Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the CRIMJUST – Criminal Network Disruption Global Programme, Border Management Branch (BMB), Division for Operations (DO), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in Vienna. The Research Assistant (Programme Management) will work under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Programme Management Officer managing the Afghan Opiate Trade Project (AOTP).

For more information on UNODC, please visit the website: www.unodc.org

Responsibilities

Within assigned authority, the Research Assistant (Programme Management) will be responsible for the following specific duties:
• Assist with coordination, and monitoring of the capacity building component of the Afghan Opiate Trade project (AOTP), including support to research design, data collection and analysis, and report preparation by the respective national counterpart agencies.
• Assist in identifying and monitoring trafficking of Afghan opiates in various regions/countries; select and evaluate a variety of documents, summarize pertinent material, collect and analyse data and prepare background materials for assessment papers, studies, briefs and reports.
• Contribute to various primary and secondary analytical activities of AOTP including coordination of data collection from the field on various AOTP activities.
• Assemble and examine original statistical material to ensure accuracy, clarity and validity; make appropriate adjustments; analyse data and draft reports, prepare pre-publication data for Member States review.
• Prepare a variety of presentations, tables, lists, charts, data sets, and/or diagrams to facilitate an in-depth analysis of the retrieved information by the supervisor and other users.
• Ensure that procedural requirements related to sound management of the AOTP budget and funding (project preparation and submissions, progress and evaluation reports, financial statements etc.) are met; contribute to the preparation of related documents (work plan, budget, etc.).
• Assist in planning and conducting conference/meetings related to and hiring consultants for the implementation of the AOTP.
• Support all activities to maintain the flow of information on project related matters between the AOTP and relevant UNODC regional/country offices as well as other organizational units in UNODC Headquarters.
• Perform other related work as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Has knowledge and understanding of concepts and approaches relevant to criminal analysis, data collection and maintenance as well as to project monitoring. Is able to identify, extract, analyse and format data from a wide variety of standard and non-standard sources. Is able to deal with multiple tasks under tight deadlines and work pressure. Has good judgment, and analytical skills and is able to identify and contribute to the solution of problems/issues. 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.

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.

Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Education

High school diploma is required.

Job – Specific Qualification

Passing the Global General Service Test (GGST) is a prerequisite, i.e. is required, for recruitment consideration in the General Services and related categories in the United Nations Secretariat. Applicants who have not passed the GGST at the time of application may be invited for the test after submitting an application.

The GGST is a proctored entry-level examination at the duty station. Any travel expenses incurred in order to take the examination are the responsibility of the candidate and will not be reimbursed by the Organization.

Work Experience

A minimum of 7 years of work experience in collecting and researching data on drugs related topics is required.

Work experience in research and technical assistance related to capacity building is required.

Research experience in areas related to trafficking of Afghan opiates is desirable.

Experience in programme/project administration and monitoring, preferably in drugs and crime related areas, is desirable.

Experience with the United Nations system or similar international organization is desirable.

Experience in working with Government counterparts and law enforcement organizations in the field is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage. Knowledge of Persian/Dari and/or Russian is desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

This temporary position is currently available until 28 July 2023. Actual filling of this position and actual duration of the assignment is subject to availability of funding. If the selected candidate is an internal staff member of the United Nations Secretariat, the selection may be administered as a temporary assignment.

While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.

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.

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.

Education qualification exceeding the specified requirement of this job opening including university degrees and certificates shall not give rise to additional entitlements or benefits, or facilitate a move to the Professional category. The movement of staff members from the General Service and related categories to the Professional category in the United Nations Secretariat is exclusively allowed through the Young Professionals Programme competitive examinations. Only a few staff members pass the competitive examinations. Passing the competitive examinations does not guarantee movement to the Professional category. For further information, please visit https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=GP

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.

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.