SENIOR SUPPLY ASSISTANT

ECA's mission is to deliver ideas and actions for an empowered and transformed Africa; informed by the 2030 SDGs and Agenda 2063. The mission is guided by ECA's five new strategic directions which are: advancing ECA's position as a premier knowledge institution that builds on its unique position and privilege to bring global solutions to the continent's problems and take local solutions to the continent; developing macroeconomic and structural policy options to accelerate economic diversification and job creation; designing and implementing innovative financing models for infrastructure, and for human, physical and social assets for a transforming Africa; contributing solutions to regional and transboundary challenges, with a focus on peace security and social inclusion as an important development nexus; advocating Africa's position at the global level and developing regional responses as a contribution to global governance issues. The post is located in the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Shipping Unit of the Supply Chain Management Section, Administration and Conference Management Division.

The incumbent is broadly responsible for the administration and day-to-day running of the Shipping Unit under the general supervision of the Chief, Supply Chain Management Section. The incumbent's principal responsibilities include: (a) planning, coordinating, monitoring and supervising the activities of the Shipping Unit in arranging, organizing, and facilitating the importation and exportation of organizational consignments, shipments and other official cargo, as well as of personal shipments of ECA staff members; (b) advising on matters relating to shipping, insurance and customs as well as on the Host Country (Ethiopia) and other countries' customs, shipping and insurance rules and regulations; (c) serves as IPSAS focal point and carry out troubleshooting functions; (d) follows-up on IPSAS enhancements and frequently liaises with IPSAS team in ECA and UNHQ with regard to implementation issues; supervises and supports maintenance of IPSAS entitlements reference tables; (e) demonstrates full knowledge of the ERP-SAP Logistics module and inbound/outbound goods process. I. Day-to-Day running and supervision of the Shipping Unit includes: • Planning and assigning long and short-term work programs, tasks and duties to Shipping Assistants. • Coordinates the duty-free importation, exportation and insurance of all official goods as well as vehicles and other personal and household effects of staff with duty-free entitlements. Items cleared include goods for conferences e.g. exhibition materials, medicines and other sensitive goods for the United Nations Health Care Center (UNHCC). • Ensures that both outgoing and incoming shipments, consignments and cargo contain approved materials only. • Prepares memoranda, letters, note verbals and other correspondence to various Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, e.g. the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Transport and Communication, the National Bank of Ethiopia, Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority, Ethio-telecom etc. • Supervises the preparation of Tender and Bid documents for services required by the Unit. • Prepares the weekly status report of the Unit for submission to the Section Chief. • Prepares budget estimates, statistics and other statements relating to the Shipping Unit. • Verifies disbursements out of petty cash to ensure compliance with UN rules and regulations. • Checks, verifies and submits for approval invoices for services rendered to the Commission by air carriers, movers and packers, transit agents and the Maritime and Transit services. • Provides periodic in-house training for the staff of the Unit. • Organizes and coordinates the processing of: (a) Diplomatic declaration for the purchase of duty-free beverages, tobacco products and other consumables for the official use of the Secretariat and (b) Duty free bulk purchase of fuel and other lubricants for the Organization. • Supervises, monitors and evaluates the work performance of the Shipping Unit's staff members. • Provides input to the Section Chief on policy issues. • Liaises regularly with authorities of airlines and transport companies, to keep abreast of new developments in the industry as well as to ensure continued suitability of such organizations for use by the ECA. • Briefs staff from the Commission's sub-regional offices on the activities and services rendered by the Unit as well as on rules and procedures pertaining to Shipping and Insurance. II. Processing of organizational and personal Shipments – incoming and outgoing • Arranges the appropriate documentation and permits required for the clearance (importation) and exportation of each type of goods (ranging from Vaccines and other medicines to communications equipment) as well as for each type of shipment, organizational or personal. • Ensures that each consignment is supported by all relevant documents which are required for securing government approval to clear or to export shipments. • Liaises with the appropriate parties to secure or amend required documents were missing or incorrectly prepared. • Arranges appropriate insurance through UN official insurers in New York, Geneva or Vienna for outgoing consignments. • Arranges, facilitates and follows-up insurance claims for damaged organizational and personal shipments. III. Inbound goods/Incoming Shipments: • Ensures follow-up and timely endorsement of diplomatic declarations by the Customs Authority so as to minimize demurrage charges or other loss or damage to shipment at the airport, seaports and railways stations. • Issues clearing instructions to vessel owners, air carriers and their representatives and agents. • Assigns approved documents to Shipping Assistants for clearing and follow up activities paying particular attention to the individual Incoterms stipulated in the purchase contract document. • Establish a firm and timely information exchange mechanism with the procurement team for they are the gatekeepers of the necessary contract documents as well as the freight forwarders to ensure that the delivery dates provided in the Forwarder's Certificate of Receipt (FCR), signed Bill of Landing (BoL) or CMR have been met. • Ensures that imported goods are safely cleared from the various bonded warehouses and are delivered without delay to consignees and ensures their written confirmation of receipt indicating the condition of the goods. IV. Outbound goods/outgoing shipments • Assigns each case to Shipping Assistants for execution and follow up. • Assists staff members in the exportation of their personal effects e.g. Household goods and vehicles by: (a) advising on their privileges and obligations; (b) ensuring that staff members are in possession of Travel Authorizations and have properly filled all the required forms e.g. itemized inventory form and, (c) in the case of motor vehicles, writing a note verbal to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs giving details of the vehicle and requesting an export permit. • Solicits quotations for the collection, packing and dispatch of official and personal consignments. • Selects a packer and arranges for pre-survey and packing. • Ensures that goods are safely and economically dispatched using the most direct and most economical route and undertakes follow up with forwarders for confirmation of departure of consignments. • Prepares briefs to the Property Survey Board for decisions on cases of unsuccessful insurance claims requiring the Board's action. • Ensures that correspondence are dispatched to consignees informing them about flight and other trip details of their shipments so as to facilitate early clearance and to avoid loss or damage on arrival at destinations. • Assists 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. • Assists with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures. V. Other emergency or special duties as may be assigned periodically by the Chief of SCMS.

• Professionalism: Knowledge of policies, practices and regulations on management of supplies, purchasing and logistics and ability to apply them in an organizational environment. Comprehensive knowledge of the various terms of delivery that are identified in the INCOTERMS 2010 is essential. A full understanding of the new Receipt and Inspection (RIR) process is also required along with the accounting treatment of goods in transit. Ability to maintain accurate records and prepare reports on a wide variety of data. Knowledge of the Organization's financial rules and regulations, as well as budgetary, administrative procedures, policies and directives, with respect to specialized tasks in supply management, logistics and transport operations. 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. The ability to perform analysis, modeling and interpretation of data in support of decision-making. • Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. • 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.

High school diploma or equivalent is required. Degree in Business Administration, Supply Management or Accounting would be desirable.

Not available.

At least 10 years of progressively responsible work experience in Supply Management, Customs, Insurance or Logistical Support, Customs clearance and delivery of goods and commodities by air, land and sea transport is required. Private sector experience in comparable institution is desirable.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. French is desirable. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult

https://languages.un.org

for details).

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Required Languages

Language

Reading

Writing

Listening

Speaking

English

UN Level II

UN Level II

UN Level II

UN Level II

Desirable Languages

Language

Reading

Writing

Listening

Speaking

French

UN Level II

UN Level II

UN Level II

UN Level II

The assessment method for this Job Opening is technical written test followed by competency based interview.

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 are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving a 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. 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. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. Online applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgment within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira "Contact Us" link.

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. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

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