Administrative Intern - UNDP Seoul Policy Centre (USPC)

Background

The UNDP Seoul Policy Centre (USPC) for Global Development Partnerships, established in 2011, represents UNDP in Korea, works with Korea on international issues, and shares Korea’s development experiences with other countries. The Centre’s work is organized under four headlines: 1) Global Development Issues, 2) Development Solutions Partnerships, 3) Policy Analysis, and 4) Communications and Outreach.

USPC offers a small group of outstanding students the opportunity to acquire direct exposure to UNDP’s work and gain technical knowledge and experience in international development and multilateral cooperation.

For more information on USPC’s work, please visit the website: http://www.undp.org/content/seoul_policy_center/en/home/our-work.html

Objectives and Benefits of the Internship:

UNDP Seoul Policy Centre is recruiting one (1) administrative intern for the period of 6-9 months. The administrative intern will be supervised by the Centre’s Administrative and Finance Associate, and will be able to learn all the administrative and financial work behind the workings of UNDP. Accuracy of all administration work contributes to the high-quality management and efficiency of the Centre’s programme work.

This internship will help build practical skill sets that would be useful when later exploring careers in international organizations in the administration & finance field.

As part of the Centre’s team, the intern will also work in close collaboration with UNDP staff, UN Agencies and Korean partners to ensure efficient flow of information, actions on instructions, agendas, and consistent service delivery.

In addition, an internship with USPC will offer students the opportunity to:

• enhance educational experience through work assignments in the field of international development cooperation;

• acquire insights into working in the United Nations with a multicultural environment;
• sharpen technical skills in a wide array of practical office work, including administration, organization of international events, and communications;
• receive substantive guidance and mentoring support from experienced professionals for career development.

Duties and Responsibilities

In support to the Centre’s Administrative and Finance Associate and programme staff, the administration intern will be responsible for supporting the effective and efficient functioning of the office and the administrative, finance, and logistics work on various activities of the Centre. More specifically, the intern will support the following:

• Preparation of financial and accounting documents;
• Administration of supply and assets management;
• Maintenance of the Centre’s calendar, contacts with high-ranking visitors, arrangement of appointments and meetings. Maintenance of protocol procedures;
• Screening of incoming calls and correspondence; arranging world-wide telephone and video conferences;
• Management of missions and representation schedules;
• Preparation of correspondence, directives, comments on behalf of the Director for his/her signature; preparation of informal translations;
• Coordination of the information flow in the office;
• Organization of workshops and conferences in coordination with other staff; support for international participants’ travel and logistics matters;
• Organization of travel arrangements, including drawing up itineraries, preparing travel authorization and visa forms, obtaining clearances and signatures, ticket reservations, collecting tickets, processing travel claims as well as requesting for reimbursement of travel expenses.

Work Arrangements:

The preferred duration of the internship is six months. (The internship can be extended up to 9 months if the intern can demonstrate it will grant him/her an educational credit for a course.) It is desired that the intern will work at least 20-30 hours per week during usual business hours. If that is not possible due to coursework or other outstanding commitments, other work arrangements will be determined based on mutual agreement between the supervisor and intern. The intern will work in the USPC office where work space and an email address will be provided.

Competencies

• Demonstrate commitment to the UN’s core values;
• Respects individual, gender and cultural differences in dealing with others;
• Treat all people fairly without favoritism.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Must be enrolled in the final year of an undergraduate study programme, or enrolled in a graduate-study program, or within one year of graduation of the aforementioned. Those in the first, second, or third-year undergraduate programs are not eligible to apply;
• Academic training in public administration, economics, finance, and other related fields.

Experience

• Prior experience with administration and logistics work would be an asset;
• Demonstrated interest in the field of development;
• Demonstrated research and analytical capacity;
• Proven ability to manage diverse and complex tasks, with tight deadlines;
• Able to work effectively in a team and in an international environment;
• Administrative skills in the organization of meetings and events;
• Excellent written and communication skills;
• Proficiency in using standard software programmes: Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook.

Languages

• Strong writing and speaking abilities in English; fluency in Korean is required.

Conditions:

• UNDP internship programme does not provide a salary or remuneration for the internship;
• All the expenses connected with the internship will be borne by the intern, sponsoring Government or institution;
• UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship;
• The intern is responsible for obtaining necessary visas and arranging travel to and from the duty station where the internship will be performed;
• Interns are not eligible to apply for  any positions (Fixed-Term Appointment, Temporary Appointment, Service Contract, Individual Contract) in UNDP during the period of the internship;
• Interns must provide proof of enrollment in health insurance plan;
• Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity.

Subsequent Employment:

There is no expectation of employment with UNDP following an internship.