Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). The Senior Administrative Officer will be based in Bangui and reports to the Director of Mission Support.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Senior Administrative Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
• Acts as adviser on management matters pertaining to human resources, budgeting, financial and general
administration.
• Ensures development, preparation, coordination and monitoring of work plans, strategies, and programmes for
the administrative activities of the Mission and takes the lead in securing the required human and financial resources.
• In cooperation with other offices of the Mission, plans and forecasts the personnel, financial and logistical
requirements of all Mission components.
• Exercises budgetary and administrative control.
• Certifies mission expenditure as the delegation of authority granted by the UN Controller. Reports on all
administrative, logistical, and financial matters.
• Drafts guidelines, reports, and correspondence on a wide range of issues for the Director of Mission Support,
and ensures that all relevant UN rules and regulations and policies are adhered to.
• Drafts responses to correspondence, including code cable required from the Office of the Director of Mission Support on a range of administrative/policy matters.
• Provides substantive analysis, advice, and solutions to ad-hoc issues that arise; undertakes tasks and special projects, such as Security/Evacuation Plan, welfare activities, etc.
• Undertakes evaluation of support provided by the Mission Support Division to the various parts of the Mission.
• Monitors implementation of Audit/Board of Inquiry recommendations.
• Assists the in the supervision Air Safety matters in the Mission as well as coordination of Security operations in
the Mission.
• Liaises with the Offices of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG), Deputy SRSG and Force
Commander as well as Chiefs of Services and Sections on administrative issues/activities.
• Liaises with local authorities, UN / Agencies / Funds and Programmes or other parties on behalf of Mission
Support Division when required.
• Maintains direct liaison with the Resident and External Auditors; reviews all audit observations and drafts appropriate responses in consultation with the Director of Mission Support.
• Represents the Director of Mission Support in various standing Boards and Committees, such as Property Survey
Board (PSB), Claims Review Board (CRB), and may act as alternate/ Chairperson of the Local Committee on
Contracts.
• Performs other duties, as assigned.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of administration including approaches and techniques to address and advise on highly sensitive complex problems with multiple clients and a wide range of needs 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.

Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost, and quality-standards; operates-in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates; provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own Shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

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.

Managing Performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision making
authority: makes sure that roles, responsibilities, and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly.

Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow. Empowers others to translate vision into results. Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives. Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support. Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions. Drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo. Shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business or public administration, human
resources management, finance, accounting, or related field is required.

A first-level university degree with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Work Experience

At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in human resources, budget, finance or general
administration is required.

Experience in handling complex organizational issues at the international level is required.

Hands-on experience with UN administrative/financial policies and practices is desirable

Experience providing services to or in a field operation of the United Nations Common System or a comparable international organization is desirable.

Experience serving as a secretary or a member of the Local Committee on Contracts (LCC), Local Property Survey Board (LPSB) is desirable.

Languages

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

Assessment

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

Special Notice

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.

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.

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.