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 incumbent reports to the Foreperson of the Carpet Shop and General Foreperson of MAU.

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.

Responsibilities

Under the general direction of the General Foreperson of the Maintenance and Alteration Unit (MAU) and the direct supervision of the Foreperson of the Carpet and Upholstery Shop, the incumbent is responsible for the following duties:

• Assist the supervisors in managing various upholstery and drapery work throughout the UNHQ complex.
• Review the work orders received through the system and assign work to junior upholsterers in the absence of the Foreperson.
• Responsible for the technical aspects of the work which includes drapery, upholstery, cramer chairs, venetian blinds, and drapery track etc. and perform other duties as may be assigned.
• Inspect, repair and replace upholstery and drapery work throughout the UNHQ complex.
• 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.
• Maintain records on time and material used for assigned work.
• Perform all work related to maintenance of furniture and drapery throughout the complex.
• As a lead person, the incumbent must be able to plan and lay out drapery work, make patterns of the fabric, mark material for cutting and sewing.
• 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.
• Pay special attention to the fabrication of drapes, drapery tracks and upholstery as the drapery aspect of the decorating work will take up about 40% of the time.
• Plan and lay out work for junior staff and for self.
• The incumbent will have to frequently redesign drapers according to decorator specifications; as well as take measurements, select fabric, cut and sew according to specifications.
• Install venetian blinds and window shades. Cut materials, restring and retape blinds.
• Be able to cover the seats, backs, inside and outside of cramer chairs.
• Be able to select the best method of working on the assigned tasks and meet the deadlines.
• Assist with electrical motors and switches on all window blinds throughout the Secretariat building.
• Perform repairs or replacement of ropes on all flagpoles.
• Perform other duties as may be assigned by the General Foreperson or the Chief of the Plant Engineering Section.

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.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressive experience as a skilled craftsman in the upholstery trade is required.

Experience in planning and coordinating work projects is required.

Experience in the use of trade related equipment and tools is required.

Experience supervising personnel is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of other official UN language is desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

Appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year.

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.

This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to Staff Rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. Applicants for General Service and related positions must be authorized to work in the country where the position is located. A staff member subject to local recruitment is not eligible for the allowances or benefits 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.

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.

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.