Background
Encompassing 46 countries, the Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA) is UNDP’s largest Regional Bureau, with almost one third of the countries in crisis or post-crisis situations. To help Africa overcome its development challenges, UNDP is focusing its resources to support development efforts of countries in the region through:
- Innovative region-wide strategic thinking, advocacy and partnerships;
- Translation of corporate and regional strategies and goals into successful development results on the ground;
- More strategic and substantive partnerships with UN agencies, African multilateral institutions, international financial institutions, private sector, and civil society; and
- Further enhancement of in-house substantive and managerial effectiveness and accountability.
Duties and Responsibilities
Function 1: Support to the management of the Directorate
- Acts as back-up to, and replaces the Executive Associate in his/her absence as Head of the Director’s Secretariat.
- Prepares correspondence, formats and prints reports for the Regional Director and other staff in the Office of the Director as required;
- Arranges travel for the Regional Director or other staff in the Unit, liaising as necessary with relevant HQ units for this purpose;
- Seeks out ‘best practices’ with regard to administrative, procedures, rules, regulations and systems, and makes relevant proposals for their application in the proper functioning of the Directorate
- Maintains a system for recording and managing files and documents for the Directorate and monitors and tracks communications and correspondence to and from the Directorate
- Prepares power point and other presentations for the Directorate as necessary
Function 2: Ensures quality communications support to the Secretariat of the Regional Director
Ensures quality communications support to the Secretariat of the Regional Director, focusing on strengthening efficiency and responsiveness to internal and external clients:
- Coordination of information flow within the Directorate and follow-up on circulation of files;
- Streamline office procedures, and communication between the Directorate and other RBA Headquarters units;
- Monitors and screens all communications and correspondence arriving or leaving the Directorate to other Units and to external clients;
- Ensures that all information inquiries received by the Directorate Secretariat are responded to in a timely and satisfactory manner or rerouted to other units under the guidance of the Regional Director.
- Manages the RBA Registry; ensures that correspondence sent to the Bureau are disseminated on time and directed to the addressees;
Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
- Demonstrated commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values.
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability. The candidate selected will be required to take UNDP’s mandatory training on UN Programme on the Prevention of Harassment, Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Authority within two months of their assuming their functions in this position.
Functional Competencies:
Knowledge Management and Learning
- Shares knowledge and experience in the field of expertise
- Actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills
Development and Operational Effectiveness
- Ability to perform a variety of standard tasks related to Results Management, including screening and collecting of programme/ projects documentation, projects data entering, preparation of revisions, filing, provision of information
- Ability to provide input to business processes re-engineering, implementation of new system, including new IT based systems
Leadership and Self-Management
- Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback
- Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
- Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Secondary Education preferably with specialized certification in Management, Accounting or Finance. University Degree in Business or Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences and Social Sciences would be desirable, but it is not a requirement.
Experience:
- 6 years of relevant administrative or programme experience is required at the national or international level.
- Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.
Language Requirements:
- Proficiency in English and working knowledge of French.