Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Text-Processing Unit, Russian Translation Service, Documentation Division of the Department of General Assembly and Conference Management (DGACM) in New York. The incumbent reports to the head of unit/section.

Responsibilities

Within limits of delegated authority, the Language and Desktop Publishing Assistant will be responsible for the following duties: • Performs desktop publishing, page layout and/or graphic design functions, including incorporating corrections and formatting documents, as well as creating tables, graphics and organization charts, in desktop publishing formats, in accordance with existing guidelines, especially for complex documents, including publications. • Performs proofreading functions by checking successive versions of edited and translated documents against previous versions, as appropriate, in accordance with existing guidelines. • Assists the Programming Officer or equivalent in the distribution of work, including by monitoring the progress of work, and assists in ensuring the smooth electronic transmission and effective processing of documentation. • Compiles and scopes final documents against the submitted document. • Aligns bi-texts in order to support the production of high-quality translation memories and related workflow improvements. • Assists the team leader or the Chief in leading the adoption of modified working methods and procedures in the framework of ongoing modernization processes, including by acting as liaison between the staff and the management team. • Performs ad hoc modified desktop publishing functions developed through workflow reviews. • Trains staff to perform all desktop publishing, page layout and/or graphic design functions. • Collects and verifies data and assists the management team with the preparation of data presentations and reports for information-sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision-making. • Registers incoming/outgoing documents and processes and records all assignments in gDoc on a daily basis, when needed. • Stores final text on the relevant systems by the mandated deadline. • Conducts final verification for machine-readable documents. • Performs independently and effectively the full range of office management and administrative support functions, when required. • Handles queries, maintains attendance and keeps records, as needed. • In coordination with the team leader, creates, updates and maintains templates and models. Tests macros and reports all issues. • Provides any assistance that may be requested by the team leader or the Chief. • Provides technical support to all staff in the work unit. • At the request of the team leader, performs quality evaluations and provides feedback to contribute to the creation of a culture of accountability and two-way feedback. • Performs pre-translation functions, as needed. • Works effectively in in-person, remote or hybrid teams, as needed. • Undertakes cross-assignments to perform, under guidance, other language functions, if required. • Stays available for assignments and shifts, depending on the exigencies of service, including outside normal working hours. • Completes ePerformance evaluations as Reporting Officer, when required. • Assists hiring managers to ensure sufficient capacity to meet the requirements of the team, if needed. • Provides desktop publishing and proofreading services to the Security Council, General Assembly and other bodies, when required. • Assists and stands in for colleagues, when needed. • Performs other related work as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of United Nations structure and rules of procedure of various organs. Knowledge of all aspects of the work of the Unit, including typographic standards, with special emphasis on technological applications leading to processing efficiencies. Proficiency in United Nations terminology and editorial practices in the language of the unit. Ability to enhance the skills and monitor the performance of staff within the Unit, with emphasis on change management in the area of technological innovation. Demonstrates 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

Education

High school diploma or equivalent is required. Additional formal training in desktop publishing or a related field is desirable.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of experience in desktop publishing or a related field, including draft typing, copy editing, formatting, proofreading, graphic design, and creating typographical layouts, is required. Experience in general office and administrative support is desirable. A minimum of one year experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in Russian is required. Fluency in oral and written English is required; knowledge of another official United Nations 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 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. Applicants for positions subject to local recruitment are required to be authorized to work in the country regardless of where they live at the time of applying for the job opening. Selected candidates/staff members will be responsible for any costs related to their travel and relocation in the context of onboarding to report for duty. Passing the Verbal Reasoning Test (VRT) is a prerequisite for recruitment consideration for the Language and Desktop Publishing Assistant positions in the United Nations Headquarters. Applicants who have not passed the VRT at the time of application may be invited for the test after submitting an application. 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.

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.