Senior Programme Assistant

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 quality-assured treatment is available to all who need it. Stop TB partners include international and technical organizations, government programmes, research and funding agencies, foundations, NGOs, civil society and community groups and the private sector.

The Global Drug Facility (GDF)

As a key initiative of the Stop TB Partnership, the objective of the Global Drug Facility (GDF), a ISO:9001 certified entity, is to ensure access to quality-assured anti-TB drugs, diagnostics and other supplies by employing innovative business approaches, efficient knowledge management for evidence-driven leadership in market management, strategic procurement, and high quality procurement and supply services to client countries.

GDF’s strategic vision of success is that all people requiring TB diagnostics and medicines are able to access them from global markets optimized to meet public health needs. The GDF Manager, Supply Chain and Business Development is responsible for ensuring optimal efficiency of GDF supply chains, supporting client countries in optimizing their supply chains for TB products, maximizing operational efficiency of GDF support to clients, and expanding GDF’s business model.

The Senior Programme Assistant 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 processes. The incumbent is relied upon to brief colleagues on Partnership or UNOPS specific administrative procedures and practices. 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 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 Senior Programme Assistant will also support technical staff for travel and GDF mission arrangements as needed.

2. Procurement Support

The Project Management Support Senior Assistant will initiate, through the UNOPS procurement module, contracts for consultants, technical services agreements, and general external services requests.
He/she will monitor and record receipt of deliverables and initiate and monitor payments as needed.He/she will also Initiate, through the UNOPS procurement module, requisitions for goods procurement, and monitor and receipt of deliverables.

3. Meeting Administration

The Project Management Support Senior Assistant will 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.
He/she will prepare presentations using PowerPoint and other software packages on own initiative or based on instructions. He/she will schedule weekly team and ad hoc meetings, according to schedules and need; taking and preparation of minutes and action points. He/she will also 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.

4.Travel Support

The Project Management Support Senior Assistant will be 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.

6. Knowledge Management

The Project Management Support Senior Assistant In close collaboration with other support staff, will create and/or maintain filing systems; continually review filing system to ensure information is up to date and effectively and efficiently used. He/she will obtain documents and information from in-house and external sources as required; perform information searches (library, internet) as requested. He/she will assist in maintaining the GDF knowledge management system. He/She will 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.

• A Bachelors degree in Business Administration, Business management, or related, is an asset

Experience:

• At least five years of relevant experience in administration, project or  programme support, or related role is 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 (read/write/speak) is required

• Knowledge of other UN languages is an asset.

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.