Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Memorandum of Understanding and Reimbursement Policy Section (MRPS) within the Uniformed Capabilities Support Division (UCSD) of the Office of Supply Chain Management (OSCM) in the Department of Operational Support (DOS).

The Department of Operational Support was established to provide operational advisory services to operating entities across the Secretariat, including other departments, Offices Away from Headquarters, field missions, and regional commissions.

The Office of Supply Chain Management includes the Office of the Assistant Secretary-General for Supply Chain Management, the Logistics Division, the Procurement Division, the Uniformed Capabilities Support Division, Global Service Centre, Aviation Safety Section and the Enabling and Outreach Service.

The Uniformed Capabilities Support Division (UCSD) serves as the single point of entry within the Secretariat for operational and policy matters relating to support and reimbursement to military and police contingents deployed to United Nations (UN) field operations.

Reimbursement payments to contributing countries are one of the largest costs of United Nations peacekeeping. The Memorandum of Understanding and Reimbursement Policy Section is responsible for overseeing policies and procedures related to the reimbursement of troop- and police-contributing countries and the verification and control of Contingency-Owned Equipment (COE), for providing support to the triennial meetings of the Working Group on Contingency-Owned Equipment and the updating of the Manual on Policies and Procedures concerning reimbursement and control of Contingent-Owned Equipment of troop/police contributors participating in peacekeeping missions, and for undertaking the quadrennial survey of personnel costs established by the General Assembly in its Resolution 67/261. The Section leads negotiations with troop- and police-contributing countries in preparing Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) to support the deployment of formed military and police units.

The incumbent reports to the Chief of Section or designated official.

Responsibilities

Within limits of delegated authority, the Supply Officer (COE), will be responsible for the following duties:

1) Supports the development and implementation of COE policies, procedures, and guidelines and management in the field of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) between the United Nations and Member States who are or who propose to contribute formed military or police units to UN field missions:

• Reviews and identifies, in consultation with other appropriate Headquarters (HQ) offices and field missions, requirements for new or amended COE policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Drafts, in consultation with other appropriate HQ offices and field missions, new or amended COE policies, procedures and guidelines.

2) Supports and delivers training packages and briefings for HQ offices and UN field mission personnel, representatives of Permanent Missions to the United Nations, and other peacekeeping partners related to the UCSD management aspects of the COE system:

• Reviews and identifies, in consultation with other appropriate HQ offices and field missions, requirements for COE training packages and briefings.
• Prepares COE training and briefing packages including the related written and audio-visual instructional material; delivers COE training and briefing packages at HQ and UN field missions.

3) Develops electronic tools within the COE related modules for the tracking of personnel, equipment, and self-sustaining services provided by Member States contributing formed military or police units to field missions:

• Identifies, in consultation with other appropriate HQ offices and field missions, detailed user requirements for new or enhanced electronic tools within the COE framework.

4) Provides COE related technical advice and assistance to HQ and field mission staff, representatives of Permanent Missions and other peacekeeping partners on all support aspects of the COE system:

• Participates in Technical Survey/Military capability visits, Pre-deployment Verification and other COE/MOU related assessment visits to Member States who are or who propose to contribute formed military or police units to current, and potential field missions.
• Reviews draft MOUs and prepares appropriate COE related comments/recommendations for HQ and field mission staff, and representatives of Permanent Missions to the United Nations.
• Participates in MOU negotiations between Member States and the United Nations.

5) Assists the Contingency-Owned Equipment Officer, at the P4 level, in the administration of the daily operations of the COE Unit:

• Reviews incoming correspondence, forwards to appropriate staff and follows up on the status.
• Reviews monthly reports, audit observations and other reports to identify COE related issues and prepares draft responses.
• Reviews Verification Reports (VR) submitted by field missions to identify discrepancies between VR and MOUs and prepares recommendations for corrective action.
• Reviews, in consultation with other appropriate HQ and field missions, COE financial implications and budget estimates for current and potential field missions.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge in developing MOU contracts, plans, policies, procedures, and programmes. Knowledge of United Nations financial rules and regulations. Ability to provide technical and procedural advice on a broad range of logistics-related issues. Ability to develop, maintain and supervise management control systems for materials, services, and claims. 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.

• 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.

• 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

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in business administration, public administration, programme management, logistics and supply chain management or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in managing national or international logistics support operations, or related area is required.

• Experience in providing technical and procedural advice on logistics is desirable.

• Experience in the management and negotiation of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) related to military or police logistics support operations is desirable.

• Experience working in support of a field operation (inclusive of peacekeeping operations, special political missions, agencies, funds and programmes), or that of similar international organizations is desirable.

• Experience working with business intelligence systems and data analysis tools 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 official United Nations language is desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

• This position is temporarily available as soon as possible for a duration of six (6) months with possibility of extension. If the selected candidate is an internal staff member of the UN Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.

• Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.

• This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.

• The expression “Internal candidates” shall mean staff members who have been recruited after a competitive examination under staff rule 4.16 or after the advice of a central review body under staff rule 4.15.

• A current staff member who holds a fixed-term, permanent or continuing appointment may apply for temporary positions no more than one level above his or her current grade. However, a current staff member who holds an appointment at the G-6 or G-7 level may also apply to temporary positions in the Professional category up to and including the P-3 level, subject to meeting all eligibility and other requirements for the position. In accordance with ST/AI/1999/17 section 2.3, a special post allowance (SPA) may only be granted to one level higher than the personal level of the staff member assigned to higher-level functions in his or her own category, whether the higher-level functions are one or several levels higher than the personal level of the staff member. Staff in the General Service and related categories temporarily placed against a post at the Professional level may receive an SPA to the P-1 or P-2 level.

• For information on special post allowance, please refer to ST/AI/1999/17. For more details on the administration of temporary appointments please refer to ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1.

• A staff member holding a temporary appointment shall be regarded as an external candidate when applying for other positions, and may apply for other temporary positions at any level, subject to section 5.7 below and staff rule 4.16 (b) (ii). Therefore, a staff member holding a temporary appointment in the General Service or related categories may only apply to positions within those categories. For full information on eligibility requirements, please refer to section 5 of ST/AI/2010/4Rev.1 on Temporary Appointments. In its resolution 66/234, the General Assembly further “stressed that the Secretary-General should not recur to the practice of temporarily filling posts in the Professional and higher categories with General Service staff members who have not passed the General Service to Professional category examination other than on an exceptional basis, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that temporary occupation of such posts by the General Service staff shall not exceed a period of one-year, effective 1 January 2013…” Consequently, eligible candidates in the General Service or related categories for temporary job openings in the Professional category that have not passed the competitive examination may be selected only on an exceptional basis endorsed by the Office of Human Resources Management where no other suitable candidate could be identified.

• 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. An external candidate selected for this position is bound by the prevailing condition of the staff selection system under ST/AI/2010/3, as amended, and ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1. A staff member holding a temporary appointment who is recruited in the Professional and above categories on a temporary appointment, and placed on a position authorized for one year or longer may not apply for or be reappointed to his/her current position within six months of the end of his/her current service. This provision does not apply to staff members holding temporary appointments and placed on positions authorized for one year or more in duty stations authorized for peacekeeping operations or special political missions.

• The Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and administrative issuances governing staff appointments can be viewed at: http://www.un.org/hr_handbook/English

• Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply.

• Staff members are not eligible to apply for the current temporary job opening if they are unable to serve the specified duration of temporary need before reaching the mandatory age of separation. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.

• Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as “retirement.” Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

• 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.

• Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AE2012/2/Rev. 1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to 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.

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.

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 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.