Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Carpet and Upholstery Shop, Maintenance and Alteration Unit (MAU), Plant Engineering Section (PES), Facilities and Commercial Activities (FCAS), Division of Administration (DOA), 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 Facilities and Commercial Activities Service (FCAS) operates the Headquarters complex, striving to provide effective and efficient planning, management, maintenance and operation for all existing physical facilities and assets at the UN Headquarters, New York. FCAS also supports office and conference facilities, property management, travel and transportation services, archives and records management, mail and pouch operations, catering, giftshop and the United Nations Postal Administration. The incumbent reports to the Foreperson of the Carpet Shop and General Foreperson of MAU.

Responsibilities

Under the Supervision of the Foreperson (TC-7) and the Leadman (TC-6) of the Carpet and Upholstery Shop, the incumbent is responsible for the following duties: • Inspect and maintain upholstery and reupholstering; repair furniture of all types and shapes and redesign, styling; measure and fabricate drapes and drapery tracks. • Clean and maintain venetian blinds, office chairs, flagpole ropes, and all furniture in the headquarters complex, the Secretary-General’s Residence and Special Services Events at UNHQ. • Work on the chairs from the frame by applying the exact amount of padding needed for styling according to the specification given by the supervisor. • Cut, sew, fit and assemble cover pieces to exact shape and size to give a finished appearance and calculate proper yardage of fabric needed for completing the job. • Must work from oral and written instructions, work orders, blueprints, sketches, and drawings as assigned. • Investigate complaints from UN staff members in the UNHQ complex and take necessary actions. • The incumbent must be able to plan and lay out drapery work, make patterns of the fabric, mark material for cutting and sewing. • Assist in monitoring the inventory of supplies and materials and order them as needed. • Guidelines must be specifically followed, whether written or unwritten. • Ensure that fabrications of drapery for commercial use in the UNHQ complex are fireproof. If not, it can cause a serious safety hazard, and fabric will have to be sent out for fireproofing as required. • Must ensure that completed upholstery and drapery meet requirements for proper resiliency, correct shape, good appearance and durability according to designer specifications. • Install venetian blinds and window shades. • Assist with electrical motors and switches on all window blinds throughout the Secretariat building. • Perform other duties as may be assigned by the Leadman or Foreperson of the Shop.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Demonstrates professional competence in upholstery and related trades; knowledge of upholstery and related materials and equipment; familiar with hand and power tools and knowledge of relevant safety procedures; ability to read blueprints and rough drawings; ability to prioritize activities and assignments and adjust priorities as required; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; 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; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects 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. 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 clients.

Education

High School or equivalent Trade School Diploma is required.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressive experience as a skilled craftsman in the upholstery trade, including proficiency in the use of trade related equipment and tools is required.

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 an advantage.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

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. Appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year. 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. Passing the Trades and Crafts Test (TCT) is a prerequisite for selection in the Trades and Crafts category in the United Nations Secretariat. Applicants who have not passed the TC test at the time of application may be invited for the test after submitting an application. Staff members who were granted a fixed-term, continuing or permanent appointment as a result of having passed a predecessor test recognized by the Office of Human Resources Management, and who have continuously held such appointments, are not required to take the new test. The selected candidate will be required to perform night shifts on rotation, in order to perform required off-peak maintenance work as well as to provide prompt response in case of emergencies.

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.