ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, G5

Org. Setting and Reporting

The Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA) has a mandate to enhance international support for Africa's development and security through its advocacy and analytical work, assist the Secretary-General in improving coherence and coordination of the UN System support to Africa at the global level, in particular relating to the support for the African Union’s Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, and establish a monitoring mechanism for commitments to Africa's development. This mandate is implemented through the following key functional roles: advisory, advocacy, coordination, and monitoring. This position is in the Office of the Under-Secretary-General of the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa. The incumbent reports to the Programme Management Officer.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Administrative Assistant will be responsible for the following duties: Human Resources Management •Initiates, processes, monitors, reviews and follows up on actions related to the administration of the unit's human resource activities, e.g., recruitment, placement, relocation, promotion, performance appraisal, job classification reviews, separation, training, etc., ensuring consistency in the application of regulations and procedures. •Enters, maintains and certifies administrative data and records for time and attendance, performance appraisal, etc. in electronic information systems. •Provides advice and guidance to staff with respect to administrative procedures, processes and practices, liaising with central administrative services as necessary. Planning, Budget and Finance •Monitors status of programme and budget implementation, expenditures and allotments through the IPMR, records variations, updates budget tables. •Consolidates data received, assists with data acquisition, data cleansing, maintaining databases, and provides support to higher-level staff with respect to budget reviews of relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies. •Reviews status of relevant expenditures and compares with approved budget. •Reviews requisitions for goods and services to ensure (a) correct objects of expenditure have been charged and (b) availability of funds. •Assists in the preparation of the programme budget and programme budget performance submissions. •Prepares statistical tables and standard financial reports. General Administration •Prepares, processes and follows-up on administrative arrangements and forms related to the Office's activities, including the official travel of staff, and assists with process improvement mechanisms. •Drafts routine correspondence, assists with reports and communications products and maintains/updates web pages. •Maintains files of rules, regulations, administrative instructions and other related documentation; supports the implementation of administrative management regulations of the Secretariat, including Enterprise Risk Management, Internal Controls, Business Continuity and Business Improvement, and supports the monitoring of their implementation. •Maintains up-to-date work unit files (both paper and electronic). •Coordinates extensively with service units and liaises frequently with internal team members both at Headquarters and in the field. •Performs other related administrative duties, as required, e.g., operational travel programme; monitoring accounts and payment to vendors and individual contractors for services; physical space planning; identification of office technology needs and maintenance of equipment, software and systems; organizing and coordinating administrative arrangements for seminars, conferences and translations. Contract Administration •Assists with day-to-day administration of contracts between the UN and external contractors for outsourced services. •Audits the contractors' invoices against the goods and services provided by the contractor and approved by the UN. •Processes the payment of contractors' invoices and monitors payments. •Prepares and processes all UN forms and permissions for contractual and work Unit, Section or Service UN staff, including: UN grounds passes, property passes, UN parking permits, swipe-card access and door keys.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to perform a broad range of administrative functions, e.g., budget/work programme, human resources, database management, etc. Ability to apply knowledge of various United Nations administrative, financial and human resources rules and regulations in work situations. 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. 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. TECHNOLOGICAL AWARENESS: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of experience in administrative service, finance, accounting, audit, human resources or related area is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to three years for candidates who possess a first level degree or higher Experience with an Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP) system such as Umoja or similar, is required

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).

Required Languages

Language Reading Writing Listening Speaking

English UN Level II UN Level II UN Level II UN Level II

Desirable Languages

Language Reading Writing Listening Speaking

French UN Level II UN Level II UN Level II UN Level II

Assessment

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

Special Notice

This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. Applicants for positions in the General Service and related categories must be authorized to work for the United Nations in the duty station where the position is located. Eligible applicants selected from outside the duty station are responsible for any expenses in connection with their relocation to the duty station. Staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment. Appointment against this post is open for an initial period of one year. 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. The appointment or assignment and renewal; is therefore subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate. Applicants who have reached the mandatory age of separation are not eligible to apply for job openings to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

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.