Career Opportunities at The United Nations

Responsibilities

Daily responsibilities will depend on the individual's background; the intern's assigned office as well as the internship period.

Under the direct supervision of the United Nations Office at Nairobi-Commercial Operations Unit – COU, the intern will:
1. Assist with Supplier contract administration.

2. Assist with drafting office correspondence.

3. Maintaining and updating Customer database for the United Nations Commissary.

4. Filing relevant accounting documents and correspondence.

5. Undertaking any other office administration duties that may be assigned by the Supervisor.

Competencies

Core Competencies:
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 the audience
-Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed

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 client.

Education

Applicants must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:
a. Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
b. Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent);
c. Have graduated with a university degree and, if selected, must commence the internship within a one-year period of graduation.
Be computer literate in standard software applications.

Have demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter;

Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

Preferred area of study:
Graduate and 4th or 3rd year undergraduate in Business Administration.

Work Experience

Applicants are not required to have professional work experience for participation in the programme.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another UN Language is desirable

Assessment

Potential candidates will be contacted by hiring manager directly for further consideration.

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Programme Management Job Responsibilities

• Contributes to the development, implements and evaluates assigned programmes/projects, etc.; monitors and analyses programme/project development and implementation; reviews relevant documents and reports; identifies problems and issues to be addressed and initiates corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; ensures follow-up actions.
• Under the guidance and supervision of the Chief of the Regional Office, supports Member States in the region in the development and implementation of their national disaster risk reduction plans, through risk assessments, development of disaster loss data bases and disaster risk profiles.
• Serves as a focal point for disaster risk knowledge and analysis in the region and contributes a regional perspective and lessons learned to a global UNISDR community of practise on disaster risk knowledge and analysis.
• Collaborates closely with UNISDR colleagues responsible for global risk analysis, risk modelling, and reporting and disaster loss databases in the Sendai Monitoring Branch in UNISDR headquarters.
• Provides substantive backstopping to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc.
• Initiates and coordinates outreach activities; conducts training workshops, seminars, etc.; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Upon delegation from the Chief of the Regional Office, participates in regional or national meetings on the implementation of the Sendai Framework in the region, provides programmatic/substantive expertise, and holds programmatic/substantive and organizational discussions with representatives of other institutions.
• Drafts written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc. presenting the analysis of the disaster risk in the countries in the region and progress and lessons learned in reducing disaster risk.

Qualifications for the Programme Management Job

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in business administration, management, economics or a related field.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management, administration or related area as well as in building strategic alliances and partnerships.
• International work experience is required, including preferably a minimum of two years in international organizations. Experience in disaster risk reduction is required, preferably for at least two years.
• Experience working in teams in different locations is desirable.
• Experience advocating with governments and other stakeholders on disaster risk reduction is desirable.

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Content & Client Services Job Responsibilities

• Planning, monitoring, and assessment: Plan, monitor, and assess the section’s work, including outsourced work, in the context of the division’s project commitments to UN Environment’s Programme of Work and its
• Medium Term Strategy;
• Management and oversight: Manage and oversee the section’s work, including the procurement of goods and services, and its human and other resources, in accordance with the organisation’s policies, procedures, rules, and regulations;
• Strategy and innovation: Provide overall strategic direction to the work of the section, with appropriate strategic framing for the requirements of the section’s clients, underpinned by a sustained innovation strategy that delivers the mandate of the section at the cutting edge of associated industry practices, techniques, technologies, and approaches;
• Executive editor, publisher, and producer: Under the Director’s delegated authority, fulfil the functions of executive editor, publisher, and producer, accountable for the cost and quality control of the organisation’s relevant communication collaterals;
• Resource mobilisation: Mobilise and manage resources for the section and for the division;
• Reporting and communication: Ensure timely and comprehensive reporting and documentation as per client, division, corporate, and donor requirements;
• Resource scheduling: Establish and maintain effective and efficient resource scheduling and workflow management systems and processes for the section;
• Content and traffic coordination: Coordinate the section’s throughput, optimizing the systems and processes required to absorb client and project inputs and deliver client and project outputs, including sound relationship management.

Qualifications for the Content & Client Services Job

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business or public administration, communication or organizational management, marketing, advertising, computer or information systems or related area.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in communication, media production, publishing, business administration or related field is required.
• Experience in editorial management is desirable.

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Procurement Job Responsibilities

• Provide advice and recommendation to the Chief of Service and the Director of Division, on conceptual strategy development and management of the implementation of overall procurement strategies and intra and inter-divisional/departmental procurement policies and procedures.
• Plan and oversee the management of procurement activities undertaken by the Section. Ensure that substantive work programme and programmed activities are carried out in a timely fashion. Coordinate diverse procurement projects in the Section, and in liaison with Offices away from Headquarters and other organizations of the United Nations System as appropriate.
• Manage, supervise and carry out the work programme of the Section under his/her responsibility. Co-ordinate the work carried out by the Section. Provide programmatic and substantive reviews of procurement work prepared by others.
• Provide substantive input in the preparation of position papers and reports for presentation to intergovernmental bodies such as the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budget Questions,
• Committee for Programme Coordination, the General Assembly and other policy-making organs as appropriate.
• Contribute to the reporting to inter-governmental bodies on budget/ programme performance or on programmatic/substantive issues, as appropriate particularly those presented in biannual and/or annual reports.
• Ensure that the outputs produced by the Section maintain high-quality standards, reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data, and that all outputs produced by the Section under his/ her supervision meet required standards before completion to ensure they comply with the relevant mandates.
• Prepare inputs for the work programme of the Service, determining Priorities and allocating resources for the completion of outputs and their timely delivery.
• Carry out programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Section including preparation of budgets, assigning and monitoring of performance parameters critical indicators, reporting on budget/programme performance, preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting. Evaluation of staff performance (PAS), interviews of candidates for job openings and evaluation of candidates.
• Recruit staff for the Section taking to account geographical and gender balance and other institutional values.
• Manage, guide, develop and train staff under his/her supervision.
• Foster teamwork and communication among staff in the Section and across organizational boundaries.
• Represent the Organization at inter-agency meetings, seminars and on substantive-related issues.
• Participate in international, regional or national meetings and provides programmatic/substantive expertise on an issue, or hold programmatic/substantive and organizational discussions with representatives of other institutions.

Qualifications for the Procurement Job

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business or public administration, commerce, engineering, law or related area.
• A first-level university degree in above mentioned disciplines in combination with 2 additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in procurement or related field in multicultural institutions is required, of which at least five years should be directly related to firsthand procurement experience or related functions at the international level.
• Experience in management of procurement activities within the UN common system is desirable.
• For this post, fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage. English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat.

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Chief of Section Job Responsibilities

• Providing policy guidance to the Chief of Division, on conceptual strategy development and management of the implementation of overall strategies and intra and inter-divisional/departmental policies and procedures;
• Planning and overseeing the management of activities undertaken by the Section; ensuring that substantive work programmes and programmed activities are carried out in a timely fashion, coordinating diverse projects in the Section and Division, and, in liaison with other Divisions at the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) and DGACM;
• Managing, supervising and carrying out the work programme of the Section under his/her responsibility;
• Contributing to the reporting to intergovernmental bodies on budget/programme performance or on programmatic/substantive issues, as appropriate, particularly those presented in biannual and/or annual reports;
• Ensuring that the outputs produced by the Section and Division maintain high-quality standards; that reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data.
• Preparing inputs for the work programme of the Division, determining priorities, and allocating resources for the completion of outputs and their timely delivery.
• Carrying out programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Division, including providing inputs in the preparation of budgets, assigning and monitoring of performance parameters and critical indicators, reporting on budget/programme performance, preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting and cost plans;
• Monitoring expenditures to ensure that they remain within authorised levels;
• Providing inputs in internal financial reports and responses to Internal and External Audit observations in compliance with the Financial Rules and Regulations.
• Producing major/complex reports for management;
• Reviewing requisitions for procurement of goods and services against the budget and other contractual obligations and follows up on the status of procurement and delivery;
• Overseeing the management of contractual translation work by ensuring that external translators are provided appropriate tools to carry out their work, ensuring that the roster of qualified contractors is available to all sections, coordinating evaluation reports; ensuring that quality control of translation is undertaken appropriately;
• Evaluating staff performance (ePerformance), supports interviews of candidates for job openings and evaluation of candidates;
• Recruits staff for the Section taking due account of geographical and gender balance and other institutional values;
• Managing the Monitoring Evaluation, Risk Management and Statistical Verification (MERS) functions in the Division;
• Working with senior management to identify common and cross-cutting risks and maintaining a risk reporting framework for implementation to improve cross-divisional and organizational communication and discussions including business continuity plans;
• Compiling analytical reports for senior management, as well as for risk and audit committees.
• Perform any other related duties.

Qualifications for the Chief of Section Job

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in business or public administration, finance, accounting, law or related field.
• A first-level university degree in any of these fields, in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in administration, budget, finance, human resources management or related field.
• Experience with financial systems/finance modules of enterprise resource planning (ERP) such as Oracle, SAP,
• PeopleSoft is desirable. Experience with UN administrative rules and procedures is also desirable.

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Information Systems Officer Job Responsibilities

• Participate in the development and testing of reports and management dashboards as identified and prioritized in the requirements gathering process.
• Participate in the development of Hana reporting views in coordination with the UN ERP (Umoja) reporting teams to facilitate the delivery of cross functional reports and dashboards.
• Build procedures to extract, transform and load non-Umoja data where required to enrich data retrieved from the existing Umoja Business Intelligence (BI) system.
• Complete adhoc requests as received and prioritized by the Business Analytics and Reporting Unit (BARU).
• Effectively coordinate the collection of functional reporting requirements for identified priority areas.
• Participate in the coordination between clients and Umoja BI to identify existing reporting assets and resolve any issues therein.
• Serve as a coordinator in the development and testing of reports and dashboards through the existing power users and subject matter experts (SMEs).
• Keep abreast with any new Umoja BI technologies and processes so as to act as the go-to person for current and updated information related to Umoja BI.
• Assess Business Intelligence (BI) training needs; identify, design and coordinate the delivery of BI training programs to staff at all levels.
• Coordinate the delivery of both certified and focused functional business intelligence training workshops to UNON, UNEP and UN-Habitat colleagues.
• Undertake to provide functional and technical support for Umoja business intelligence related matters. This involves resolving issues raised, providing resolution guidance and / or escalating through the prescribed
• Umoja Support Model to Tier 3 support teams
• Support Umoja BI testing by participating in the testing of BI artifacts such as semantic layer views for the different functional pillars and as released by Umoja
• Advice BARU’s management on best practices in relation to development of an effective decision support system using Umoja BI.
• Effectively delegate tasks to other BARU team members to ensure timely delivery of assignments.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Qualifications for the Information Systems Officer Job

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Computer Information Systems, Computer Science or related area.
• A first-level university in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Business Intelligence professional certifications are highly desirable.
• Prince 2 Certification is an added advantage.
• A minimum of 5 years of progressive responsible experience in the following is required. Data analysis and reporting; Experience in gathering and documenting reporting requirements;
• Experience working with / implementing technical Business Intelligence solutions with SAP Hana, SAP
• Business Objects Suite and other Relational Database Management Systems;
• Experience in providing both technical and functional support on a variety of reporting platforms.
• Working experience with financial management systems and working knowledge of the Umoja Business
• Intelligence solution is highly desirable.

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Deputy Chief of Office Job Responsibilities

• Serves as Deputy to the Chief of the Regional Office. Under the supervision of the Chief of Office, actively contributes to the formulation and implementation of the work plan for the Regional Office in line with the
• UNISDR Strategic Framework and Work Programme.
• Undertakes, upon delegation from the Chief of Office, programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Regional office, including preparation of work plans and budgets, recruitment and promoting capacity development of staff, evaluation of staff performance (PAS) through regular dialogue and feedback, and monitoring and reporting on budget/programme performance in the context of results-based management.
• Ensures that the outputs produced by teams under his/her supervision meet high-quality standards; that reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data; and that they comply with relevant organizational mandates.
• Contributes to UNISDR’s global resource mobilization efforts by mobilizing resources from the region. Actively promotes a positive team culture across the Regional Office recognizing innovation, agility, learning, accountability and transparency.

Qualifications for the Deputy Chief of Office Job

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in business administration, management, economics, or related field.
• A first-level university degree in any of these fields, in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management, administration or related field, as well as building strategic alliances and partnerships and resource mobilization.
• International work experience is required, preferably for a minimum of five years in international organizations.
• Experience in disaster risk reduction is required, preferably for at least two years.
• Experience providing strategic policy guidance on disaster risk reduction is desirable.
• Experience working in teams located in different locations is desirable.
• Experience advocating with governments and other stakeholders on disaster risk reduction desirable.
• Experience representing international organizations with governments and regional organizations is desirable

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 Senior Admin Officer Job in Kenya Responsibilities

Division Financial Management:

• Organize and ensure that funds entrusted to the Division are managed with due diligence, within UN Rules and
• Regulations and fiduciary standards, ensure optimization and alignment of the resources with the expected output of the Division applying result based budgeting (RBB);
• Keep the management team informed on the fund management situation and forecast;
• Bring to the attention of the Division Director and Deputy all emerging issues implying an increased financial exposure to risk by the Division and propose mitigating strategies;
• Prepare and deliver financial presentations and reports for UN Environment’s management, to the United
• Nations Environment Assembly and other Governing Bodies, and Donors as required;
• Organize the contribution from Ecosystems Division to Office of Internal Oversight Services/United Nations
• Board of Auditors, audit missions, and ensure implementation of accepted audit queries.

Division project portfolio:

• Provide direction and support to the Fund Management Team to keep the project portfolio under strict control;
• Supervise the Fund Management staff team to support the Ecosystems Division branches and units in the project budgeting process, fund raising, legal contracting, fund programming and reporting;
• Organize and ensure that all externally implemented projects are audited every year and at the end of the project.

Division Human Resources:

• Supervise HR staff team and ensure compliance to the prevailing UN rules and procedures;
• Ensure the establishment and maintenance of a set of sound HR policies, procedures, standards and tools in the Ecosystems Division which are consistent with UN policy, procedures and practice.

Division Administrative operations:

• Supervise the Administrative staff team and oversee general administration issues of the Division;
• Produce reports and recommendations for management on the implementation of administrative rules, procedures, and circulars;
• Monitor the adequacy of office space, office arrangements and technology for the Division and propose improvement plan when necessary.

Qualifications for the  Senior Admin Officer Job

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) business administration, finance, accounting, management or related area is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of ten (10) years’ of progressively responsible experience in financial management, administration and planning of which five (years should have been at the international level in a supervisory capacity.
• Experience within intergovernmental organizations and with enterprise resource planning systems is desirable.
• For this post, fluency in written and oral English is required.
• Working knowledge of other UN official languages is desirable. English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat.