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Research Assistant [Temporary]

Beirut

  • Organization: UN ESCWA - Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
  • Location: Beirut
  • Grade: Administrative support - GS-6, General Service - No need for Higher Education - Locally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Administrative support
    • Scientist and Researcher
    • Economic, Social and DevelopmentSocial Affairs
  • Closing Date: Closed

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located within the Food and Environment Policies Section (FEPS) in the Sustainable Development Policies Division (SDPD) of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). The Research Assistant reports directly to the Chief of FEPS and will be under the overall supervision of the Director of SDPD.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Research Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:

1 - Assists in identifying and monitoring substantive aspect of the work on food and environmental issues in the region. Selects and evaluates a variety of documents, summarizes pertinent material, collects and analyses data and prepares background materials for assessment papers, studies, briefs and reports.
2 - Systematically follows through and retrieves, highlights and compiles information from a wide variety of information sources; prepares input for the electronic database and the internet and co-operates with research institutes and organizations in the collection of data.
3 - Assembles and examines original statistical material to ensure accuracy, clarity and validity; makes appropriate adjustments.
•Prepares a variety of reports, presentations, tables, lists, charts, data sets, and/or diagrams for information in order to facilitate the in-depth analysis of the retrieved information by the supervisor and other users.
4 - Participates in the substantive and policy discussions of the Section.
5 - Maintains and expands contacts with other departments in the Secretariat, as well as the UN agencies and programmes and other organizations relevant to the region, and co-ordinates the input of other departments in the collection of data for assignments received.
6 - Prepares, maintains and updates files (electronic and paper) and internal databases; designs and generates a variety of periodic and ad hoc reports, statistical tables, charts, graphs, and other background materials/notes to facilitate inspection and other reviews.
7 - Drafts programme/project summaries, co-ordinates review and clearance processes and co-ordinates with editor, translation services, etc., on the finalization and publication of reports in multiple languages.
8 - Identifies the organizational requirements for conferences and meetings and assists in the preparation of documentation and reports for these meetings.
9 - Provides programmatic and administrative support as required, including processing service contracts; monitoring payments to vendors and individual contractors for services; organizing and coordinating seminars, conferences; translation of documents; monitoring budget expenditures and comparing with approved budgets, preparing adjustments as necessary; preparing and/or processing administrative requests/documents (e.g., travel requests, expense claims, vouchers, visa applications, leave recording, ordering of office supplies, reserving meeting rooms, etc.); and maintaining files (both paper and electronic) and databases for the work section.
10 - Attends a variety of meetings to follow discussions, takes notes and prepares summary reports, notes for the file, correspondence, etc.
11 - Provides guidance and training to new/junior staff.
12 - Performs other related work as required.

Competencies

Professionalism - Knowledge of research methodologies, data collection and maintenance. Ability to identify, extract, analyse and format data from a wide variety of standard and non-standard sources. 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.

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 and 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.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent.

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Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of experience in collecting and researching data across various areas of social and economic development or related area. Experience in organizing meetings and workshops is desirable. Experienced working with United Nations Financial Rules and Regulations and operating platforms (UMOJA, INSPIRA) is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Arabic is also a working language of ESCWA. For this post, fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic is required.

Assessment

Passing the Global General Service Test (GGST) is a prerequisite for recruitment consideration in the General Services and related categories in the United Nations Secretariat. Applicants who have not passed the GGST at the time of application may be invited for the test when they are short-listed for a job opening. Having passed the Administrative Support Assessment Test (ASAT) in English at the United Nations Headquarters, Economic Commission for Africa, Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, United Nations Office at Geneva, United Nations Office at Vienna, International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda or International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia may be accepted in lieu of the GGST per applicable eligibility guidelines.

In addition to the above, the shortlisted candidates may undergo a substantive written assessment related to the functions of the post and an interview. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Special Notice

• This position is temporarily available until 30 September 2019. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.

• While this temporary assignment 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.

• Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.

• This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.

• 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.

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 or sexual abuse, or crimes other than minor traffic offences, 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.

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 Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side 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

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.

This vacancy is now closed.
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