Intergovernmental Affairs Senior Assistant

Role of the New York Board and External Relations Office 
The New York Board and External Relations Office is responsible for fulfilling UNOPS intergovernmental affairs and external relations functions on behalf of UNOPS. The team manages the arrangements for (a) The UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS Executive Board governance over UNOPS; (b) The Organization's relationship with components of the UN system entities, including the UN Secretariat, (c) Its interaction with UN Member States and positioning of UNOPS in legislative and other instruments and documents. 
The Office positions UNOPS and its Executive Director with a view to increase or enhance UNOPS’ influence and organisational outreach through various strategic events, initiatives and dialogues. The Office also supports the organization on UN system-side issues and reforms, such as the UN development system reform. The Office further supports liaising with Member States and agencies headquartered in multilateral capitals, as needed, on host country agreements and the accreditation of UNOPS representatives, as well as representing the organization in UN Inter-Agency Working Groups. In close proximity to a number of UN entity headquarters, the Office is also responsible for interaction with the UN Funds and Programmes such as UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF and UN-Women. 

1. Assistance to Executive Board Governance related Functions 

• Assist the team in the management of the work with the Executive Board, including assisting with organizing Board sessions, preparing and ensuring submission of documents, and acting as a focal point for documentation and administrative services required to arrange Board meetings and sessions. 

• Assist the team in coordinating UNOPS interaction with Executive Board Member and Observer States, and with other agencies sharing the Executive Board, including through assisting with the preparation of informal consultations and formal sessions of the Executive Board. 

• Handle the administrative and technical aspects of participation in meetings, compilation of materials, and preparation of statements and papers, as requested. 

• Assist the team in client meetings relating to opportunities with partners in New York such as UN, Governments, foundations, NGOs, academia, think tanks and private sector. 

• Assist with the conduct of all administrative and technical tasks in relation to supporting UNOPS’ work in connection with the Executive Board sessions. 

• Provide all services in relation to teams’ travel, including documentation for security clearances, protocol issues and requests for official documentation. 

• Research and retrieve statistical data from internal and external sources; prepare statistical charts, tables and reports, extracting data from various sources. 

• Follow up on deadlines, commitments made, actions taken and coordination of collection and submission of the reports to the head of the unit/Office. 

• Performs other clerical receptionist duties such as filing, photocopying, transcribing and supporting arrangement of remote meetings. 

• Maintains excellent online filing system, maintains the NYBER folder and the shared folder with the Executive Office and other UNOPS offices and ensures it contains all relevant documents and keeps a record of all decisions, documents, information notes, presentations and briefing notes shared with the Executive Board during sessions and inter-sessionally.

2. Assistance to UN system related matters 

• Completion of secondary education  is required. 

• A first-level university degree (e.g. Bachelor) in Business Administration, Public Administration, or equivalent disciplines is desirable but not required, and may be considered as a substitute for four years of qualifying experience.

• With secondary education, a minimum of five years of relevant experience in administration, operations or other relevant areas is required.

• Ability to use Google Suite and handle web-based management systems is required.

• Experience in UN system organizations is an asset.

• Fluency in reading, written and spoken English is essential

• Knowledge of another official UNOPS language, particularly French, or Spanish is an asset.

Contract type: ICA
Contract level: Local ICA Support (LICA - 5)
Contract duration: ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.’

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.