Kenya: Programme Assistant, G6,(Nairobi),Deadline:3 December 2014

Programme Assistant, G6,(Nairobi),Deadline:3 December 2014

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. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira “Need Help?” link.

Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-HABITAT, is the United Nations agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable communities, towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. This post is located in the Regional Office for Africa (ROAf), UN-HABITAT at the Nairobi Duty Station.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority and under the overall guidance of Director - Regional Office for Africa (ROAf) and direct supervision of the PMO for ROAf, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties: 1. Provide assistance in support of planning and implementation of the programmes and projects. 2. Research, compile, analyse, summarise, and present basic information/data on ROAf programmes and project Budgets. 3. Assist in the coordination of programme/project planning and preparation; monitor status of programme/project budgets; take necessary action. 4. Assist in the preparation and analysis of programme/project budget proposals; provide assistance in the interpretation of budget guidelines; review and coordinate submissions of programme proposals and budget estimates; prepare reports and ensure that outputs/services are properly categorized. 5. Assist in the monitoring and evaluation of programme/projects; 6. Collaborate with programme/project managers on performance reporting; 7. Draft programme/project summaries, coordinate review and clearance process and coordinate with editor, translation services, etc. on finalization and publication of report multiple languages. 8. Serve as focal point for coordination, monitoring and expedition of programme/project implementation activities, obtain necessary clearances, process and follow-up on administrative actions and resolve issues related to project implementation. 9. Prepare, maintain and update files (electronic and paper) and internal databases; design and generate a variety of periodic and ad hoc reports, statistical tables, graphic content, and other background materials/notes and other reviews. 10. Draft correspondence and communications related to all aspects of programme/project management, including work plan and budgets, revisions and other related issues, as well as prepare unit contributions for a variety of periodic reports.• Provide guidance and training to new/junior staff. •Perform other duties as assigned.

Competencies

•Professionalism: Ability to perform a broad range of administrative functions, e.g., budget, human resources, procurement and general administration, etc. Ability to apply knowledge of various United Nations administrative, financial and human resources rules and regulations in work situations. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence; 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. shows willingness to learn from others; seeks feedback to learn and improve.
•Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. Understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply appropriate technology means to communication.
• 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.
•Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed organizational plans and 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 and pay timely attention to the clients enquiries and requests; identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client in a timely fashion.

Education

High School diploma or equivalent. Additional qualifications in financial management or administration would be an added advantage. Advanced skills in computer applications such as IMIS, Lotus notes, word processing and Excel are essential.

Work Experience

A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in the United Nations system including provision of office management and administration or financial management assistance to substantive UN officials. Proven knowledge in IMIS applications essential. Several years of substantive experience in finance, budget, accounting, administrative services or related area is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in oral and written English is required. Working knowledge of French is a strong and desirable advantage.

Assessment Method

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

United Nations Considerations

Job openings posted on the Careers Portal are taken off at midnight (New York time) on the deadline date.
Applications are automatically pre-screened according to the published evaluation criteria of the job opening on the basis of the information provided by applicants. Applications cannot be amended following submission and incomplete applications shall not be considered. The selected candidate will be subject to a reference checking process to verify the information provided in the application.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on "The Application Process" and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” on the upper right side of the browser on Inspira.
The United Nations shall place 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. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
Candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

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.