The Position:
The Personal Assistant (PA) provides critical senior level, administrative, secretarial and communications support, as a direct report of the Regional Director.
How you can make a difference:
UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030.
In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.
UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.
Job Purpose:
As the key administrative support to the Regional Director, you will be responsible for maintaining full confidentiality, upholding protocol, managing information flow, and following up on deadlines and commitments. You will also facilitate knowledge building and management; provide logistical support; support communications; and coordinate secretarial services.
You would be responsible for:
- Ensuring optimal communication flows between the Regional Director and the staff of the Regional Office (RO), as well as external counterparts. In consultation with other RO personnel, responding to requests for information, in a timely, discrete manner.
- Working closely with and under the guidance of the Special Assistant, prepare documentation and presentations, including correspondence, briefs and reports, and research and collate material to meet the Regional Director’s needs for official trips and meetings.
- Undertaking logistical administrative and financial arrangements in consultation with the Special Assistant, Operations and other teams, for meetings and workshops organized by the RO’s Office. Take minutes of office meetings when required,
- Managing the Regional Director’s calendar and scheduling of appointments; receiving high-ranking visitors/officials; and taking minutes as required.
- Managing all aspects of the Regional Director’s travel arrangements ensuring compliance with UNFPA’s travel policy, preparing travel related briefs, maintaining appropriate files and reports, monitoring the budget of the RD’s Office and coordinating with Country Offices and with colleagues accompanying the Regional Director;
- Briefing, guiding and training new/other RO secretaries, on office procedures, UNFPA correspondence standards, and assigning special administrative assignments as needed.
- Liaising with national authorities, in particular the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the timely issuance of residence cards and permits and related documents for all staff of the Regional Office.
- Assisting in the preparation and finalization of the Regional Director’s work plans, travel plans and related documents including the preparation of informal translations, and acting as interpreter if required.
- Support the Deputy Regional Director and/or the Officer-in-Charge in the absence of the Regional Director.
- Perform any additional tasks that the Regional Director or Deputy Regional Director assigns.
Qualifications and Experience:
Education:
Completed Secondary Level Education required. First level university degree is desirable.
Knowledge and Experience:
- Six years of relevant experience in administration.
- Strong interpersonal and organisational skills.
- Good written and verbal communication skills in English and in Turkish.
- Proficiency in current office software applications and corporate IT financial systems
Languages:
Fluency in English is required; knowledge of other UN languages is an asset.
Required Competencies:
Values:
- Exemplifying integrity,
- Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
- Embracing cultural diversity,
- Embracing change
Core Competencies:
- Achieving results,
- Being accountable,
- Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
- Thinking analytically and strategically,
- Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
- Communicating for impact
Functional Competencies:
- Providing logistical support
- Managing data
- Managing documents, correspondence, and reports
- Managing information and workflow
- Planning, organizing, and multitasking
Managerial Competencies (if applicable):
- Providing strategic focus,
- Engaging in internal/external partners and stakeholders,
- Leading, developing, and empowering people, creating a culture of performance
- Making decisions and exercising judgment
Compensation and Benefits:
This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.
Disclaimer:
Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.
UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.
Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.