SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

ECA's mission is to deliver ideas and actions for an empowered and transformed Africa; informed by the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063. The mission will be 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 the local solution 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 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; and Advocating for Africa's position at the global level and developing regional responses as a contribution to global governance issues.

The overall programme of work of ECA will, therefore, be organized around nine interdependent and complementary sub-programmes. The Gender and women in development sub-programme, under the Gender, Poverty and Social Policy Division, will address emerging issues that have impacted on the lives of African women and girls and will also promote and support member States in their work to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment.

This position is located in the Gender, Poverty and Social Policy Division in the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Addis Ababa. The Administrative Assistant reports directly to the Director of the Division.

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

Human Resources Management
•Coordinates various actions related to the administration of the Division’s human resource activities, e.g., recruitment, placement, promotion, relocation, performance appraisal, job classification reviews, separation of staff members, training etc., ensuring consistency in the application of UN rules and procedures. Liaises with central administration/executive services as required.
•Oversees the maintenance of vacancy announcement files and keeps track of status of vacancy announcements.
•Reviews and processes personnel actions through Umoja.
•Advises staff on visa matters.
•Provides advice and answers general queries on classification procedures and processes.
•Provides information and advice to staff/consultants with respect to conditions of service, duties and responsibilities, and privileges and entitlements under the Staff Rules and Regulations.
•Monitors Umoja staffing tables for a variety of human resource activities, e.g., appointments, retirement, expiration of appointments, reassignments, transfer and movement of staff.

Budget and Finance
•Provides assistance in the preparation and development of the Division’s work programme and budget.
•Assists in monitoring budget/work programme with respect to various budgets, trust funds, grant and other funds on a regular basis.
•Supports the collection of data from relevant databases for the preparation of customized financial reports.
•Supports reallocations of resources and implements the reallocations as necessary.
•Provides assistance in the review, and preparation of the medium-term plan and its revisions.
•Assists in the review, analyses and in the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements in the Divison, including programmatic aspects; ensures compliance with the medium-term plan and other legislative mandates.
•Assists Senior Programme Assistants and managers in the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions.

General Administration
•Provides guidance, training and daily supervision to other general service staff in the area of responsibility.
•Provides assistance in drafting of host country agreements, budget agreements, or contributions for grants or other activities as appropriate.
•Identifies and resolves diverse issues/problems as they arise, and determines appropriate actions.
•Coordinates extensively with service units and liaises frequently with internal team members both at Headquarters and in the field.
•Performs other related administrative duties, as required (e.g., operational travel programme, monitoring accounts and payment to vendors and individual contractors for services, physical space planning and the identification of office technology needs and maintenance of equipment, software and systems, organize and coordinate seminars, conferences and translations).

Contract Administration
•Assists with day-to-day administration of contracts between the UN and external contractors for outsourced services.
•Audits the contractors ‘invoices against the goods and services provided by the contractor and approved by the UN.
•Processes the payment of contractors' invoices and monitor payments.
•Prepares and processes all UN forms and permissions for contractual and Division staff, including: UN grounds passes, property passes, UN parking permits, swipe-card access and door keys.

Professionalism: Ability to perform a broad range of administrative functions, e.g., budget/work programme, human resources, database management, etc. Ability to apply knowledge of various United Nations administrative, financial and human resources rules and regulations in work situations. 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.

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.

A minimum of ten years of progressive experience in administrative services, finance, accounting, audit, human resources or related area is required.
Experience in implementation of HR policies, procedures and practices and working with word processing, spreadsheets and relevant software packages is desirable.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is an advantage. Knowledge of another Official United Nations language is an advantage.

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

This position is subject to local recruitment under staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Regulations and Rules. All staff in the General Services and related categories shall be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of each office, irrespective of their nationality and of the length of time they may have been in the country. A staff member subject to local recruitment shall not be eligible for the allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment.

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. Short-listed applicants who have not passed the GGST at the time of application will be scheduled to sit for the GGST at a later date. External candidates will be responsible for any travel expenses incurred to take the GGST examination and, in the event of an employment offer, any cost related to travel and relocation to the duty station on appointment and separation. The candidate will also be responsible to obtain any visas and work permits to take up the appointment. Having passed the Administrative Support Assessment Test (ASAT) may be accepted in place of the GGST.

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 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

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.

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.