Operations Associate, (GS-6) FT, Panama City, Panama, LACRO #129558 - EXTENDED

If you are a driven, committed, creative professional who is passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization would like to hear from you. LAC Regional Office in Panama is seeking an Operations Associate who will be is responsible for executing a broad variety of procedural and specialized administrative tasks for the respective section requiring in-depth knowledge of UNICEF administrative procedures, processes and policies.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, hope

The UNICEF Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office is based in in Panama, operating in 36 territories, including 24 country offices.

UNICEF works to put the rights and well-being of the most disadvantaged children at the heart of the social, political, and economic agenda, in line with our equity focus, working across our organization and with our partners in government, civil society and the private sector to support shifts in public policy, fuel social engagement, and increase investment for children.

For more information about UNICEF and its work. (www.unicef.org/lac).

How can you make a difference? 

Under the supervision and guidance of the supervisor, the Administrative Associate is responsible for executing a broad variety of procedural and specialized administrative tasks for the respective section requiring in-depth knowledge of UNICEF administrative procedures, processes and policies.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

Office Planning & Project Management (specialized):

• Ensures the availability of timely, complete and accurate information and data for preparing section work plans and project management plans.

• Undertakes basic research and performs comparative analysis of project/programme related data.

• Monitors project implementation against established milestones and makes recommendations to improve performance.

• Helps ensure timely compliance with agreed deadlines.

• Acts as focal point in the review of the completeness of data reports with key monitoring and evaluation information.

Procurement:

• Facilitates the processing of contracts for consultants and external partners that provide a service to the section. This includes preparing and filing documents, completing necessary forms and templates, uploading TOR’s in VISION, and making necessary logistical arrangements.

• Maintains up-to-date vendor lists, partners, and consultant rosters.

Communications & Workflow:

• Facilitates the communications and workflow of the organizational unit to enhance the efficiency and timeliness of operations and outputs.

• Manages incoming and outgoing correspondence, e-mails and telephone calls.

• Communicates routine and some non-routine information pertaining to the work of the team.

• Establishes and maintains the office filing and reference systems, both traditional and digital; and ensures the inter/intra-net websites are up to date and accurate.

Calendar/Meetings/Correspondence Management:

• Maintains office calendar and arranges meetings

• Takes minutes of meetings, ensuring accuracy, attention to detail and coherence.

Events/Logistics:

• Supports capacity development activities and conferences by making the logistical arrangements, through engaging with facilitators, caterers and hosts.

• Arranges times through liaising with participants over availability.

• Liaises with budget focal points and section over costs and needs.

• Prepares background materials for participants and uploads cleared materials on the intranet.

• Prepares and maintains agendas on meetings and events related to the work group commitments.

Travel:

• Provides travel assistance to staff members in section for travel arrangements and entitlements based on the organization’s rules and policies. Liaises with relevant travel focal points to ensure that the organization obtains the best service and price for all travel.

• Briefs/de-briefs staff members on issues relating to related administrative matters such as visas, security clearance, and documentation procedures.

• Extracts, inputs, maintains, and verifies correctness of travel records in the organization’s travel system to ensure accurate transactions related to travel costs and staff travel.

• Assists in the preparation of budgets on travel costs and maintain travel plan and budgetary control records.

• Monitors travel certification and report back to the team.

Invoice Processing:

• Responsible for collecting invoices and filing documents for approval and thereafter processing in VISION.

• Uploads electronic files and verifies results to destination system.

• Responds to client transaction status and other inquiries.

Supplies/Equipment:

• Supports management of administrative supplies, office equipment, and updating inventory of items for the unit

• Monitors and supervises adequate and appropriate use of supplies. Ensures that services and maintenance of premises are in accordance with organizational standards.

• Arranges for the purchase and timely distribution of office supplies.

Attendance:

• Maintains and updates a system which monitors the absence of staff.

Here is the link of the complete Job Description of the position  GJD Administrative Associate G6 Final.pdf

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Completion of secondary education is required, preferably supplemented by technical or university courses related to the field of work.
• Work Experience: A minimum of 6 years of relevant administrative or clerical work experience is required.
• Skills: 
  • Training and experience using MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other UNICEF software such as SharePoint; knowledge of integrated management information systems required.
  • In-depth knowledge of UNICEF organizational structure, administrative policies and procedures.
  • Organizational, planning and prioritizing skills and abilities.
  • Ability to deal patiently and tactfully with visitors.
  • High sense of confidentiality, initiative, and good judgment.
  • Ability to work effectively with people of different national and cultural background.
  • Ability to work in a team environment to achieve common goals and to provide guidance to more junior support staff.
• Language Requirements:  Good knowledge of English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian) or a local language is an asset.

Desirables:

• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian) or a local language is an asset.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.