Org. Setting and Reporting

This internship is located within the Business Process and System Support Section (BPSSS) of the Capacity Development and Operational Training Service (CDOTS)/Department of Operational Support (DOS).

CDOTS provides operational training, language and communications training, training on enterprise resource planning systems, knowledge management, and leads as the main facilitator of business process improvement activities in the UN Secretariat.

At CDOTS, we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of technological advancements and innovation. Our Learning & Development team within BPSSS is dedicated to nurturing talent, facilitating knowledge sharing, and driving continuous professional growth. We are on a mission to shape the future, and we believe that the key lies in an impeccable user experience.

The internship is for a maximum period of six months and can be undertaken remotely (telecommute). The internship is UNPAID and full-time. Interns work five days per week (35 hours). Part time and remote modalities can be considered.

Under the supervision of the LMS Coordinator in BPSSS, the intern will play an instrumental role in optimizing our learning platforms and tools, ensuring a seamless and intuitive experience for all users.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with the BPSSS team to understand and translate user needs into UX designs.

Assist in the creation and refinement of user-centric designs and wireframes for learning.

Conduct usability testing and gather feedback to iterate upon the current UX design.

Work closely with course developers and instructional designers to enhance user assistance documentation, guides, and tutorials.

Analyse user behaviours and feedback to recommend improvements.

Stay updated on the latest trends in UX/UI and suggest innovative solutions for our platforms.

Competencies

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.

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

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements (A or B):

(A) Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher) in ANY of the following areas: instructional design/educational technology, human resources learning and development, adult learning, training or a related area such as development communication, project management, media/UI/UX design, interaction design, human-computer interaction or psychology;

(B) Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent) in the areas mentioned above.

– Applicants should have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter;

– Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views;

– Be proficient in standard office software systems (e.g., MS Office 365 or similar)

– Preference will be given to applicants with a strong background in instructional design and demonstrated proficiency in content authoring software (Articulate 360 and/or Adobe Captivate), Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Premiere Pro), and using a Moodle-based Learning Management System.

Work Experience

No working experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme. Your training, education, advance course work or skills should benefit the United Nations during your internship.

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 an advantage.

Assessment

Potential candidates will be contacted directly by the hiring manager for further consideration.

Special Notice

Completed online application (Motivation Statement and Personal History Profile) is required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

The Motivation Statement must include:
• Title of degree you are currently pursuing or the title of the degree you have obtained;
• Graduation date (When will you be graduating/ have graduated from the programme);
• IT skills and software that you are proficient in;
• Top three areas of interest;
• Explain why you are the best candidate for this specific internship;
• Explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme;

Be sure to include all past work experiences (if any) and three references.

Due to the high volume of applications received, ONLY successful candidates will be contacted.

Applicants who are children or siblings of a staff member shall not be eligible to apply for an internship at the United Nations.

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.

Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions.

Applicants who are not United States citizens, permanent residents, or not currently in the United States on a non-immigrant visa status will be required to obtain a G-4 visa if they wish to undertake the internship in person in New York. If the intern is already in the United States of America on another non-immigrant visa status other than G4 (including International Students on an F1 Visa), they will need to hold a valid visa and obtain the appropriate Employment Authorization Document (EAD) such as Optional Practical Training (OPT), or Curriculum Practical Training (CPT) to undertake the internship in person in New York. Interns who are not currently in the US are eligible to work remotely, without need for a US visa and EAD. For full information on EAD options for International Students in the United States on an F1 visa, please refer to:
• https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/students-and-exchange-visitors https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/students-and-exchange-visitors/students-and-employment
• https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/complete-correct-form-i-9/completing-section-1-employee-information-and-attestation/foreign-academic-students
• https://www.ice.gov/sevis/employment#tab1

Please note that the United Nations in New York DOES NOT accept the “International Organizations” EAD.

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.