Stop TB Partnership - Senior Programme Assistant, Multiple positions

THIS IS A LOCAL POSITION FOR WHICH ONLY APPLICANTS WITH SWISS NATIONALITY OR WITH THE RIGHT TO LIVE AND WORK IN SWITZERLAND (EU CITIZENS OR NATIONALITIES ELIGIBLE FOR DIFFERENT SWISS WORK PERMITS) ARE ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION.

UNOPS hosts the Stop Tuberculosis Partnership Secretariat (STBP) as of 1 January 2015, in Geneva, Switzerland. The vision of the Stop TB Partnership is to realize the goal of elimination of Tuberculosis (TB) as a public health problem and, ultimately, to obtain a world free of TB by ensuring that every TB patient has access to effective diagnosis, treatment and cure; stopping transmission of TB; reducing the inequitable social and economic toll of TB; and developing and implementing new preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic tools and strategies. The Stop Partnership is uniquely positioned to support the development and further implementation by partners of the current and future Global Plan, acting as a coordinator and catalyst for the range of partners engaged in the fight against TB.

Founded in 2001, the Stop TB Partnership's mission is to serve every person who is vulnerable to TB and ensure that high-quality treatment is available to all who need it. Our partners include international and technical organizations, government programmes, research and funding agencies, foundations, NGOs, civil society and community groups and the private sector

As a key initiative of the STBP, the goal of the Global Drug Facility (GDF) is to facilitate world-wide, equitable access to TB medicines and diagnostics across both public and private sectors. This goal is achieved through management and coordination of market activities for the full portfolio of TB medicines and diagnostics, strategic procurement and innovative logistics solutions, technical assistance and capacity building for TB programmes in better pharmaceutical management practices, and accelerated uptake of new TB medicines, regimens, and diagnostics using the GDF “launch pad.” GDF is highly reliant on technology to ensure quick and smooth procurement and supply of quality-assured TB products for populations in need.

Please note, we are recruiting for two (2) positions: one position will be open-ended; while the second position will be for a maternity cover of a duration of 6 months. We encourage you to specify in a cover letter, what position would you be most interested in. 

The Senior Programme Assistant will work under the direct supervision of the Knowledge and Project Management Officer and in close collaboration with the GDF teams. This individual will be primarily responsible for helping to organize assigned projects, teamwork and providing administrative support.

The incumbent works on the basis of general instructions, own experience and precedents, following the Partnership or UNOPS specific procedures and practices, rules and regulations, to ensure smooth workflow in the assigned area of work.

The incumbent is encouraged to seek guidance for unusual issues. Most of the work is controlled for correctness and appropriateness by the incumbent.

Work is reviewed on an ad hoc basis by the supervisor for meeting expectations and overall quality; correspondence is signed or cleared by originator. Specific assignments are checked by the originator and/or the Assistant to the Executive Secretary.

The incumbent is relied upon to brief colleagues on Partnership or UNOPS specific administrative procedures and practices.

The Programme Assistant will also support technical staff for travel and GDF mission arrangements as needed.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

• Assist in documenting the development of project plans, including implementation approaches, milestones and key action items. Assist in monitoring the assigned projects including development and updating of action logs or other tacking tools.
• Assist in monitoring and analyzing contract performance to ensure compliance with contract terms, schedules and cost.

PROCUREMENT

• Initiate, through the UNOPS procurement module, contracts for consultants, technical services agreements, and general external services requests.
• Monitor and record receipt of deliverables and initiate and monitor payments as needed.
• Initiate, through the UNOPS procurement module, requisitions for goods procurement, and monitor and receipt of deliverables.

MEETING ADMINISTRATION

• Arrange, coordinate and lead administrative preparation for meetings, seminars, workshops, including letters of invitation, costs calculation and travel requests; assisting with preparation of documents, dispatching of materials and liaising with participants and others involved.
• Prepare presentations using PowerPoint and other software packages on own initiative or based on instructions.
• Schedule weekly team and ad hoc meetings, according to schedules and need; taking and preparation of minutes and action points.
• Obtain briefing and background materials for meetings, seminars, workshops, etc. to be attended by the team's professional staff, checking their availability and ensuring they have the appropriate briefing files and documents.

TRAVEL

• Using the UNOPS system, prepare travel requests for official Partnership/GDF travel. Make flight and hotel reservations, prepare travel files and deal with other related matters as requested or on own initiative.

BUDGET & FINANCE

• Assists in the monitoring and progress review of projects and tasks in the Partnership/GDF work plan.
• Provides team members with timely information on project and task budget ceilings, award budgets, expenditure, and funds available, as required.
• Monitors income and expenditures for planning purposes.
  • Promptly follows-up on financial, budgetary and any outstanding issues concerning the team/department, including ensuring timely processing of committal documents.
  • Assists in the preparation of financial and technical progress reports to donors.

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

• In close collaboration with other support staff, create and/or maintain filing systems; continually review filing system to ensure information is up to date and effectively and efficiently used.
  • Obtain documents and information from in-house and external sources as required; perform information searches (library, internet) as requested.
  • Assist in maintaining the GDF knowledge management system

OTHER DUTIES

• Perform other related duties as required or instructed, including providing support to other areas of work.

Education:

• Minimum of secondary school education or equivalent is required.
• Ideally, the incumbent has an advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) or a Bachelor's degree.

Experience:

• At least five years of relevant experience; A Bachelor's degree and/or master's degree may be considered in lieu of some or all the relevant years of experience required. 
• Experience working at the UN with health programs is an asset;
  • Knowledge of UN systems and procedures. Previous work experience in the UN system would be an asset.

Language Requirements:

• English fluency at a native or proficiency level (writing and oral) is required.
• Knowledge of other UN official languages is an asset.

• Ongoing ICA – ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.’

• Six months ICA - 'Maternity Cover'

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.