Org. Setting and Reporting

The mandate of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is to promote sustainable and inclusive development and regional connectivity in the Asian and Pacific region. ESCAP’s role as a regional development arm of the United Nations Secretariat is to support its membership with policy oriented research and analysis, normative support and technical assistance and capacity building, to respond to the development priorities and changing needs of the Asian and Pacific region.

This position is located in the Chinese Language Unit of the Conference and Documentation Services Section (CDSS). The Section reports to the Deputy Executive Secretary for Programme Support. The incumbent reports to the Chief of the Chinese Language Unit.

Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of the Chinese Language Unit and the overall supervision of the Chief of CDSS, the incumbent is required to perform the following functions:

• Organizes, plans, controls and co-ordinates the work of a particular unit with respect to the production of camera-ready documents for reproduction, stores of final text on the United Nations Official Documents System (DOS), archives copies on shared drives and create backups.
• Conducts final inspection and presentation of documents.
• Registers incoming/outgoing documents and Bitexts in order to control flow of work in and out of unit, sends documents for clearance via e-mail and liaises with submitting officers with regards to queries and clarifications.
• Leads the adoption of modified working methods and procedures in the framework of ongoing modernization processes, including the Global Terminology, Reference, Translation Solutions (gText) project and new IT tools.
• Ensures that modified workflows are designed and implemented according to rigorous and transparent standards that reflect the language-specific operational needs of the unit and are supported by systematic training.
• Ensures effective transition to new workflows while maintaining the delivery of existing Unit products by sharing information and supporting full participation in workflow reviews.
• Registers, processes and records all assignments on a daily basis.
• Maintains daily statistics. Performs administrative work, as needed.
• Facilitates access to parliamentary and miscellaneous documentation through web-based tools.
• Performs daily maintenance of the Unit network drives.
• Trains and guides staff in the use of different computer applications, as required.
• Completes evaluation reports for staff members as First Reporting Officer.
• Provide feedback to FRO on their managing performance competency, if requested.
• Trains staff to align bi-texts in order to support the production of high-quality translation memories for computer-assisted translation (CAT), machine translation (MT) and related workflow improvements.
• Trains staff to perform other modified text-processing functions developed under gText or related workflow reviews, such as in the area of pre-processing or pre-translation of texts.
• Assists in overseeing the creation, updating and maintenance of macros, instructions and models.
• Rotates on daytime, after-hours and weekend work shifts, as needed.
• Stays available for overtime and on-call assignments, depending on the needs of service.
• Performs other related work as required.

Competencies

Core competencies:

• Professionalism: Knowledge of UN structure and rules of procedure of various organs. Knowledge of all aspects of the work of the unit, including typographic standards and documents production system. Proficiency in the language of the unit and in United Nations terminology and editorial practices. Demonstrates use of initiative, ability and creativity to effectively attain objectives. 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.

• Technological Awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.

Managerial Competency:

• Judgement / Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent is required.

A first-level university degree may be accepted in lieu of two years of required experience.

Work Experience

A minimum seven years (or five years if graduated with a bachelor’s degree) of experience in desktop publishing or a related field, including draft typing, copy editing, formatting, proofreading and creating typographical layouts is required.

Experience with documentation workflow processes and tools, such as gText or similar tool, is desirable.

Experience in the United Nations Common System or international organizations is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, candidates must have Chinese as their main language with proficiency in spelling and grammar. Fluency in English is required; knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

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. Eligible applicants selected from outside the duty station are responsible for any expenses in connection with their relocation to the duty station. Staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment.

Applicants for GS and related positions may apply and be considered for locally recruited positions no matter where they are currently located (including the current serving staff members at other duty stations), provided they are locally available upon appointment. They must be authorized to work in the country regardless of where they live at the time of applying for the job opening.

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

Must have passed the United Nations Global General Service Test (GGST) at Headquarters or an equivalent locally-administered test at Offices Away from Headquarters.

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.