Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF) was established in 1949 by the United Nations General Assembly to provide retirement, death, disability, and related benefits for staff of the United Nations and other member organizations of the Fund. UNJSPF administers benefits of more than 80,000 beneficiaries residing in more than 190 countries, paid in 18 currencies, and services more than 150,000 participants who work in the 25 member organizations of UNJSPF. The Fund has offices in New York (United States) and Geneva (Switzerland) and two liaison offices in Nairobi (Kenya) and Bangkok (Thailand), respectively. The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund-Pension Administration (UNJSPF-PA) comprises about 250 staff from diverse countries and cultures, based across four prominent duty stations (New York, Geneva, Bangkok, and Nairobi). We are a career employer offering unique opportunities for growth within the United Nations system. Our office is located in the heart of Manhattan, within walking distance from the Grand Central Station hub, in a state-of-the-art facility (the One Dag Hammarskjöld building). Visit www.unjspf.org for more details. This position is located in the Operations Support Section (OSS) of the Operations Coordination and Liaison Unit, Operations Service (OCLU, OS) in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund-Pension Administration (UNJSPF-PA). The incumbent reports to the Chief of OCLU under the overall guidance of the Chief of OSS. Operations Service is responsible for ensuring that all eligible participants, retirees and other beneficiaries are serviced in accordance with the Regulations, Rules and Pension Adjustment System of the Fund, while fully adhering to the communications, quality management and internal control policies as outlined in the Fund”s management charter.

Responsibilities

The Senior Benefits Assistant serves as a resource person and benefit system specialist to the Section. Within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties: Operational and Programme Support • Support the planning, coordination and implementation of the Operations Support Section (OSS) and the Operations Coordination and Liaison Unit (OCLU) activities to ensure timely and accurate processing of pension benefits. • Serve as focal point for coordinating and expediting project implementation, liaising extensively with internal units and member organizations to initiate requests, prepare terms of reference, secure clearances and resolve operational issues. • Assist in establishing and updating standard operating procedures for separation processing and the timely submission of separation documents by member organizations. • Participate in training activities, including the development of training materials and consolidation of operational guidance. Data Quality, Interfaces and Workflow Management • Audit administrative actions and verify data for completeness, accuracy and consistency, applying necessary quality control checks across HR and financial interfaces with member organizations. • Research, compile, analyse and present data to support enhancements to HR and financial interfaces, including validation mechanisms. • Establish automated follow-up measures and maintain business-intelligence reports to track missing documents, pending cases and workflow bottlenecks. • Prepare, maintain and update electronic and hard-copy files, databases and reporting outputs, including periodic/ad-hoc reports, statistics and graphic content for inspections and reviews. Casework, Partner Support and Advisory • Provide information, guidance and technical support on complex benefit cases, including interpretation and application of the Regulations, Rules and Pension Adjustment System of the Fund. • Prepare responses to inquiries from member organizations and Staff Pension Committee Secretaries on issues relating to participation, eligibility, benefit determination, tools and all other pension matters. Capacity Building and Team Leadership • Provide guidance, mentoring and on-the-job training to new or junior staff, including Auditors and Benefits Assistants. • Draft periodic and ad-hoc circulars issued to member organizations and participate in developing process guidelines, process maps and procedures. • Deputize for the Benefits Officer/Unit Chief in their absence, overseeing daily operations, distributing workload, monitoring case processing and performing Unit-level administrative functions. Analysis, Reporting, and Knowledge Management • Assist with data collection, analysis, and preparation of data presentations and reports for knowledge management, planning, decision-making and responding to queries. • Support the design and updating of visual materials, including dashboards, web materials and other materials. Other responsibilities • Perform other duties as required.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge of the Regulations, Rules and Pension Adjustment System of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund or that of a similar international organization. Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of pension and staff benefits administration. Understanding of the functions and organization of the work unit and of the organizational structure and respective roles of related units. Ability to perform analysis, modeling and interpretation of data in support of decisionmaking. Ability to identify and resolve a range of issues/problems and to work well with figures, undertake basic research and gather information from standard sources. Demonstrated ability to apply good judgment in the context of assignments given. 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. • Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. • 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. • Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of 10 years of experience in employee benefits administration or related area is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to eight for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher. Experience in performing transactions using ERP systems, such as IPAS or similar systems, is required. At least five years of experience in the field of pension administration is desirable. Experiencing in supervising staff or work of others in a diverse multinational and multicultural environment is desirable. Experience within the United Nations common system is desirable. At least one year experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. French is desirable. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).

Required Languages

LanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeakingEnglishUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level II

Desirable Languages

LanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeakingFrenchUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level II

Assessment

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

Special Notice

Funding for this position is subject to General Assembly approval and, therefore, the selection and onboarding of the successful candidate may be expected in early 2026. This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. Applicants for positions in the General Service and related categories must be authorized to work for the United Nations in the duty station where the position is located. Staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment. The applicable human resources procedures are governed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Fund and the UN Secretariat. Any candidate from a member organization of the UNJSPF applying for this post is considered as an internal candidate provided, he/she has been appointed through the appointment and promotion procedures applicable in his/her respective organization. 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. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. 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.