Organizational Setting

The Logistics Services Division (CSL) provides advice, guidance, and oversight for FAO logistics operations both at headquarters and in FAO Decentralized Offices. It provides policy and operational support to ensure that the Organization’s administrative services function effectively and efficiently.

The position is located in the Logistics Services Division (CSL) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Main Purpose

The Office Assistant coordinates and performs the full range of office support, management support and administrative tasks, providing for the smooth and efficient running of the Office. He/she ensures quality and consistency of the flow of office work and information in the work unit.

Supervision Received/Exercised

The Office Assistant reports to the Director of the Logistics Services Division (CSL) and Senior Professional Staff.
The incumbent operates independently, takes decisions on work priorities and exercises initiative for dealing with cases without precedents. Supervision received is focused on the quality of work output. He/she provides guidance and advice to other office support staff.
Working Relationships

The Office Assistant works closely with a wide range of colleagues in the Division, with central units and external clients, performing and coordinating office and management support services and providing procedural guidance and information.

Key Functions/Results

•    Screen requests for appointments with supervisor; maintain supervisor’s calendar; confirm mutually convenient schedules and arrange appointments; receive visitors; screen and send e-mails; respond to queries and correspondence, often of a sensitive, confidential or technical nature.
•    Coordinate office support services for meetings, trainings, seminars, committees and special projects and events; attend meetings, prepare minutes, monitor follow-up activities; make arrangements for formal editing, translation, etc., of documents and publications.
•    Review, record, distribute and process incoming mail and correspondence; follow-up on pending actions; prepare draft responses to a wide range of correspondence and other communications, often requiring knowledge of technical terminologies and/or detailed office procedures; carry out quality control functions for outgoing documents; proofread texts for adherence to format, grammar, punctuation and style.
•    Perform a variety of administrative duties, e.g. contract extensions and requests for temporary staff, leave and attendance recording, budget preparation and follow-up; coordinate with other units to ensure smooth running and expedition of work within the unit.
•    Research, compile and organize background information and reference materials from various sources for reports, briefs and speeches; generate a variety of statistical and other reports from various databases.
•    Coordinate the work of other office support staff, establish priorities and ensure equitable distribution of work; train new staff to relevant administrative procedures and practices and provide general assistance as required.
•    Create and maintain the work unit’s filing and reference systems, including an e-book for signatures; review the efficiency of office procedures and make recommendations for improvements; update office websites.
•    Perform other duties as required.

Impact Of Work

The incumbent’s work impacts directly on the smooth and efficient running of the Office. He/she plays a lead role in the provision of office support services for successful achievement of the organizational unit’s mandate.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

Education: Secondary School Education.
Experience: Four years of relevant experience in office/management support work.
Languages: Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).
IT Skills: Very good knowledge of the MS Office applications, Internet and office technology equipment.

Residency: General Service Staff are recruited locally. To be eligible for this position, candidates must be nationals of the country of the duty station or possess an existing visa/work permit and reside within commuting distance of the duty station at the time of the application. “Commuting distance” means the distance within which staff members can travel daily between their place of work and their residence.

Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical Skills

•    Very good knowledge of communication and documentation standards.
•    Very good knowledge of corporate computerized financial/travel/human resources systems and administrative procedures and policies.
•    Very good knowledge of the organizational structure, functions, administrative procedures and policies and matters of protocol.

Desirable Qualifications And Skills

•    Experience of FAO administrative and HR processes and related systems.
•    Extensive and relevant experience in a front-office setting.
•    Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of Italian is desirable.
•    Demonstrated ability to interact with internal and external stakeholders with diplomacy.
•    Ability to handle sensitive and confidential issues.
•    Ability to prioritize and handle multiple requests simultaneously.
•    Experience in drafting standard and official correspondence, including to high-level officials.
•    Ability to proofread texts/outgoing correspondence and formal documents.