Administrative Assistant, New York

• Organization: ODA - Office for Disarmament Affairs
• Country: United States
• City: New York, USA
• Grade: G-6

Closing date: Saturday, 20 June 2015

Posting Title: Administrative Assistant, G6
Job Code Title: ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Department/ Office: Office for Disarmament Affairs
Duty Station: NEW YORK
Posting Period: 21 May 2015-20 June 2015
Job Opening number: 15-ADM-ODA-38326-R-NEW YORK (X)
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
Special Notice
Recruitment for this position is done on a local basis, whether or not the candidate is a resident of the duty station.
Passing the Administrative Assessment Support Test (ASAT) in English at Headquarters, ECA, ESCWA, UNOG, UNOV, ICTR, or ICTY or the Global General Service Test (GGST) is a prerequisite for recruitment consideration in the General Service category in the United Nations Secretariat.

Extension of appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/or the availabitliy of the funds.
Candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on 'The Application Process' and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on 'Manuals' hyper-link on the upper right side of inspira account-holder homepage.
Applications are pre-screened by the system according to the published requirements of the job opening on the basis of the information provided in the application. In relation to the requirements of the job opening, applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their qualifications, including their education, work experience, and language skills. Each applicant must bear in mind that submission in complete or inaccurate applications may render that applicant ineligible for consideration for the job opening. Initial screening and evaluation of applications will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted. Applications cannot be amended following submission. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to a reference-checking process to verify the information provided in the application.
Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at midnight (New York time) on the deadline date.
Organizational Setting and Reporting
The position is located in the Executive Office of the Office for Disarmament Affairs (ODA). The incumbent reports to the Executive Officer of ODA under the supervision of the Senior Administrative Assistant. The Executive Office manages ODA's human and financial resources in compliance with UN regulations and rules; manages resources necessary for the implementation of ODA's national, sub-regional and regional disarmament projects and programmes; provides consistent and maximum quality services and support to ODA's programme of work.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Administrative Assistant will be responsible for the following duties
HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

• Initiates and follows-up on actions related to the administration of the unit's human resource activities, e.g., recruitment of staff and consultants, placement, promotion, relocation, performance appraisal, job classification reviews, separation of staff members, training etc., ensuring consistency in the application of UN rules and procedures.
• Responds to enquiries and provides information to staff regarding their entitlements, administrative procedures, processes and practices, conditions of service, duties and responsibilities, and entitlements under the Staff Rules and Regulations.
• Monitors staffing table and prepare relevant statistical data/charts.

BUDGET AND FINANCE

• Assists in the preparation and review of financial and human resource proposals/requirements. Consolidates budget/work programme with respect to Headquarters' budget, trust funds, grants and procurement.
• Monitors expenditures and compares with approved budget; prepares adjustments as necessary.
• Assists managers in the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions.
• Assists in preparation of budget performance submissions and finalization of budget performance reports, analysing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures.
• Processes travel requests, travel claims and financial authorizations.
• Reviews allotment requests and expenditure reports prepares the necessary IMIS and other documents.
• Prepares or customizes financial reports from IMIS system generated reports.
• Co-ordinates with other finance and budget staff on related issues during preparation of budget reports.

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

• Drafts routine correspondence to respond to enquiries in respect to relevant administrative, financial audit, personnel matters.
• 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 seminars, conferences and translations).
• May be responsible for guiding, training, and supervising the work of more junior General Service staff.

CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION

• 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, database management, etc.
• Ability to apply knowledge of various United Nations administrative, financial and human resources rules and regulations in work situations.
• Ability to work well with figures, undertake basic research and gather information from standard sources.
• Knowledge and experience in MS Office applications is required.
• 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& 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.

Work Experience

• A minimum of seven years of relevant experience in administrative services, finance, accounting, audit, human resources or related area.
• Experience in using an integrated information management system, such as IMIS other similar systems is required.
• Experience in preparing financial analyses and reports 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.
• Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Assessment Method
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
United Nations Considerations
The United Nations shall place 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. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, TRAINING OR ANY OTHER FEES). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON BANK ACCOUNTS