Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund 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. The Pension Fund pays benefits in 17 currencies to more than 80,000 beneficiaries who reside in 190 countries, and services more than 140,000 participants who work in the 24 member organizations of the Pension Fund. 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. We offer staff competitive benefits, including up to six weeks of annual leave per year, a defined benefit pension plan (not subject to variation of capital markets), parental leave, a comprehensive insurance plan, and flexible working arrangements subject to operational requirements. 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 in the Pension Administration of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF). The incumbent will report to the Benefits Officer in the Client Services Section in Geneva. The Benefits Assistant will oversee the work of more junior GS colleagues in Client Services and make recommendations to the Benefits Officer and Chief of Section on complex cases.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Benefits Assistants will be responsible for the following duties: Client Service Pension cases: • Provides information to individual participants and retirees/beneficiaries as well as to administrative staff of the member organizations of the UNSPF with respect to complex issues relating to participation, entitlements and benefits, including validation, restoration, transfer of pension rights, and all benefit options potentially available to UNJSPF participants. • Routes relevant requests to other services within the Pension Administration as required and ensures timely follow up for resolution. • Responds to pension enquiries from clients and counterparts in member organisations of the UNJSPF and the UN Secretariat and programmes in person, by phone or in writing drafting correspondence on complex issues related to pension entitlements and benefits. • Undertakes necessary research to provide accurate information ensuring that responses conform to the provisions and rules and regulations of the UNJSPF and the Pension Adjustment System and contacts the administrations of member organisations and the UN Secretariat and programmes to resolve issues as required. • Initiates administrative procedures as they relate to proof of residence, changes in country of residence, certificate of entitlement and other “proof” documents as required. • Advises relevant entities, e.g., Insurance Section and the Federation of Associations of Former International Civil Servants (FAFICS) and Associations of Former International Civil Servants (AFICS) at local and international locations, with respect to the status of retirees and beneficiaries. • Provides information to all types of clients; active participants, beneficiaries, retirees, survivors and dependents or their legal representatives, on the status of individual pension cases at all stages of the pension life cycle from enrolment to separation through retirement to the death of the last potential beneficiary, ensuring that all necessary actions are taken at the relevant points in time. • Monitors and controls Certificate of Entitlement-related verifications, releases and suspensions . • Supervises or completes quality control checks for cases relating to the activation and or termination of benefits. Where necessary initiating and following up requests for required documentation. • Provides estimates of current and future potential benefit options for complicated cases as well as estimates under the Pension Adjustment System explaining, as required and necessary the implications and interdependencies of different options and scenarios to clients, together with the longer-term implications of some of the choices to be made for the client and their dependents. • For local track requests under the Pension Adjustment System reviews documentation for complex cases such as those related to moves to high-cost locations, circumstances where the local track has been suspended, or could be considered for suspension, or cases where a beneficiary requests reversion to the dollar track. • Audits cases where eligibility for the local track has been provisionally established. • Reviews and or audits cases relating to the Certificate of Entitlement exercise. • Reviews and or audits the determination of eligibility to a grant from the UNJSPF’S Emergency Fund. • Participates in the standardization of procedures and texts for communications originated by the Section. • Participates in the training activities related to the Section’s work, including the preparation of training material, compilation of relevant information and provision of training to individuals outside the Section. • Trains junior staff, as needed. General: • Performs other duties as may be required. • Assists with the collection and analysis of data as well as preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision making. • Assists with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures. Work implies frequent interaction with the following: Participants, retirees and beneficiaries of UNJSPF, their survivors and dependents or their legal representatives, globally; Payroll and Finance Officers, Human Resource Officers of member organizations of the UNJSPF. Staff and Secretaries of Staff Pension Committees of member organizations of the UNJSPF. Client Service Staff in other offices of UNJSPF. Staff in other services of the Pension Administration. Results Expected: The Benefits Assistant will be expected to demonstrate autonomous mastery of the subject matter and in-depth knowledge and expertise. Under the guidance of the Benefits Officer and the Chief of Section, s/he prepares and processes work and related follow-up in an accurate and timely manner. Addresses unforeseen situations, seeking advice from and/or reporting to supervisor(s), as applicable. Advises participants, beneficiaries and retirees adequately on the UNJSPF rules and procedures. Corresponds with participants, beneficiaries and retirees, and their legal representatives, and other UN offices; drafts correspondence to relevant offices regarding benefits entitlements and the relevant rules and regulations of the UNJSPF. The incumbent is expected to perform a variety of functions regarding pension entitlements and the UNJSPF administrative processes and inform clients accordingly.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge of UNJSPF Regulations and Rules and related procedures and how they apply. Knowledge of UN systems and procedures as they relate to UNJSPF Regulations and Staff Rules, and good understanding of the UNJSPF operations. Ability to identify issues and analyse client cases and provide correct and timely responses, within the provisions of the Regulations and Rules and the Pension Adjustment System. Handling of UNJSPF data responsibly and with confidentiality. Ability to perform analysis, modeling and interpretation of data in support of decision- making. Ability to plan and organize workload within the UNJSPF benchmarks. Ability to maintain accurate records, interpret/analyse a wide variety of data, and identify/resolve data discrepancies and other problems. Demonstrated use of initiative and ability to make appropriate linkages in work processes and anticipate next steps. Shows pride in work and in achievements; 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. • 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 audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. • 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

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven (7) years of experience in employee benefits administration or related area is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to five (5) for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher. At least two (2) years of experience in client services is desirable. Experience in a pension fund in the area of client servicing or processing entitlements is desirable. Experience in using transaction processing systems is desirable. Experience in reviewing the corresponding computer output is desirable. A minimum of one (1) year of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in one of the working languages of the UN Secretariat, English or French is required and knowledge of the other is also required. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

This position will be available as of 1 January 2025. 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.

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.