SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT – RCS

By Osama Elsheikh Last updated Sep 17, 2021

Job Description

Department/Office:	Resident Coordinator System
Posting Title:	Senior Executive Associate (Khartoum), G7
Job Code Title:	SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Duty Station:	KHARTOUM
Posting Period:	16 September 2021 – 30 September 2021
Job Opening Number:	21-Administration-RCS-164093-R-Khartoum (X)
Staffing Exercise	N/A

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the RCO in Sudan and reports to Head of the Unit.

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Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Administrative Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:

General Administration: Organization and Scheduling

Manage the DSRSG/RC/HC agenda, schedule appointments, travels and organize as required, including by maintaining contacts with Government Officials, Diplomatic corps, high-ranking visitors, UNCT;
Maintenance of rosters of high-level partners, telephone lists
Ensure that briefing materials are provided in timely manner for the appointments, meetings, missions and all engagements on the schedule, compile the daily briefing book;
Organize logistics for DSRSG/RC/HC travel;
Receives analyses and distributes correspondence, letters, memoranda etc and ensures appropriate logging, follow-up and response;
Preparation of correspondence, directives, comments on behalf of UNRC/HC for his/her signature and following-up when required.
Maintenance of the filing system ensuring safekeeping of confidential materials. Use of automated filing system.
Coordinates extensively with service units and liaises frequently with internal team members both at Headquarters, UNCT, Government and other partners in the field;

Human Resources Management

Provide support to the coordination of various actions related to the administration of the unit’s human resource activities, e.g., recruitment, placement, promotion, relocation, performance appraisal, job classification reviews, separation of staff members, training etc., ensuring consistency in the application of UN rules and procedures. Liaises with central administration/executive services as required.
Contributes to the maintenance of vacancy announcement files and keeps track of status of vacancy announcements.
Contributes to reviews and processes personnel actions through UMOJA.
Advises staff on visa matters.
Provides advice and answers general queries on classification procedures and processes.
Provides information and advice to staff/consultants with respect to conditions of service, duties and responsibilities, and privileges and entitlements under the Staff Rules and Regulations.
Monitors UMOJA staffing tables for a variety of human resource activities, e.g., appointments, retirement, expiration of appointments, reassignments, transfer and movement of staff.

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Budget and Finance

Provides assistance in the preparation and development of the unit’s work programme and budget.
Assists in monitoring budget/work programme with respect to various budgets, trust funds, grant and other funds on a regular basis, and suggests reallocations of resources and implements the reallocations as necessary.
Provides assistance in the review, and preparation of the medium-term plan and its revisions.
Reviews, analyses and assists in the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements from departments/offices at headquarters and in the field, including programmatic aspects; ensures compliance with the medium-term plan and other legislative mandates.
Assists managers in the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions.
Assists in monitoring budget implementation/expenditures and recommends reallocation of funds as necessary.
Reviews requisitions for goods and services to ensure (a) correct objects of expenditure have been charged, and (b) availability of funds.
Assists monitoring extra-budgetary resources, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures.
Assists in the preparation of budget performance submissions.
Assists in finalization of budget performance reports, analysing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures as necessary.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following:

Staff within work unit. Staff/clients in Department
Human resource, administrative, budget and accounting staff in missions and Headquarters, support services and conference services staff.
Consulting firms.

Results Expected:

Independently applies extensive administrative knowledge and experience across a wide range of human resources, work programming/planning, budget/financial management, and administrative tasks of the Department/Unit. Effectively manages and supervises general service staff.

Introduction To Human Resource Management

Competencies

•PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to perform a broad range of administrative functions, e.g., budget/work programme, human resources, office management, 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.

•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.

•CLIENT ORIENTATION: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent is required. Must have passed the United Nations Global General Services Test (GGST). Please see Special Notice section for more information.

Work Experience

10 (ten) years of experience in administrative services, finance, accounting, audit, human resources or related area is required.
Knowledge of Sudanese culture and context is highly desired.

Languages

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

The English language courses offered by US EMBASSY

Assessment

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

Special Notice

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. Staff members who were granted a fixed-term, continuing or permanent appointment as a result of having passed a predecessor test recognized by the Office of Human Resources Management, and who have continuously held such appointments, are not required to take the new test. Having passed the Administrative Support Assessment Test [in English] at the United Nations Headquarters or one of the United Nations Offices Away from Headquarters (OAHs) may be accepted in lieu of the GGST.

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.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

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.

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.

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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.

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