Programme Assistant, (GS-5), Temporary Appointment, Athens, Greece

UNICEF Partnership Office is looking for a Programme Assistant, GS-5 for a temporary appointment until 31 December 2020.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a voice

Greece, as one of the major entry points into Europe for refugees and migrants, has received over a million asylum seekers since January 2015, 37% of them children. UNICEF Refugee and Migrant Response in Greece was established in 2016 to respond to increased needs of the refugee and migrant population in Greece. As of November 2019, there are an estimated over 109,000 refugee and migrants in Greece, including an estimated 37,000 children, out of which 5,276 unaccompanied and separated children (UASC). The “emergency” nature of the operation is exemplified by the trends observed over the past few years – in 2019 alone a total of over 74,482 refugees and migrants crossed over to Greece, of which 14,891 through the land border with Turkey, and 59,591 by sea (83% increase compared to 2018), including 159% more unaccompanied and separated children in the country compared to November 2018 (5,276 vs 2,038 respectively).

In view of the establishment of the Greece Partnership Office, the team will also be supporting the fulfilment of an extended mandate and the roll out of programmatic interventions to address the needs of all children in Greece. Specifically, UNICEF will be working closely with the Government of Greece on the issue of de-institutionalization and alternative community-based care models as well as inclusive education with a focus on children with disabilities.

Under the close supervision and guidance of the Chief Education (P-4), the programme assistant will support the Education section by carrying out a range of procedural, administrative, and operational tasks, to help develop, implement and monitor their country programme, ensuring timely and effective delivery that is consistent with UNICEF rules and regulations.

Key tasks and accountability: 

• Facilitating the processing of contracts for consultants, vendors and external partners that support the office in programme delivery. This includes preparing and filing documents, completing necessary forms and templates, uploading TOR’s in VISION, and making necessary logistical arrangements. Keeps vendor lists, partners, and consultant rosters up-to-date.
• Collecting invoices and filing documents for approval and thereafter processing in VISION and Service Gateway.
• Preparing and maintaining records, documents and control plans for the monitoring of project/programme implementation and financial expenditures.
• Supporting the management of administrative supplies and office equipment.
• Maintaining office calendar and arranging meetings. Taking minutes of meetings and keeping the correspondence of the team well organized.
• Providing travel assistance to staff members in section for travel arrangements and entitlements based on the organization’s rules and policies. Liaising with relevant travel focal points to ensure that the organization obtains the best service and price for all travel.
• Maintaining and updating a system which monitors the absence of staff.
• Preparing and maintaining records pertaining to programme planning and development for his/her respective section.
• Carrying out transactions in VISION ensuring programme results, activities and programme coding are as per annual work plans (AWPs) and makes amendments and alterations as per section revisions when necessary.
• Supporting capacity development activities, meetings and conferences by making the logistical arrangements, through engaging with facilitators, caterers and hosts; arranging times through liaising with participants over availability; liaising with budget focal points and section over costs and needs; and preparing background materials for participants.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Completion of secondary education is required, preferably supplemented by technical or university courses related to the work of the organization.
• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible administrative or clerical work experience is required.
• Fluency in Greek and English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The functional competencies required for this post are...

• Analyzing (I)
• Learning & Researching (I)
• Planning and organizing (I)
• Following Instructions and Procedures (I)

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.