Org. Setting and Reporting

Please note that the United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) began operations effective 01 November 2024, succeeding the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM). The position is located in the United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) and is based in Mogadishu. The incumbent will report to the Chief of Staff (COS) UNTMIS.

Responsibilities

Within limits of delegated authority, the Senior Staff Assistant will be responsible for the following duties: Human Resources Management: • Coordinates actions with respect to transactions related to the administration of the section’s/office’s human resource activities, e.g., recruitment, placement, relocation, performance appraisal, job classification reviews, separation of staff members, training etc., ensuring consistency in the application of UN rules and procedures. Liaises with the relevant administrative and human resources offices as required. • Oversees the maintenance of vacancy announcement files and keeps track of the status of vacancy announcements. • Maintains records of the performance management status of the section/office. Assists in formulating responses related to rebuttal cases. • Monitors section’s/office’s staffing tables for a variety of human resource activities, e.g., appointments, retirements, expiration of appointments, reassignments, transfers and movement of staff. • Handles a wide range of administrative duties and processes, leave requests, attendance records, travel arrangements, visa applications, expense statements, telecommunications charges, equipment purchase, service and supply requisitions, conference rooms booking, etc. Budget and Finance: • Assists in monitoring budget/work plan with respect to various budgets, on a regular basis, suggests reallocations of resources and implement the reallocations as necessary. • Assists managers in the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions. • Monitors budget implementation/expenditures and recommend reallocation of funds as necessary. • Reviews and verifies the availability of funds for all requisitions ensuring that the correct object of expenditure has been charged. Ensures that the allotments and exchange rates within the relevant systems are updated on a regular basis. • Monitors extra-budgetary resources, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures. General Administration: • Identifies and resolves diverse issues and problems as they arise, determining the appropriate actions. • Coordinates extensively with service units and liaises frequently with internal team members both at Headquarters and in the field mission. • Manages the calendar of meetings and appointments of the COS. • Reads all the correspondence, both incoming and outgoing, takes the decision about priority to be given to documents and where necessary consulting the Senior Special Assistant and the COS. The incumbent routes and distributes routine and confidential material; maintains political, constitutional, electoral, Code Cables and general management files. • Screens and prioritizes all incoming correspondence, compiles relevant background documents and references, identifies issues requiring the COS’s attention and refers others to relevant officers for appropriate disposition, monitors and follows up on actions to be taken. • Performs other duties as assigned.

Competencies

Professionalism: 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 and 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.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Job – Specific Qualification

Technical or vocational certificate in administrative services, finance, human resources, business administration or personnel management is required.

Work Experience

At least eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience within the United Nations system or the private sector in the field of administration, finance, accounting, human resources, audit, or in other related fields is required. Experience in International operations in a post-conflict environment is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position(s) advertised, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

• Please note that following the UN Security Council’s adoption of resolution 2753 (2024), UNTMIS mandate will be terminated at the end of the anticipated transition by 31 October 2026. • This position is temporarily available for an initial period of six (6) months. 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 assignment 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. • Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. • This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. • Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. • Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as “retirement.” Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this 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. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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.