STAFF ASSISTANT

Created in December ‎1999, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk
Reduction (UNDRR) is the designated focal point in the United Nations system
for the coordination of efforts to reduce disasters and to ensure synergies
among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional
organizations and activities in both developed and less developed countries.
Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for
Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG), UNDRR has over ‎140 staff located in its
headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional offices. Specifically,
UNDRR guides, monitors, analyses and reports on progress in the implementation
of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction ‎2015-‎2030, supports
regional and national implementation of the Framework and catalyzes action and
increases global awareness to reduce disaster risk working with UN Member
States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil
society, the private sector, parliamentarians and the science and technology
community.

This position is located in the UNDRR Regional Office for Arab States in
Cairo. The incumbent reports to the Associate Administrative Officer.
Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Associate Administrative Officer, the Staff
Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:

• Provide direct assistance to the Chief of Office, and performs, under minimal supervision, full range of office management and administrative support functions. Assists in the development of office administrative systems and procedures.


• Maintains liaison with the Programme Officers in the Office and in other units regarding on-going programmes and other administrative matters; monitors processes and schedules related to the branch's outputs, products, tasks, etc.


• Provides assistance in the coordination of Office-wide activities (meetings, training, etc.), special projects and events.


• Attends meetings, prepares minutes, and monitors follow-up activities.


• Maintains calendar/schedules; monitors changes and communicate relevant information to appropriate staff inside and outside the immediate work unit.


• Ensures smooth and efficient information flow within the branch; prepares and processes confidential information.


• Researches, compiles and summarizes background materials for use in preparation of reports, briefs, speeches, etc.


• Manages, updates and further develops internal databases; updates website; generates a variety of standard and non-standard statistical and other reports from various databases.


• Assists in the preparation of presentation materials using appropriate technology/software.


• Orients new staff to relevant administrative procedures and practices and provides general assistance to other office support staff, as required; may coordinate the work of office support staff in providing meetings servicing/administrative support to various sessions of commissions and other bodies.


• Responds or drafts responses to a wide range of correspondence and other communications; uses standard word processing package to produce a wide variety of large, complex documents and reports.


• Maintains files (both paper and electronic) and databases for work unit.


• Carries out quality control function for outgoing documents; proofreads and edits texts for adherence for format, grammar, punctuation and style.


• Performs a variety of administrative duties (e.g. leave recording, meeting organization, reservations, office supply and equipment orders, etc.), including preparing and/or processing administrative requests/documents (e.g., travel requests, expense reports, vouchers, etc.) and assisting in protocol-related issues such as facilitating visa applications with concerned embassies. Acts as focal points for communication and IT-related issues in the office, liaising with the technical service provider as needed.


• Responds to complex information requests and inquiries (e.g. answers requests requiring file search, etc.).


• Performs other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
  Competencies
  Professionalism: Knowledge of the full range of communications approaches,
  tools, and methodologies essential to planning and executing effective
  campaign strategies and programmes, e.g. campaign management, media
  operations, marketing and promotion, audience outreach, message targeting.
  Knowledge of relevant policies and business activities/issues. 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.

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others,
correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks
questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication.
Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience. Demonstrates
openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

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 is required.
Work Experience
A minimum of five (‎5) years of work experience in administrative services or
other related area is required.

A minimum of two (‎2) years of work experience in providing support to
programme development, implementation and management is desirable.

A minimum of two (‎2) years of work experience in organizing and handling all
necessary arrangements for official receptions and/or technical meetings is
desirable.

Experience in administrative functions within the United Nations System or
similar international organization is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations
Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required.
Knowledge of Arabic is desirable.
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. Applicants for positions in the General
Service and related categories must be authorized to work for the United
Nations in the duty station where the position is located. Eligible applicants
selected from outside the duty station are responsible for any expenses in
connection with their relocation to the duty station. Staff members subject to
local recruitment are not eligible for 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. 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.

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.
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.

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon
request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.

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.