Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG), of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) in New York. The Senior Programme Assistant reports to the Chief of the National Strategies and Capacity Building Branch.

Responsibilities

Under the guidance of the Chief of the National Strategies and Capacity Building Branch of the Division for Sustainable Development Goals and within the limits of the delegated authority, the Senior Programme Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:
1. Provide full range of programme/project management and implementation assistance at all phases of the programme/project cycle for, typically, a large and highly complex component of the Division’s capacity development initiatives, seeking guidance only in exceptional circumstances.
2. Assist in the preparation and analysis of project budget proposals; provide assistance in the interpretation of budget guidelines; review and coordinate submissions of project proposals and budget estimates, ensuring that requisite information is included and justified in terms of proposed activities; propose adjustments as necessary; ensure that outputs are properly categorized.
3. Assist in the monitoring and evaluation of projects; categorize, update, track and analyze information related to project activities, e.g. accounting records, outputs, resources utilized, revisions, etc.; carry out periodic status reviews, identifying issues and initiating requisite follow-up actions; prepare revised budget estimates in consultation with finance and substantive officers; report on budget revisions, expenditures and obligations, verify availability of funds; ensure necessary approval and entry in computerized budget system; initiate financial authorizations for expenditures.
4. Liaise with the Capacity Development Programme Management Office, the Procurement Division, Regional DCOs, Resident Coordinators, UN Country Teams, UNDP country offices and other relevant organizational units to initiate requests, obtain necessary clearances, process and follow-up on administrative actions and resolve issues related to the implementation of project activities, e.g. recruitment and appointment of project personnel, consultants and individual contractors, travel arrangements, organization of expert group meetings, workshops and other training seminars/study tours; authorization of payments, disbursement of funds; procurement of equipment and services and subcontracts, etc.
5. Draft budget and forecast based on submissions; prepares monitoring checklists, identifying stages of programme/project development, funding source, inputs by reviewing internal and external bodies, and follow-up actions required.
6.Monitor financial commitments, including verification of charges and obligation documents in Umoja for all financial transactions; prepares periodic budget revisions and ensures appropriate resource allocations; reconciles accounts with amended budget; evaluates trends of financial implementation and makes necessary recommendations to line managers.
7.Serve as focal point for coordination, monitoring and expediting of implementation activities and participates in programme/project evaluation; monitor implementation at all stages to ensure work is proceeding according to established plans, including analysing implementation difficulties and initiating remedial action; liaises with diverse organizational units to initiate requests; prepares standard terms of reference against programme/project objectives, obtains necessary clearances, processes and follows-up on administrative actions and resolves issues related to project implementation, e.g. recruitment and appointment of personnel, consultants and individual contractors, travel arrangements, organization of and participation in training/study tours, authorization of payments, disbursement of funds, procurement of equipment and services, etc.
8. May undertake mission/field work in support of above activities, e.g. specific administrative, operational/control tasks for programme/project activities.
9. Arrange for formal closures of projects, final financial reports, transfer of equipment, clearance, publication and distribution of final reports.
10. Establish internal databases; sets up, files, stores and manages data and information relevant to the scope of programme/project activities.
11. Direct, train, review/check the output of office support staff, as needed.
10.Perform other duties as assigned.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of internal policies, processes and procedures in general and, in particular, those related to programme/project administration, implementation and evaluation, technical cooperation, programming and budgeting. Understanding of the functions and organization of the Division for Sustainable Development Goals and the Department of Economic and Social Affairs and of the organizational structure and respective roles of related units. Ability to identify, independently assess, formulate recommendations and/or resolve a wide range of issues/problems, undertake research and gather information from standard sources and to work well with figures including ability to analyze and understand financial data. Ability to design information data bases from multiple sources into an integrated programme evaluation system. Ability to direct, supervise and train office support staff. Demonstrated ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given and discretion, resourcefulness and ability to deal proactively and tactfully with offices throughout the organization. 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.

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 AND 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. Supplementary courses/training in accounting, project management or other relevant fields is desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in programme or project administration, technical cooperation or related area relevant to the position is required.
Experience in the use of Umoja functions or any other enterprise resources planning system to perform the responsibilities of the position is required.
Experience in IMDIS or any other monitoring and evaluation system is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required.

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. 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. A staff member subject to local recruitment shall not be eligible for the allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment.

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. 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; or the United Nations Accounting or Statistical Assistant Examination at the United Nations Headquarters may be accepted in lieu of the GGST.

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

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.

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.