Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the United Nations Language and Communications Training Unit (LCTU) of the Capacity Development and Operational Training Service (CDOTS), office of Support Operations (OSO), Department of Operational Support (DOS). The incumbent reports to the Head of the Language and Communications Programme of CDOTS.

The Language and Communications Training Unit (LCTU) promotes linguistic balance and multilingualism within the Secretariat and improves the language abilities of staff, as mandated by the General Assembly in its resolutions 2480 B (XXIII), 43/224D and 50/11. In this regard LCTU offers language and communication skills courses in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish to staff members at UN Headquarters in New York and also in the Global Secretariat.

The Capacity Development Operational Training Service (CDOTS) provides operational training, including training on enterprise resource management system and leads as the main facilitator of business process management activities in the UN Secretariat. The Department of Operational Support (DOS) was established to provide end-to-end operational support, advisory services and other solutions to operational entities across the Secretariat, including departments, offices away from headquarters, field missions and regional commissions.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority the Spanish Language teacher will be responsible for the following duties:

• Teaching Spanish as a foreign or second language at all levels and for all skills, and specialized high-level communication skills courses to both native and non-native speakers.

• Developing and/or teaching face-to-face, blended, online Spanish language and communications skills courses, including courses based on substantive topics.

• Developing and updating course curricula, materials and assessments (course projects, continuous assessment tasks, etc.), and correcting student work.

• Designing and delivering communication skills courses tailored to the specific needs of United Nations offices, departments and agencies.

• Design and deliver training and workshops related to communication, language learning methodologies, language curriculum application or other development projects of the LCTU, ensuring that appropriate methodologies are used.

• Meeting and corresponding with clients (students, departmental focal points, partners) to advise and provide individualized information, guidance and feedback.

• Attending and/or leading meetings and participating in/or leading LCTU projects to meet the language and communication skills needs of United Nations staff.

• Drafting, administering and/or evaluating parts of the Spanish Language Proficiency Examination, ensuring examination validity and consistency and collaborating with the related departments.

• Preparing and supervising the construction and the grading process of language examinations and tests.

• Manage the Spanish Language Programme when requested by organizing the course offering and overall schedule; the recruitment and schedules of the part-time Spanish language teachers; and the communication and evaluation measures, processes and tools.

• Set and manage programme objectives in line with the objectives of the LCTU.

• Responding to other specific needs linked to the general objectives of the United Nations Language and Communications Programme.

• Performing other duties as required, including LCTU projects; maintaining attendance and grading records; and other learning and administrative tasks.

Competencies

Professionalism: 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

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in language area studies, language teaching, applied linguistics, communication or education/pedagogy or related fields is required.

Degrees with special emphasis on the theory and practice of teaching Spanish as a second or foreign language to adult learners are desirable.

Job – Specific Qualification

A minimum of 500 training contract hours (specific training courses, postgraduate courses, etc.), in addition to the hours accumulated to obtain the university degree, in the areas of teaching Spanish as a second or foreign language, technology language area studies, curriculum development for adults, language examination design, communication or education/pedagogy is desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of experience, teaching Spanish as a foreign or second language to adults in a multi-cultural setting (corporate, academic or other professional setting), is required.

Three years of recent experience in curriculum development, language examination design, and/or teacher training for adult Spanish learning, is required.

Experience developing and teaching online Spanish courses, using a variety of web 2.0 tools such as learning management systems, online collaboration tools and/or social media platforms to teach Spanish as a foreign language is desirable.

Experience in teaching Spanish as a foreign language to learners of all competency levels, from beginners to advanced students (similar to UN Levels UN I, UN II, UN II in the United Nations Language Framework, A1, A2, B1, B2 in the Common European Reference Framework or equivalent) is required.

Experience in teaching higher level learners, equivalent to UN Level IV, or to C1 or C2, is desirable.

Experience in teaching preparation courses for Spanish proficiency examinations, and/or grading Spanish proficiency examinations, is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English and Spanish is 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

• 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. 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. The United Nations is not responsible for costs incurred during any stage of the assessment or relocating/moving to New York.

• The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

• 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.

• Applicants, who successfully go through a competitive recruitment process and are recommended for selection and/or inclusion in the roster of pre-approved candidates for subsequent job openings at the same level and with similar functions, may have their application information and roster status shared with other UN Organizations. Such applicants may be contacted by other UN Organizations for similar job openings, subject to the confirmation of their interest. Placement on the roster is no guarantee of a future selection.

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.