Special Assistant to the CEO [Temporary]

This position is located in the Office of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Fund Secretariat within the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF) in New York. The Special Assistant will report directly to the CEO and assist with communication, governance and strategy planning in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programmes, operations, policy development and other activities.

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

-Takes the lead to develop, implement and evaluate assigned programmes/projects with a focus on communication, governance and strategic planning.
-Supervises programme/project development, implementation, monitoring and assessment; directs review of relevant documents and reports; identifies priorities, problems and issues to be addressed and proposes corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; identifies and initiates follow-up actions.
-Directs planning and coordination activities and supervises the development of benchmarking and performance evaluation and reporting; presents information gathered from diverse sources.
-Undertakes survey initiatives; guides design of data collection instruments; reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identifies problems/issues and prepares conclusions.
-Supervises and contributes to the preparation of various written outputs, e.g. background papers, analysis, substantial sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc. to the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board (Pension Board) and its working groups and Committees, the ACABQ and the General Assembly.
-Directs substantive support to consultative and other meetings of the Pension Board, to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc.
-Manages outreach activities; designs and conducts training workshops, seminars, etc., makes presentations on assigned topics/activities. • Provides guidance to external consultants, and drafts meeting summaries, etc.
-Coordinates activities related to budget and funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and ensures preparation of related documents/reports (work programme, programme budget, etc.).
-Supports the communication strategy of the Fund and serves as an effective spokesperson and establishes collaboration and partnerships with key officials at all levels inside and outside the organization.
-Ensures effective utilization, supervision and development of staff; Guides, evaluates and mentors staff
-May perform other duties as required.

PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities and risks. Ability to generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction. Ability to communicate clearly links between the Organization's strategy and the work unit's goals. Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and management of operation. Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment 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. 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. COMMUNICATION:Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication.Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. 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.

Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in Administration, Political Science, Management or related field is required. A first degree level university degree in combination with two additional years of experience in investment management may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in communications, governance, strategic planning, programme management or related field at the international level is required. Experience interacting with members of governing bodies is required. Relevant experience in a financial instituion is desirable. Experience with communications or public relations is desirable.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include a a desk review of PHPs, an assessment exercise and/or a competency-based interview.

• DURATION: Please note that this is a temporary job opening, open to internal as well as external candidates. These positions are available up to 31 December 2019, with possibility of extension, which is subject to extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds. The selected candidate is expected to start as soon as possible.

• 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 Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF) is an independent inter-agency body established by the United Nations General Assembly. The applicable human resources procedures are governed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Fund and the UN Secretariat. Any candidate from a member organization of the UNJSPF applying for these posts is considered as an internal candidate provided he/she has been appointed through the appointment and promotion procedures applicable in his/her respective organization.

• 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.

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.

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.