Programme Management Assistant (Temporary)

at  United Nations

Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the Asset Recovery/Illicit Financial Flows Programme team of the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) in Brussels, Belgium. The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Senior Legal Officer (Asset Recovery). For more information, please visit: www.unicri.org
Responsibilities
Within assigned authority, the incumbent will be responsible for administrative assistance in the implementation of projects, particularly: • Assist in preparing and analyzing project budget proposals; assist in interpreting budget guidelines; ensure that requisite information is included and justified in terms of proposed activities; propose adjustments as necessary; prepare revised budget estimates; support the preparation of financial reports and ensure that expenditures are correctly categorized; • Assist in the monitoring of programmes budgets and expenditures; categorize, update, track and analyze data related to projects, e.g., accounting records, outputs, resources utilized, revisions, carry out periodic status reviews, identify issues and initiate requisite follow-up actions; report on budget revisions, expenditures and obligations, verify availability of funds; • Initiate creation of grants, allotments of funds, shopping carts, fund commitments, financial authorizations for expenditure, service entry sheets, payments processing, and other necessary actions as required and ensure their necessary entry and approval using relevant UN software, such as the in-house SAP system, UMOJA; • Serve as focal point for planning and monitoring project resources, involving extensive liaison with different stakeholders to initiate requests, prepare and review standard terms of references, obtain necessary clearances, process and follow-up on administrative actions and resolve related issues; • Carry out a wide range of administrative support functions for the recruitment and selection of personnel, travel arrangements, organization of and participation in meetings, authorization of payments, disbursement of funds, and procurement of equipment and services. • Respond or draft responses to routine correspondence and other communications in English; use standard word processing packages to produce a wide variety of large, complex documents and reports. • May be responsible for providing guidance, training, and daily supervision to other general service staff in the area of responsibility. • Assist with the collection and analysis of data as well as preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision making. • Assist with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures. • Perform other work-related duties as assigned.
Competencies
Professionalism: Has knowledge of internal policies, processes and procedures generally and in particular those related to programme/project administration, implementation and evaluation, technical cooperation, programming and budgeting. Has an understanding of the functions and organization of the work unit and the organizational structure and respective roles of related units. Has the ability to perform analysis, modelling, and interpretation of data in support of decision-making. Has the ability to identify and resolve a range of issues/problems and to work well with figures, undertake basic research and gather information from standard sources. Has demonstrated ability to apply sound judgment in the given assignments. Shows pride in work and 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 complex problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all work areas. 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 audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within the prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for their own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.
Education
High school diploma or equivalent is required.
Job - Specific Qualification
Not available.
Work Experience
A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible work experience in programme, project administration, or a related area is required. The minimum number of years of relevant work experience is reduced to five for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher. Work experience with grants management processes, and experience in Enterprise Resource Planning systems (ERP) is required. Work experience using the in-house SAP system, UMOJA, is desirable. Work experience with the United Nations system or other similar international organizations’ administrative and financial procedures is desirable. Work experience in working with the European Union (EU) funded programmes 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 another official United Nations language is an advantage.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview.
Special Notice
This position is temporarily available for six month. The filling of this temporary vacancy and its actual duration are subject to the availability of the post and funding. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment or other modality. While this temporary assignment (or other modality) may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. This position is funded by extra-budgetary resources and is limited to UNICRI. 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. Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as “retirement.” Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service. 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. Education qualifications exceeding the specified requirement of this job opening including university degrees and certificates shall not give rise to additional entitlements or benefits or facilitate a move to the Professional category. The movement of staff members from the General Service and related categories to the Professional category in the United Nations Secretariat is exclusively allowed through the Young Professionals Programme competitive examinations. Only a few staff members pass the competitive examinations. Passing the competitive examinations does not guarantee movement to the Professional category. For further information, please visit https://careers.un.org.
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. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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

Please refer the Job description for details