide digital processing support, including word documents and Excel tables, scanning, digitalization of documents, posting to designated repositories. - Assist in monitoring processes and schedules related to the Programme's outputs, products, tasks, etc.; where applicable, assist in the verification of receipt and accuracy of requisite documents, approvals, signatures, etc. to ensure compliance with relevant legal, financial and other requirements. - Research, compile and organize information and reference materials from various sources for reports, work plans, studies, briefings, meetings/conferences, etc. - Assist in generating a variety of standard statistical and other reports, work orders, etc., using various databases. - Proofread documents and edit texts for accuracy, grammar, punctuation and style, and for adherence to established standards for format. - Assist in the preparation of presentations and outreach materials using appropriate technology/software. - Maintain calendar/schedules; monitor changes and communicate relevant information to appropriate staff inside and outside the immediate work unit. - Review, record, distribute and/or process mail and other documents; follow-up on impending actions. - Update and maintain distribution lists; monitor, prepare and distribute various materials, reports, where possible using electronic formats; handle arrangement for printing and translation as necessary; coordinate shipment arrangements, courier services, etc. - Perform other general administrative tasks as needed (e.g. leave and attendance recording, arrangements for meetings and other events, reservations, preparing and/or processing administrative requests/documents, requisitions, purchase orders, travel requests, contracts, expenditure authorizations, visa applications, etc.). - Assist in backstopping, as may be necessary, other General Service colleagues during periods of absences or leave. - Maintain files (both paper and electronic) and databases for assigned work units. - Perform other work-related duties as assigned.

Competencies - Professionalism: Has knowledge of general office and administrative support (including programme/project administration and budgeting). Has knowledge of administrative policies, processes and procedures. Is able to apply various United Nations administrative, financial and human resources rules and regulations in work situations. Has understanding of the functions and organization of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. Is able to work well and accurately with figures, undertakes basic research and gathers information from standard sources. Has demonstrated ability to apply good judgment in the context of assignments given. 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 in all areas of work.

• 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 & 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.

  Education High-school diploma or equivalent.

  Work Experience A minimum of three years of experience in providing administrative and programme/project management and budget support, or related area, is required. Experience in using office software packages (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages is required. Experience in working with an ERP system is required. Work experience in SAP/Umoja is desirable. Experience in providing administrative support directly to senior managers 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 an advantage.

  Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview.

  Special Notice This position 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 each office, irrespective of their nationality and of the length of time they may have been in the country. Non-local candidates will be considered only when no suitable candidate from the duty station is identified and will be subject to local recruitment. A staff member subject to local recruitment shall not be eligible for the allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment.

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.

Other Skills and Requirements Passing the Global General Service Test (GGST) is a prerequisite for recruitment consideration in the General Services and related categories in the United Nations Secretariat. Applicants who have not passed the GGST at the time of application may be invited for the test after submitting an application.

The GGST is a proctored entry-level examination at the duty station. Any travel expenses incurred in order to take the examination are the responsibility of the candidate and will not be reimbursed by the Organization.

Having passed the Administrative Support Assessment Test [in English] at the United Nations headquarters, Economic Commission for Africa, Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, United Nations Office at Geneva, United Nations Office at Vienna, International criminal tribunal for Rwanda or International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia may be accepted in lieu of the GGST.

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.

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.