Temporary Job Opening 70156 at UNIC Yaounde:

Please be advised that there is a temporary job opening (TJO) number 70156 for the position of Administrative Assistantat the G-5 level in the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Yaounde with a deadline of1 December 2016, for an initial period of six months, with the possibility of extension.

Eligible candidates must complete and submit their applications in Inspira in order to apply. The instructions to search and apply for UNIC TJOs are attached in PDF format.
No applications sent by email, regular mail, or dropped off in person at the UNIC will be accepted.

This position is located in the United Nations Information Centre in Yaoundé (UNIC Yaoundé), within the Information Centres Service (ICS), Strategic Communications Division, Department of Public Information.

The UNIC Yaoundé is the principal source of information about the United Nations system in Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Gabon. The information centre is responsible for promoting public understanding and support for the aims and activities of the United Nations by disseminating UN information materials to a local audience in English and French; engaging local and regional partners; and, overall, bringing the United Nations closer to the people it serves.

The incumbent is under the overall supervision of an Administrative Officer at UN Headquarters and the direct supervision of a National Information Officer in Cameroon. At the local level, he or she is also accountable to the United Nations Resident Coordinator, who serves as the Director of UNIC Yaoundé.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the incumbent is responsible for the following duties

  • In coordination with the assigned ICS Administrative Assistant, reviews, processes and follows-up on actions related to the administration of UNIC Yaoundé's human resources, to include recruitment of staff and contractors/consultants, placement, promotion, performance appraisal, relocation, separation of staff members, travel, training, etc., ensuring consistency in the application of UN rules and procedures
  • Responds to enquiries and provides information and advice to staff regarding entitlements, administrative procedures, processes and practices, conditions of service, duties and responsibilities, and entitlements under the UN Staff Rules and Regulations
  • Assists in the preparation and review of financial and human resource proposals/requirements, in coordination with relevant local administrative focal points and/or offices
  • Assists in the preparation of budget performance submissions and finalization of budget performance reports, analysing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures, in coordination with relevant local administrative focal points and/or offices
  • Draft routine correspondence to respond to enquiries with respect to relevant administrative and personnel matters.
  • Coordinates frequently with the Finance and Administrative Assistants in the Centres Operations Section of ICS and other UNIC staff on the administrative activities of UNIC Yaoundé
  • Performs other relevant duties as required, to include travel administration; physical space planning; identification of office technology needs and maintenance of equipment, software and systems; monitoring of accounts and payments to individual contractors for services; assistance in the organization and coordination of outreach activities; etc.

Competencies

  • PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to perform a broad range of administrative functions, e.g. budget work programme, human resources management, personnel database management, etc. Ability to identify and resolve data discrepancies and operational problems. Ability to apply knowledge of various administrative, financial and human resources rules and regulations in work situations, particularly in the context of an office of the United Nations common system or a comparable international organization. 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. Understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology. 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.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within 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 his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Education

  • A high school diploma or equivalent is required.

WorkExperience

  • A minimum of five years of experience in administrative services, finance, accounting, audit, human resources or related area is required. Experience working in Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel is required.
  • Experience providing administrative support to an office of the United Nations common system or a comparable international organization is desirable.
  • Experience working with on-line Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems such as IMIS, Umoja, Atlas, SAP, or comparable platforms is desirable.
  • Experience working with IPSAS or comparable accounting standards, as well as the result-based budgeting concept is desirable.
  • Experience working with on-line talent management and/or performance management systems such as Inspira, Peoplesoft, e-Recruit or comparable systems 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 and French is required. Knowledge of other official United Nations languages is an advantage.

Assessment

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

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, 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 or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

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.

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 the inspira account-holder homepage.

The screening and 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, including but not limited to, their education, work experience, and language skills, according to the instructions provided on inspira. Applicants will be disqualified from consideration if they do not demonstrate in their application that they meet the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations.

Applicants are solely responsible for providing complete and accurate information at the time of application: 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 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.

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.