Administrative Assistant/Interpreter

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) is the UN's global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP is on the ground in 177 countries and territories, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. 

With the latest changes in the global arena and in Turkey, UNDP Turkey has repositioned itself to be in line with the new UNDP Strategic Plan 2018-2021 and changing needs of Turkey in order to target development challenges and priorities of the country.

UNDP Turkey has repositioned to contribute through three core areas: 1) Inclusive and Democratic Governance (IDG); 2) Inclusive and Sustainable Growth (ISG); and 3) Climate Change and Environment (CCE); and in addition to these core areas, UNDP Turkey is emphasizing the role of Strategic Partnerships that cut across the entire country programme as well as regionally and globally.

Under the IDG Portfolio, Demining and Increasing the Border Surveillance Capacity at the Eastern Borders of Turkey Phase 3 is being implemented. The overall objective of the Project is to contribute to the social and economic development through demining and more secure borders in Eastern Turkey. The specific objective of the Project is to contribute to the prevention of illegal migration and cross-border crime on Turkey’s eastern borders by clearing the border regions of mines and providing effective humanitarian border surveillance tools for a technologically supported modern border surveillance system.

Objectives of the Assignment

Under the supervision of Project Manager, an Administrative Assistant/Interpreter (AAI) will be hired  on a full-time basis and is expected to provide support to the Technical Assistance Team (TAT) on interpretation and administrative including financial-related issues of the Project. S/he will also provide assistance to the government counterparts and other key experts, as deemed necessary by the Project Manager for the purposes of this project. In addition to the administration assistant roles, some interpretation and translation services will be required for other professional work related to this Project (such as consecutive interpretation in high-profile events and professional translation of legislative pieces etc.). The AAI will be tasked to assist the experts (including short-term experts) to interact with the Project’s stakeholders most of whom are not fluent in English as well as to translate outputs of the Project. In addition to his/her daily routine, the AAI will also fulfil the tasks to be assigned by Project Manager and/or Field Coordinators. 

The key functions of the Administrative Assistant/Interpreter (AAI) will include the following:

Reporting Structure:

The incumbent will report to the Chief Technical Advisor/Project Manager and fulfill additional tasks as required by the government counterparts and UNDP.

Performance Indicators for Evaluation of Results:

1. Project events and activities are implemented smoothly in administrative terms; data collection and filing are provided in a timely manner in line with corporate rules and procedures and supported with the accurate financial information.
2. Project documents are clearly translated effectively in a timely manner; interpretation was provided to ensure sound communication between international and national experts and key stakeholders.
3. Organizational and logistical assistance, including travel and accommodation arrangements, are provided in a timely manner to TAT and key stakeholders, project events, meeting, workshops and travel related tasks.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP, and partner organizations
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people without favoritism.
• Avoids any kind of discriminatory behavior including gender discrimination and ensure that;

-  Human rights and gender equality are prioritized as an ethical principle within all actions;

- Activities are designed and implemented in accordance with “Social and Environmental Standards of UNDP”;

-  Any kind of diversities based on ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, disability, religion, class, gender are respected within all implementations including data production;

-  Differentiated needs of women and men are considered;

-  Inclusive approach is reflected within all actions and implementations, in that sense an enabling and accessible setup in various senses such as disability gender language barrier is created;

-  Necessary arrangements to provide gender parity within all committees, meetings, trainings etc. introduced.

Functional Competencies:

• Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Excellent interpersonal skills; encouraging colleagues to work within and respect an enabling gender equality environment on non-hierarchical bases;
• Promotes gender sensitive environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
• Ability to manage gender barriers and gender blind behaviors within the project team and with our partners;
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment with sound understanding and capability to empower and develop the capacity of national counterparts;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors; 
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure; 
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities; 
• Team player, self-motivated and initiative taking, dedicated, creative, resourceful, flexible, energetic with sound judgment;
• Capacity to work under pressure, manage stress and adapt to rapidly evolving situations; 
• Excellent analytical, communication, writing and presentation skills; 
• Ability to function at both policy advisory and project implementation levels;
• Ability to consider that men and women are affected differently from different interventions and needs to be approached differently.

Notes: 

• Internships (paid/unpaid) are not considered professional experience.
• Obligatory military service is not considered a professional experience.
• Professional experience gained in an international setting is considered international experience,
• Experience gained prior to completion of undergraduate studies is not considered professional experience
• The incumbent of the position should strictly avoid any kind of discriminatory and abusive behavior including gender-based discrimination and any kind form of sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse
• The incumbent of the position should ensure that 

• Human rights and gender equality are prioritized as an ethical principle within all actions;
• activities are designed and implemented in accordance with “Social and Environmental Standards of UNDP”;
• any kind of diversities based on ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, disability, religion, class, gender is respected within all implementations including data production;
• differentiated needs of women and men are considered;
• inclusive approach is reflected within all actions and implementations, in that sense an enabling and accessible setup in various senses such as disability gender language barrier is created;
• necessary arrangements to provide gender parity within all committees, meetings, trainings, etc. introduced;
• zero tolerance principle to sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse is prioritized.

• UNDP prioritizes gender equality and women's empowerment approach in all its actions, workplace relations and implementations as well as gender parity in representation to create a workplace which is equally inclusive of women, men and persons with other gender identities. Temporary special measures will be instituted to ensure the appointment of personnel of under-represented genders at grades and in roles where they are under-represented
• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Other Considerations:

Interested individuals shall provide a letter of motivation as a part of their online application focusing on the applicant’s skills and capabilities against the required qualifications (in English).

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Important applicant information

All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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