Org. Setting and Reporting

The Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) is responsible for providing leadership, operational support and oversight of the United Nations Security Management System (UNSMS) globally. As a global leader in security risk management principles, UNDSS enables the safe and effective delivery of United Nations programmes and activities in the most complex and challenging environments, while maximizing precious resources. To this end, the work of the Department is aligned under a clear mission, to enable United Nations system programme activities through trusted security leadership and solutions. This is a unique opportunity to join a diverse, dynamic and exciting organization gaining unique and valuable experience where security provides great value. Besides the opportunity to gain new skills and further advance security expertise, this position offers a fulfilling environment that gives you satisfaction by contributing directly or indirectly to peace and security, human rights, and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. For more information on the Department, and how we make an impact on the world in enabling the achievement of SDGs, visit: https://www.un.org/undss/ This position is located in East Jerusalem, within the UNDSS Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (IOPT) office. The Administrative Assistant will report to the Chief Security Adviser.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Administrative Assistant will be responsible for the following duties: Human Resources Management • Initiates, reviews, processes and follows-up on actions related to the administration of the unit’s human resource activities both internally and with UNDP, e.g., recruitment of staff, consultants, UNVs and gratis personnel, placement, promotion, relocation, performance appraisal, job classification reviews, separation of staff members, training etc., using Umoja ERP solution, as applicable, ensuring consistency in the application of UN rules and procedures. • Responds to enquiries and provides information and advice to staff regarding their entitlements and related claims, administrative procedures, processes and practices, conditions of service, duties and responsibilities, and entitlements under the Staff Rules and Regulations. • Oversees the maintenance of vacancy announcement files and keeps track of status of vacancy announcements. Reviews and processes personnel actions through Umoja ERP solution; maintains and certifies administrative data and records for time and attendance, performance appraisal, etc in electronic information systems. • Initiates medical clearance for staff and monitors and reviews sick leave cases. • Monitors and maintains staffing table and prepares relevant statistical data/charts; generates and reviews Umoja reports in support of management decision making • Initiates, processes and follows-up on questions related to travel of staff such as appointment, home leave, official business, and separation, including shipment of personal effects. • Prepares travel authorizations; coordinates with staff member and Travel Section; calculates and implements applicable travel entitlements; raises travel authorizations in Umoja and related financial authorizations, when applicable; reviews travel claims and supporting documentation and all other actions related. Budget and Finance • Assists in the preparation and review of financial and human resource proposals/requirements. Assists in consolidation of budget/work programme with respect to Headquarters’ budget, trust funds, grants and procurement. • Monitors expenditures and compares with approved budget; prepares adjustments as necessary. • Prepares or customizes financial reports from Umoja system generated reports. • Co-ordinates with other finance and budget staff on related issues during preparation of budget reports. General Administration • Drafts routine correspondence to respond to enquiries in respect to relevant administrative, financial audit, personnel matters. • Performs other related administrative duties, as required such as maintaining up-to-date staff member working files (both paper and electronic), conducting background and reference checks of rostered candidates for future recruitment purposes, and assisting staff and managers on administration matters with emphasis on Umoja. • May be responsible for guiding, training, and supervising the work of more junior General Service staff. Contract Administration • Assists with administration of UNDSS and UNDP staff in IOPT. • Processes personnel actions to ensure prompt payment of salaries and entitlements, as well as payment of contractors’ invoices and monitor payments. • Prepares and processes all UN forms and permissions for UN staff, including UN grounds passes, visas, laissez-passer, family certificates, security clearances, etc., including coordinating with UNDP as necessary.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to perform a broad range of administrative functions, e.g., human resources, database management, consultant and individual contractor management, etc. Ability to apply knowledge of various United Nations administrative, financial and human resources rules and regulations in work situations. 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. • 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.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent.

Job – Specific Qualification

Successful completion of the HR Partners training programme for Umoja is desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in administrative services, finance/budget, human resources or related area is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to 5 for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher. Experience using the HR administration modules in an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, such as Umoja SAP or similar ERP tool is desirable. A minimum of two (2) years of experience in personnel administration within an Executive Office or similar setting is desirable. A minimum of two (2) years of experience processing human resources entitlements, including complex global compensation packages for international staff is desirable. Experience with recruitment platforms, such as Inspira is desirable. Prior experience with the UN system or international NGO is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. Fluency in oral and written English is required. Fluency in Arabic is required. Knowledge of the local language of the duty station, Hebrew, is an asset. Fluency equals a rating of “fluent” in all four areas (speak, read, write and understand). Knowledge of equals a rating of “confident” or “fluent” in at least two of the four areas.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

• Candidate selected will be granted a fixed-term appointment limited (“FTA-limited”) in accordance with section 2.2 (b) of administrative instruction ST/AI/2013/1 on Administration of fixed-term appointments. United Nations Secretariat staff members who meet the definition of “internal candidate” in staff rule 4.10, who are selected for a position subject to FTA limited will be reassigned to the position without a lien to their parent position. UN Secretariat staff members holding permanent, continuing or fixed-term appointments applying to positions subject to FTA-limited retain their contractual status while on the positions subject to FTA-limited. • The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for these positions. • The United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) is taking efforts to improve gender parity, including full implementation of the UN-wide, and Departmental Gender Strategies. We are committed to providing an inclusive culture and exciting opportunities for women in the security and operations field. • This post is funded by an extra-budgetary fund and is available for a period of one year. The appointment or assignment and renewal thereof is subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval and/or extension of the mandate. • Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. • An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. • This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. All staff in the General Service and related categories shall be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of each office, irrespective of their nationality and of the length of time they may have been in the country. A staff member subject to local recruitment shall not be eligible for the allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment. • The selection process for this job opening will be conducted pursuant to ST/AI/2010/3 on the “Staff Selection System” and include the compliance review process by a review body described in staff rule 4.15.

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.