Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) is entrusted with the overall mandate of enhancing the contributions of the UN towards the achievement of peace and security in West Africa and the Sahel. It engages in preventive diplomacy, good offices and political mediation and facilitation in countries in West Africa and the Sahel.
The position is located in the Property Management Unit. The Administrative Assistant will report directly to the Property Management Officer.

Responsibilities

Under the general supervision of the property Management Officer the incumbent will perform the following responsibilities:
General Administration
• Provides guidance to mission and/or subordinate staff. May provide assistance in reviewing host country agreements, budget agreements, or contributions for grants or other activities within assigned areas; Identifies and reports issues/problems as they arise, and recommends appropriate actions;
• Coordinates regularly with service units and liaises as needed with internal team members both at the mission and in outstations;
• Conducts physical inspections and quality control of mission United Nations Property to ensure that all items are accounted for and in serviceable condition;
• Assist stakeholders in preparation of equipment write-offs and processing of write-off cases through relevant property survey boards;
• Maintains on a daily basis accurate and auditable property records in electronic inventory management system for property control and accountability in conformance with administrative instructions, guidelines, manuals and SOPs;
• Performs other related administrative duties, as required (e.g., travel, monitoring accounts and payment to vendors and individual contractors for services, reviews physical space plans and assists in the identification of office technology needs, maintenance of equipment, software and systems, organizes and coordinate seminars, conference and translations).
Human Resources Management:
• Perform various actions related to the administration of the work unit’s human resource activities, e.g., recruitment, placement, promotion, relocation, performance appraisal, job classification reviews, separation of staff members, training etc., consistently applying UN rules, regulations, policies and procedures;
• Liaises with central administration/executive services as required;
• Maintains vacancy announcement files and updates track vacancy announcement; Prepares personnel actions through the UN’s current electronic tools, e.g. Umoja;
• 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 Regulation;
• Monitors assigned staffing tables for 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 office’s work program and budget;
• Assists in monitoring the budget/work program with respect to various budgets, trust funds, grant and other funds on a regular basis, and records reallocations of resources and implements the reallocations as necessary;
• Collects data from relevant databases and assist in preparation of financial reports; Provides assistance in the review, and preparation of the medium-term plan its revisions; Reviews and assist in the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements for the mission including programmatic aspects; monitors compliance with the
medium-term plan and other legislative mandates; May assist managers in the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submission;
• Monitors budget implementation/expenditures and records reallocation of funds as necessary; Reviews requisitions for goods and services to confirm (a) that correct objects code of expenditure have been charged, and (b) availability of funds;
• Monitors extra-budgetary resources, in line with agreements and cost plans with special attention given to regulations and rules and established policies and procedures;
• Assists in the preparation of budget performance submissions;
• Assists in finalization of budget performance reports with attention given to variances
between approved budgets and actual expenditures.

Competencies

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. Knowledge of logistic management, Asset and inventory management principles. 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.

Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and
matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

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.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Job – Specific Qualification

Technical training in Finance, Budget, Human Resources Management, Administration, Property Management or related area is desirable.

Work Experience

At least five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in administration, finance, budget, accounting, audit, human resources, or related area is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to tree (3) years for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher.

Experience in Property Management is desirable.

Solid computer skills including proficiency in word processing and spreadsheets is required.

Specific knowledge of the UN administrative electronic tools, such as UMOJA or ERP is desirable.

Experience working at a UN field mission or UN Agencies in this capacity is desirable.

Familiar with function-related provisions of United Nations Rules, Regulations, Manuals and Policies is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written French is required.

Working Knowledge of English is desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

This position is temporarily available until April 30, 2024. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.
-While this temporary job opening may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.
-Appointment for positions in the General Service category is done on a local basis.
Applicants shall be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of the office, irrespective of nationality and length of time the candidate may have been in the country.
Applicants will be responsible for any expenses incurred in taking the relevant examinations at the duty station, and of any costs related to traveling and relocating to the duty station in the event of an employment offer.
-Applicants for positions subject to local recruitment are required to be authorized to work in the country regardless of where they live at the time of applying for the job opening.
– A staff member holding a temporary appointment in the General Service or related categories may only apply to positions within those categories. For full information on eligibility requirements, please refer to section 5 of ST/AI/2010/4Rev.1 on Temporary
Appointments.
– The expression “Internal candidates” shall mean staff members who have been recruited after a competitive examination under staff rule 4.16 or after the advice of a central review body under staff rule 4.15. Please note that candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position.

United Nations Considerations

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.

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

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.

No Fee

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.