Programme Assistant

Background

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) provides technical assistance related tocombating terrorism, organized crime, corruption and drugs to requesting Member States. Thisassistance also supports States in Strengthening criminal justice and health systems and ratifyingand successfully implementing international conventions and protocols, in compliance with therule of law and human rights.

The UNODC Global Maritime Crime Programme works with member states to respond to crimescommitted at and by sea through effective criminal justice.

The position is based in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic as part of the UNODC GlobalMaritime Crime Programme, within the Regional Office for Central America and the Caribbean inPanama (ROPAN). The Programme Assistant will work under the overall guidance of theUNODC Regional Representative for Central America and the Caribbean and the directsupervision of the Programme Coordinator for the Global Maritime Crime Programme based inSanto Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Programme Coordinator for the GlobalMaritime Crime Programme, the Programme Assistant will directly support all administrativeand logistical aspects linked to the implementation of the Maritime Crime Programme’sprojects in Latin America and the Caribbean region.Summary of key functions:The Programme Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:2• Assists in the coordination of programme/project planning and preparation work for,typically, medium-size and complex programme/project initiatives.• Compiles, summarizes and presents basic information/data on specific programmes/projectsand related topics or issues.• Prepare any document required for consultants’ contract issuance/management and followup on payment requests of their fees as per their terms of reference• Supports conducting low-value procurement (up to US$ 10,000) and initiating procurementprocesses for all types of goods and services required under the assigned project.• Supports the organization of international and national conferences, meetings, training andworkshops held where the Programme operates in the region, and travel to the event’slocation if needed.• Prepare travel plans and organize travel dates for participants to UNODC events, and forUNODC staff as required. Assist in the preparation of travel requests to be sent to the travelagents to issue air tickets, request payment of Daily Subsistence Allowances (DSAs) andterminal expenses when needed, and determine appropriate budget lines; and record thetravel request in the Umoja travel System if needed.• Prepares official correspondence.• Contribute to the preparation of various written outputs, e.g. draft background papers,briefing notes, analytical notes, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc,relating to maritime crime issues in the region.• Support monitoring and evaluation activities by developing, participating and supporting thevaluation of MLE activities.Perform any other work duties as required

Competencies

Corporate competencies:• Professionalism• Planning and organizing• Integrity – commitment with UN values and principles• Commitment – with the vision, mission and strategic goals of the organization• Results orientation – oriented to the needs of the customer and feedback• Teamwork – proactive attitude with a participatory management style showing anopenness to change and an ability to handle complex issues

Result orientation:• Plans and produces quality deliverables to achieve the planned objectives;• Identifies the client's needs and adapts the project's deliverables to answer them.

Development and operational effectiveness:• Sense of organization;• Drafting and presentation skills;• Capacity to communicate effectively;• Analysis capacity;• Synthesis capacity;• Initiative in decision making.

Management and leadership:• Focuses on impact and results for the customer and answers positively to comments;• Guides teams effectively and shows ability in solving conflicts;• Shows strong oral and written communication skills;• Able to speak in public;• Builds strong relationships with customers and external agents;• Gender sensitivity and capacity to work in multi-disciplinary and multiculturalenvironments.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

University degree in Business, Law, Social Sciences, Business Administration, Project Management or a related field.

Experience:

• At least 3 years of progressively responsible administrative or Programme experience are required at the national or international level;
• Experience in the implementation of international cooperation programmes (desirable in UNODC’s mandated areas);
• Previous UN experience and work experience in Latin America and the Caribbean is an advantage;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and knowledge of Outlook, spreadsheet and database packages are required;
• Knowledge of Umoja is an advantage.

Language:

Fluency in oral and written Spanish and Professional knowledge of English is required.