UN Jobs
United Nations(UN) Is Hiring A Staff Assistant APPLY NOW
Background
The United Nations is a diplomatic and political international organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and serve as a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.
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About UN
- Membership: The UN is composed of 193 member states, each represented in the General Assembly, where they discuss and make decisions on a wide range of global issues. The UN provides a forum for dialogue and cooperation among nations with diverse political, economic, and social systems.
- Peace and Security: The UN plays a vital role in maintaining international peace and security. It mediates conflicts, deploys peacekeeping missions, and promotes disarmament efforts. The Security Council, with five permanent members and ten rotating members, is responsible for maintaining global peace and security.
- Development: The UN is committed to promoting sustainable development and addressing global challenges such as poverty, hunger, inequality, and climate change. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), guides UN efforts to achieve a sustainable and prosperous future for all.
- Human Rights: The UN is a strong advocate for human rights, working to protect and promote the fundamental rights and dignity of every individual. It has developed and upholds international human rights standards, monitors human rights situations globally, and supports the work of human rights defenders.
- International Law and Justice: The UN promotes the rule of law and supports the development and implementation of international legal frameworks. The International Court of Justice, located in The Hague, is the UN’s principal judicial organ, resolving disputes between states.
- Humanitarian Action: The UN coordinates and provides humanitarian assistance in response to crises and disasters worldwide. It works to alleviate suffering, protect vulnerable populations, and ensure the delivery of essential services, such as food, water, healthcare, and shelter, in times of need.
- Global Collaboration: The UN serves as a platform for international collaboration and cooperation on a wide range of issues, including climate change, public health, gender equality, education, and more. It facilitates dialogue, knowledge sharing, and the pooling of resources to address global problems collectively.
Through its various specialized agencies, programs, and funds, such as UNICEF, UNDP, WHO, and UNHCR, the UN carries out its mandates and works towards achieving its objectives in collaboration with member states, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders
Why work at UN
- Global Impact: The UN provides a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on global issues and contribute to positive change on a global scale. By working at the UN, you can be part of efforts to address major challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, conflicts, and human rights violations.
- Multicultural and Diverse Environment: The UN brings together a diverse workforce from around the world, providing a multicultural and inclusive work environment. Working alongside colleagues from different backgrounds, cultures, and expertise fosters cross-cultural understanding, collaboration, and learning.
- Professional Development: The UN offers numerous opportunities for professional growth and development. You can gain valuable experience, expand your skill set, and enhance your expertise in various fields, such as diplomacy, international relations, development, peacekeeping, humanitarian affairs, and more.
- International Networking: Working at the UN allows you to build a global network of contacts, including diplomats, experts, and professionals from different countries and sectors. This network can be beneficial for future career opportunities, collaborations, and knowledge sharing.
- Challenging and Rewarding Assignments: The UN deals with complex and challenging issues that require innovative thinking, problem-solving skills, and a global perspective. Working on such assignments can be intellectually stimulating and personally fulfilling, knowing that your efforts contribute to addressing pressing global problems.
- Peace and Humanitarian Work: The UN plays a pivotal role in promoting peace, resolving conflicts, and providing humanitarian assistance in crisis-affected areas. By working in these areas, you can directly contribute to saving lives, protecting vulnerable populations, and supporting peacebuilding efforts.
- Exposure to International Diplomacy: The UN serves as a hub for international diplomacy, providing opportunities to engage in high-level negotiations, participate in diplomatic meetings, and contribute to shaping global policies and agreements. This exposure can provide valuable insights into global governance and international relations.
- Work-Life Balance and Benefits: The UN emphasizes work-life balance and offers competitive compensation packages, including salary, health insurance, pension, and other benefits. It also promotes flexible work arrangements, family-friendly policies, and employee well-being programs.
- Making a Difference: Working at the UN allows you to align your career with a sense of purpose and contribute to the collective effort of creating a better world. It provides a platform to advocate for human rights, sustainable development, peace, and social justice.
- Prestige and Reputation: The UN is highly respected and recognized globally for its role in addressing global challenges. Working at the UN enhances your professional reputation and opens doors to opportunities in international organizations, governments, academia, and other sectors.
Responsibilities:
The Staff Assistant is responsible for the following duties and responsibilities:
- Assisting in the overall administration of the Office by providing substantive and administrative support in managing priorities and workflow of the Under-Secretary-General and the work unit.
- Coordinating and monitoring multiple and diverse activities and work processes to ensure that management directives and decisions are properly implemented and products are delivered in a timely manner.
- Organizing official meetings, events, receptions, etc., and handling all necessary arrangements such as room reservations, guest/participant lists, invitations, catering, seating arrangements, background documentation, and special equipment.
- Handling a wide range of administrative duties and processes including travel arrangements, visa applications, expense statements, telecommunications charges, equipment purchase, service and supply requisitions, and conference room bookings.
- Acting as a communications link between the supervisor and senior staff, keeping others informed by conveying directives, reports, status updates, and other relevant information. Bringing sensitive and urgent matters to the attention of the manager.
- Taking full responsibility for time management and scheduling on behalf of the manager, effectively prioritizing and resolving conflicts and competing demands.
- Serving as the first point of contact and liaison with senior officials both internally and externally.
- Screening and prioritizing all incoming correspondence, compiling relevant background documents and references, identifying issues requiring the manager’s attention, and referring others to the relevant officer for appropriate disposition. Monitoring and following up on actions to be taken.
- Independently handling a wide range of complex information requests and inquiries, responding or drafting responses to diverse correspondence and other communications.
- Supporting the unit in presentations to intergovernmental bodies and other meetings, conducting research on issues, coordinating the preparation of briefing notes, slides, and subject files, and gathering relevant documentation.
- Preparing, processing, and classifying confidential information.
- Exercising quality control function for all outgoing documents, proofreading and editing texts for adherence to format, grammar, punctuation, and style.
- Performing other duties as assigned.
Competencies:
The Staff Assistant should demonstrate the following competencies:
- Professionalism: Possess knowledge of general office and administrative support, including administrative policies, processes, and procedures. Shows pride in work, demonstrates professional competence, meets commitments, observes deadlines, achieves results, and remains calm in stressful situations. Commits to implementing gender equality goals.
- Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively, listens to others, interprets messages correctly, asks questions for clarification, and exhibits interest in two-way communication. Tailors language, tone, style, and format to match the audience, shares information openly, and keeps people informed.
- Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals, values others’ ideas and expertise, and learns from others. Places the team’s agenda before personal agenda, supports group decisions, shares credit for accomplishments, and accepts joint responsibility for shortcomings.
- Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals consistent with agreed strategies, identifies priority activities and assignments, adjusts priorities as required, allocates time and resources appropriately, foresees risks and plans for contingencies, monitors and adjusts plans when necessary, and uses time efficiently.
- Client Orientation: Considers all those receiving services as “clients,” seeks to understand their perspective, establishes productive partnerships, identifies clients’ needs and provides suitable solutions, monitors developments to anticipate problems, keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks, and meets timeline for delivery.
Education:
High school diploma or equivalent is required.
Work Experience:
A minimum of seven (7) years of experience in working in and supporting high-level front office activities is required. Experience in organizing and supporting meetings, protocol activities, and managing calendars is required. Experience in handling high volumes of incoming and outgoing correspondence in a fast-paced setting is required.
Languages:
Fluency in oral and written English is required. English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat.
