Org. Setting and Reporting

The Department of Operational Support (DOS) was established to provide end-to-end operational support, advisory services, and other solutions to operating entities across the Secretariat, including departments, offices away from headquarters, peace operations, and regional commissions.

The Regional Service Centre in Entebbe, Uganda (RSCE), was established in July 2010, following the adoption of General Assembly resolution 64/269. The Centre provides efficient, client-oriented, and scalable services with the goal of moving transactional, non-location dependent administrative functions to the Centre from its client entities. This includes transactional elements of human resources, finance, multimodal movement and control, personnel and cargo transport and information and communications technology (ICT) support. In addition to these services, the Office of the Director RSCE and support offices through the Deputy Director RSCE provides overall guidance on the operations of the RSCE including strategic planning, communication, budgeting, human resources management, property management, quality assurance and business intelligence, conference services, record keeping and archive management, and audit response and risk management.

For more information, please visit https://rsce.unmissions.org.

This position is in the Office of the Director, of the Regional Service Centre in Entebbe (RSCE). The incumbent reports to the Senior Protocol Assistant in the Front Office of the Director RSCE and provides executive protocol assistance and she/he is responsible for the completion of a variety of specialized activities ensuring the smooth functioning of the day-to-day protocol work, such as providing support in planning, and organizing meetings, conferences, events, and visits; arranging passes, assisting with accreditations procedures.

Responsibilities

1. Summary of principal functions.
The Protocol Assistant reports to the Senior Protocol Assistant.
The incumbent provides executive protocol assistance, and she/he is responsible for the completion of a variety of specialized activities ensuring the smooth functioning of the day-to-day protocol work, such as providing support in planning, and organizing meetings, conferences, events, and visits, arranging passes, assisting with accreditations procedures.

2. Within delegated authority, the Protocol Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:
Provides support to the Senior Protocol Assistant in planning, and organizing meetings, conferences and events at the United Nations Campus in Entebbe.
Schedules conference rooms; prepares invitations; prepares the list of participants; coordinates seating arrangements; arranges security/entry passes; handles other arrangements as required.
Assembles, copies and distributes background papers and agenda.
Inspects conference room to ensure preparation before the meeting and after and works with relevant sections/units to ensure satisfactory preparation of facilities.
Provides support to the Senior Protocol Assistant in receiving and verifying applications for dispatch and ensuring all required supporting documentation is attached. Confirm that the application owners are registered in the Protocol Office Services Application, and if not, carry out the appropriate registration. Scanning and uploading the required documentation to the electronic Protocol Office drive. Updating the status of cases in the Protocol Office Services Application
Updates the supervisor about the status of completion of required procedures.
Informs the supervisor of any problem that may arise and assists with its resolution.
Receives all incoming protocol correspondence, documents, condolences and invitations and other receptions.
Dispatches them to the relevant parties and informs the supervisor.
Proofreads carefully the letters and notes, which come from the other Sections and makes corrections, as appropriate, to the salutations of the notes, as well as the addresses of the letters.
Performs other preliminary checks for accuracy and completeness.
Drafts notes verbales, and routine correspondence (congratulations, condolences, apologies, invitations) for signature.
Obtains important official documents such as speeches, decrees as required by the Senior Protocol assistant.
Organizes and maintains the Centre’s Protocol and VIP lists and the filing system.
Provides explanation of protocol procedures and working methods to staff and relevant parties.
Undertakes any additional assignments requested by the Senior Protocol Assistant.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge and experience in protocol office, budgetary and administrative functions. 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

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.

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 diploma or equivalent is required.

Work Experience

At least five (05) years of relevant experience in protocol services, events management, or related areas is required. The minimum year of relevant experience is reduced to three (3) for candidates who possess a first level degree or higher.

Experience working in a United Nations common system field operation (inclusive of peacekeeping, political missions and UN agencies, funds and programmes) – or similar international organization or non-governmental organization – in a conflict or post-conflict setting is desirable.

Experience working in a multicultural and/or international work environment is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in English
is required.

Knowledge of the local language is desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

This post is funded for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension.

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

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.

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.

An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.

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.