Switzerland: Programme Management Officer/Special Assistant, P4 (Temporary Job Opening)

This position is located in the Office of the Special Adviser on Solutions to Internal Displacement, Geneva, which reports to the Under-Secretary-General for Policy in the Executive Office of the UN Secretary-General.

The incumbent will report to the Special Adviser on Solutions to Internal Displacement. In addition to serving as Programme Management Officer/Special Assistant to the Special Adviser, the incumbent will also manage the Office’s internal information and knowledge management platform. The incumbent is also expected to serve as focal point on focal point on children and gender issues,

Responsibilities: 

Within delegated authority, the Programme Management Officer/Special Assistant will be responsible for the
following duties:

• Supports the Special Adviser in his daily work through oversight of the ASG’s calendar, liaison with internal and external partners and support to key decision-making within OSA;
• Drafts presentations, talking points, collects data for the Special Adviser’s public advocacy in coordination with the Communications Adviser;
• Brings to the attention of the Special Adviser all matters requiring his/her personal attention, assists in formulating options as to how those matters might be handled, and ensures appropriate follow-up, as directed;
• Handles incoming and outgoing correspondence of the Special Adviser;
• Prepares various written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc.;
• Supports quality assurance for all material addressed to the Special Adviser;
• Provides substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., including proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations;
• Coordinates and periodically participates in field missions, including preparing the Special Adviser’s agenda, drafting mission summaries, etc.
• Supports in tracking the strategic deliverables of the OSA and manages the office’s knowledge and information management platform;
• Takes on specific portfolios as required working within OSA as required, including serving as focal point on children and gender issues.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies: 

• Professionalism:
  • Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to particular sector, functional area or other specialized field.
  • Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods.
  • Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases.
  • Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities.
  • 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 and ensuring the equal participation of women and men 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: 

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or Doctorate degree, or equivalent) in business administration, management, economics or related fields is required.
• A first-level degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the specified fields of studies with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience: 

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in sustainable development or humanitarian affairs is required.
• Experience in child protection and gender issues in the field locations in complex emergency and/or natural disaster contexts is required.
• Experience in development planning and policy formulation in inter-agency or inter-organizational setting is required.
• Experience in performing the duties of a Special Assistant is desirable.
• Three (3) years of field experience working at the country level is desirable.
• Experience in working with a multicultural team at country, regional and global levels is desirable.
• Experience in the United Nations system or a comparable international organization is desirable.
• Field experience in development cooperation is desirable.

Languages:

• French and English are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

Assessment: 

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

Special Notice: 

• The appointment/assignment is for a duration up 364 days with the possibility of extension, subject to availability of funds and mandate extension. The selected candidate is expected to start in as soon as possible.
• A current staff member who holds a fixed-term, permanent or continuing appointment may apply for temporary positions no more than one level above his or her current grade. However, a current staff member who holds an appointment at the G-6 or G-7 level may also apply to temporary positions in the Professional category up to and including the P-3 level, subject to meeting all eligibility and other requirements for the position. A staff member holding a temporary appointment shall be regarded as an external candidate when applying for other positions, and may apply for other temporary positions at any level, subject to section 5.7 below and staff rule 4.16 (b) (ii). Therefore, a staff member holding a temporary appointment in the General Service or related categories may only apply to positions within those categories. For full information on eligibility requirements, please refer to section 5 of ST/AI/2010/4Rev.1 on Temporary Appointments. In its resolution 66/234, the General Assembly further "stressed that the Secretary-General should not recur to the practice of temporarily filling posts in the Professional and higher categories with General Service staff members who have not passed the General Service to Professional category examination other than on an exceptional basis, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that temporary occupation of such posts by the General Service staff shall not exceed a period of one year, effective 1 January 2013…" Consequently, eligible candidates in the General Service or related categories for temporary job openings in the Professional category that have not passed the competitive examination may be selected only on an exceptional basis endorsed by the Office of Human Resources Management where no other suitable candidate could be identified.
• Upon separation from service, including, but not limited to, expiration or termination of, or resignation from, a fixed-term, continuing or permanent appointment, a former staff member will be ineligible for re-employment on the basis of a temporary appointment for a period of 31 days following the separation. In the case of separation from service on retirement, a former staff member will be ineligible for re-employment for a period of three months following the separation. This equally applies, mutatis mutandis, with respect to a former or current staff member who has held or holds an appointment in another entity applying the United Nations Staff Regulations and Rules and who applies for a temporary position with the Secretariat.
• Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.
• While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. An external candidate selected for this position is bound by the prevailing condition of the staff selection system under ST/AI/2010/3, as amended, and ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1. A staff member holding a temporary appointment who is recruited in the Professional and above categories on a temporary appointment, and placed on a position authorized for one year or longer may not apply for or be reappointed to his/her current position within six months of the end of his/her current service. This provision does not apply to staff members holding temporary appointments and placed on positions authorized for one year or more in duty stations authorized for peacekeeping operations or special political missions.
• For information on special post allowance, please refer to ST/AI/1999/17. For more details on the administration of temporary appointments please refer to ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1.
• The Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and administrative issuances governing staff appointments can be viewed at: http://www.un.org/hr_handbook/English
• Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply.
• Staff members are not eligible to apply for the current temporary job opening if they are unable to serve the specified duration of temporary need before reaching the mandatory age of separation. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.

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.

How to Apply: 

Apply here

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.