Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Co-financing and Partnership Section (CPS), Public Affairs and Policy Support Branch (PAB), Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs (DPA), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna. The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of an External Relations Officer and the overall guidance of the Chief of the Co-financing and Partnership Section (CPS).

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

Responsibilities

The Senior External Relations and Partnerships Assistant will provide substantive support in the fund management and in donors relations and communication with external partners. The incumbent will be responsible for the following specific duties:

Fund Management:
Independently provides full range of funding agreement and fund management support functions within CPS by performing the following specific duties:

• Provide advice, guidance and support to CPS colleagues with regards to the clearance / verification of agreements in line with the clearance functions outlined in the Fundraising Management Instructions.
• Train new CPS colleagues on the fund management tools and workflow.
• Ensure a quality control for the new funding agreements entry in Umoja/FADP.
• Independently monitor, implement and report on the transition from FADP to UE2 including the enhancement requirements to streamline the workflows.
• Manage the clearance overview of pledge letters/funding agreements/ Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) for compliance with UN Rules and Regulations.
• Provide funding trends of donor portfolios, funding projections and other statistical data.
• Assist with the collection and analysis of data as well as preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision making. Assist with visualizations and updating information material.

Donor relations:
• Maintain close contacts with assigned donors to promote their support for UNODC’s activities, priorities, funding requirements and utilization of their contributions and coordinate for timely submission of various narrative and financial reports to donors.
• Assist in the coordination of fund-raising activities for drug and crime programmes, including the organisation of donor- meetings and informal donor briefings and participate in consultations and negotiations with donors on different issues.
• Draft and disseminate official correspondence to donors, including acceptance/ acknowledgement letters, payment request letters for Section Chief’s/ Division Director’s/Executive Director’s signature, as needed.

Support the CPS team in identifying potential sources of funding:
• Respond quickly and accurately to several information requests and inquiries from donors and substantive/Field offices on funding agreements, contributions and other aspects outlined in the Fundraising Management Instruction.
• Coordinate (within the assigned portfolio) and prepare briefing notes for high-level meetings with donor’s counterparts as well as minutes of such meetings.

Perform other work- related duties as assigned.

Competencies

Professionalism: Has very good knowledge of internal policies, processes and procedures. Has excellent knowledge of general office support and of programme administration processes and procedures. Has ability to apply knowledge of various United Nations administrative, human resources and financial rules and regulations in work situations. Has understanding of the functions and organization of the work unit and of the organizational structure and respective roles of related units. Demonstrates use of initiative and makes appropriate linkages in work requirements and anticipates next steps. Is able to identify, independently assess, formulate recommendations and/or resolve a wide range of issues/problems, undertake research and gather information from standard sources. Is able to work well with figures including ability to analyze and understand financial data. Has ability to perform analysis, modeling, and interpretation of data in support of decision-making. 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.

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.

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

A minimum of ten years of progressively work experience in programme or project management, including experience in funds management is required. The minimum number of years of relevant experience is reduced to eight for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher.

Experience in interacting with donor counterparts is required.

Experience in providing administrative and programme assistance to senior officials is required.

Experience in interacting with diplomatic personnel and various offices at international level is required.

Work experience in using computer applications such as word processing, excel, internet, PowerPoint, etc. is required.

Work experience with an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is required.

Work experience with SAP/Umoja, Lotus Notes or other standard enterprise software is desirable.

Work experience within the United Nations system or in an international organization is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another United Nations official language is an advantage.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

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.

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

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.