Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) Shop, Mechanical Unit (MU), Plant Engineering Section (PES), Facilities and Commercial Activities (FCAS), Division of Administration (DOA), Department of Operational Support (DOS). The incumbent reports directly to the Foreperson of the HVAC Shop under overall guidance of the General Foreperson of the Mechanical Unit.

The Department of Operational Support was established to provide operational advisory services to operating entities across the Secretariat, including other departments, offices away from headquarters, field missions, and regional commissions. The Facilities and Commercial Activities Service (FCAS) operates the Headquarters complex, striving to provide effective and efficient planning, management, maintenance and operation for all existing physical facilities and assets at the UN Headquarters, New York. FCAS also supports office and conference facilities, property management, travel and transportation services, archives and records management, mail and pouch operations, catering, giftshop and the United Nations Postal Administration.

Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Foreperson of the HVAC Shop, the HVAC technician will be responsible for the following duties and responsibilities:

• Operate, test and service heating, ventilation, air conditioning, monitoring and controls equipment. This specifically includes operation of the Main Chiller Plant, which operates 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.
• Utilize BMS system to monitor and control HVAC equipment operations and make temperature adjustments throughout the complex.
• Read blueprints and schematics to service and maintain critical equipment to ensure its safe operation during all normal, abnormal and emergency situations.
• Apply knowledge and experience with monitoring, controls, dampers operation and current standards for preventive and corrective maintenance of critical systems.
• Work with the Security & Safety staff to obtain training and maintain current with proper operation, servicing and controls of current equipment for protection against bio-terrorism and other security concerns.
• Work with state of the art filtration, ultra-violet beam and other treatments recommended for the space conditioning industry and their application.
• Repair and maintain controls.
• Observe and record readings on pressure and temperature of machinery, steam consumption and running time of all equipment.
• Record work time and materials used on work orders.
• Work closely with emergency preparedness teams and other trades.
• Supervise and train junior staff.
• Supervise the work of outside contractors in the areas of mechanical and HVAC and prepare “problems and performance” reports.
• Be able to inspect all work and prepare punch list or job completion reports.
• Assume the responsibilities of a lead person at times when the lead person is absent or preoccupied.
• Performing other duties as may be assigned by the Foreperson of the Shop.

Competencies

Professionalism: Demonstrates professional competencies in the HVAC and related trades. Knowledge in HVAC systems and equipment. Familiarity with hand and power tools of HVAC and knowledge of relevant safety procedures. Ability to read blue prints and rough drawings. 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 or equivalent Trade School Diploma is required.

Job – Specific Qualification

Valid EPA Universal Refrigerant License is required.

A valid FDNY issued Certificate of Qualification for Refrigerating System Operating Engineer (“Q-01”) is desirable. For candidates who do not possess one, they must obtain it within one-year of appointment in order for their contract to be renewed. Do you already have such a certification? (If yes, please provide details and attach a copy of your certification to this application / if no, please confirm whether you are willing to obtain one within the first year of employment.)

Certification in OSHA construction safety is desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of five (5) years of progressive work experience in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) trade, including experience in the use of tools related to the trade is required.

Experience operating a Building Management System (BMS) or equivalent is desirable.

Experience installing and/or troubleshooting HVAC Control wiring is desirable.

Languages

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

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise and a competency based interview.

Special Notice

Appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year.

This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to Staff Rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. Applicants for General Service and related positions must be authorized to work in the country where the position is located. A staff member subject to local recruitment is not eligible for the allowances or benefits applicable to international recruitment.

Passing the Trades and Crafts Test (TCT) is a prerequisite for selection in the Trades and Crafts category in the United Nations Secretariat. Applicants who have not passed the TC test at the time of application may be invited for the test after submitting an application. Staff members who were granted a fixed-term, continuing or permanent appointment as a result of having passed a predecessor test recognized by the Office of Human Resources Management, and who have continuously held such appointments, are not required to take the new test.

A valid FDNY issued Certificate of Qualification for Refrigerating System Operating Engineer (“Q-01”) is desirable. In the event that the hired candidate does not possess such valid Certificate at the time of selection, the candidate must obtain one within one-year of entry to the Organization. The Organization will reimburse reasonable registration and/or training costs required to obtain this qualification. Failure to obtain this certification will result in non-renewal of the employment contract.

The selected candidate will be required to perform night shifts on rotation, in order to perform required off-peak maintenance work, operate the Main Chiller Plant, as well as to provide prompt response in case of emergencies.

The work requires the ability to lift up to 60 lbs occasionally. Daily, the incumbent will have to make repairs and installations from ladders (3′ – 10′ high), scaffolding, and platforms, and where the systems and equipment worked on are in hard-to-reach places. This requires staff to stand, stoop, bend, kneel, climb and work in tiring and uncomfortable positions. The incumbent must maintain safety procedures at all times to avoid injury.

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 applicant with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

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.

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 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.