Background The UNV Field Units (FU) are mainly accountable for the mobilization and placement of UN Volunteers in UN Agencies, Funds, and Programmes focused on peace, development and humanitarian needs. The UNV Field Units represent and position UNV in the respective countries and bring UNV’s services and solutions closer to its partners from governments, UN entities, civil society and private sector.
Under the supervisor of the Regional Manager, the Programme Assistant provides administrative and operational assistance in UNV Field Unit, in support of volunteer mobilization and deployment.
Duties and Responsibilities
Volunteer mobilization and deployment support
Support the deployment and assignment management of all UN Volunteer modalities;Support the recruitment of national UN Volunteers, including updating and maintaining a national UN Volunteers local candidate talent pool in coordination with the Volunteer Services Centre (VSC);Maintain files of all UN Volunteers assigned to the assigned countries, ensuring that all correspondence and periodic reports (are properly kept in VMAM, and that related matters requiring action are brought to the attention of his/her supervisor;Monitor and keep records of the contractual status of all serving UN Volunteers and flag to VSC follow-up actions;Maintain up-to-date volunteer leave records and ensure that all UN Volunteers manage absences as per the UN Volunteer Conditions of Service;Maintain up to date contact records of all serving UN Volunteers, including their recognized dependents;Ensure that initial contract documents, beneficiary forms and inventories of personal effects of UN Volunteers are up-to-date, and submitted to UNV headquarters, VSC (through VMAM) in a timely manner, in accordance with the relevant provisions included in the UN Security Handbook as well as in the UN Volunteer Conditions of Service;Assist on the logistical and travel arrangements of arriving UN Volunteers and his/her recognized dependents;Facilitate government clearance and entry visas of incoming UN Volunteers and their recognized dependents;Provide the necessary support to UN Volunteers upon arrival, to open bank accounts as well as to complete forms required to obtain visas, residence permits, etc.;Undertake tasks for the local support of the UN Volunteers and recognized dependents in the assigned countries including in the cases of medical evacuation, security evacuations or the death of a UN Volunteer;Assist UNV HQ in ensuring all conditions are met before the payment of final entitlements to UN Volunteers at the end of their assignment.
Administrative and logistical support
Maintain inventories of all UNV-supplied, non-expendable equipment, and ensure records of all items purchased for UNV-executed projects are submitted to UNV headquarters;Maintain general office files and keep information and reference material in a manner that allows easy reference and retrieval;Perform other administrative duties as may be required.
Competencies
Core competencies
Innovation
Ability to make new and useful ideas work
Leadership
Ability to persuade others to follow
People Management
Ability to improve performance and satisfaction
Communication
Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform
Delivery
Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement
Technical/functional competencies
Office Administration
Ability to manage day-to-day office activities (including but not limited to travel management, facilities and asset management, policy and procedures maintenance) to meet operational needs
Operational Efficiency
Ability to identify and execute opportunities to improve operational efficiency
Quality Assurance
Ability to perform administrative and procedural activities to ensure that quality requirements and goals are fulfilled
Relationship Management
Ability to engage and foster strategic partnerships with other parties, inter-agency coordination and forge productive working relationships
Project Management
Ability to plan, organize, motivate, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
Knowledge Management
Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledgeRequired Skills and Experience
Education
Completed secondary education;
Certification in administration, accounting or finance desirable
Experience
5 years of relevant experience in administration and/or programme support services.
Language Requirements
Fluency in Spanish;Working knowledge in English;Proficiency in another official UN language is an asset.
Other
Experience using computers and office software packages (ERP, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.);Experience in handling of web-based management systems is highly desirable.