Org. Setting and Reporting
The Office of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Sudan (OPESG-SUDAN) lead good offices and political engagement with Sudanese, regional and international stakeholders to enhance efforts to end the Sudan conflict and relaunch a credible political process, aiming for greater coherence, coordination and integration of the various mediation initiatives. This position will service as Administrive Assistant to the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General (PESG) for Sudan, based in Addis Ababa. The incumbent will report to the Principal Political Affairs Officer/Head of Office.
Responsibilities
Within the limits of delegated authority, the Administrative Assistant will be responsible for performing the following duties: • Manage the calendar of meetings and appointments of the PESG with senior Government officials, diplomats, heads of international organizations, dignitaries and other high-ranking officials, including administrative and logistical matters; • Read all the correspondence, both incoming and outgoing, screen and prioritize incoming correspondence, and where necessary consult the PESG. Routes and distribute routine and confidential material and maintain code cables and general management files. • Prepare and administer the PESG's travel programme, including folders for business trips and meetings; • Keep others informed by conveying directives, reports, status updates and other relevant information, and bring sensitive and urgent matters to the attention of the PESG; • Assist in the overall administration of the office, provide substantive and administrative • Support in managing priorities and workflow in the office of the PESG, coordinate multiple and diverse activities and work processes to ensure management of directives and decisions; • Serve as communications link between supervisor and senior staff on behalf of supervisor; • Handle a wide range of administrative duties and processes, leave requests, attendance records, timesheets, travel arrangements, visa applications, expense statements, telecommunications charges, equipment purchase, services and supply requisitions, conference rooms booking, etc; • Coordinates actions with respect to transactions related to the administration of the section’s/office’s human resource activities, e.g., recruitment, placement, relocation, performance appraisal, job classification reviews, separation of staff members, training etc., ensuring consistency in the application of UN rules and procedures. • Monitors section’s/office’s staffing tables for a variety of human resource activities, e.g., appointments, retirements, expiration of appointments, reassignments, transfers and movement of staff. • Provides expert assistance and coordination in the preparation and development of the section’s/office’s work plan and budget. • Assists in monitoring budget/work plan with respect to various budgets, on a regular basis, suggests reallocations of resources and implement the reallocations as necessary. • Collects data from relevant databases and prepare customized financial reports when required. • Reviews, analyzes and assists in the finalization of the cost estimates and budget proposals, in • terms of staff and non-staff requirements for the section/office, including programmatic aspects. • Assists managers in the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions. • Monitors budget implementation/expenditures and recommend reallocation of funds as necessary. • Monitors extra-budgetary resources, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring • compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures. • Reviews and verifies the availability of funds for all requisitions ensuring that the correct object of expenditure has been charged. Ensures that the allotments and exchange rates within the relevant systems are updated on a regular basis. • Compile relevant background documents and references, identify issues requiring the PESG's attention and refer others to relevant officers for appropriate disposition, monitor and follow- up on actions to be taken; • Perform other duties, as required.
Competencies
Professionalism: Thorough knowledge of and application of relevant operational, administrative and protocol policies to ensure adherence to relevant guidelines and procedures and overall quality of outputs; Proven tact and discretion in dealing with highly confidential and sensitive matters, as well as excellent interpersonal skills; Demonstrated initiative and ability to apply good judgment in the context of assignments given. Shows pride in work and achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. 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. Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; Identifies priority activities and assignments and adjusts priorities as required; Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; Uses time efficiently.
Education
High school or equivalent diploma is required. Technical or vocational certificate in administrative services, finance, human resources, business administration or personnel management is desirable.
Job - Specific Qualification
Not available.
Work Experience
A minimum of 8 years of progressive experience working in a political department and/or for a high- ranking UN Official is required. A minimum of two years working as Personal Assistant (or similar) to a senior UN Official is required. Experience working in a field operation of the United Nations Common System or a comparable international organization is required. Experience working in Sudan is required.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English
and Arabic are required. French is desirable. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult
https://languages.un.org for details).
Required Languages
Language | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
---|
English | UN Level III | UN Level III | UN Level III | UN Level III |
Arabic | UN Level III | UN Level III | UN Level III | UN Level III |
Desirable Languages
Language | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
---|
French | UN Level I | UN Level I | UN Level I | UN Level I |
Assessment
Previously rostered candidates are not subject to any further assessment and as such, will not be invited for such an assessment.
Special Notice
• This "Recruit from Roster" job opening is only open to roster applicants who are already placed on pre-approved rosters, following a review by a United Nations Central Review Body. Only roster applicants who were placed on rosters with similar functions at the same level are considered to be eligible candidates. Eligible applicants receive an email invitation to apply. Rostered applicants are encouraged to apply only if they are interested and available to take up the position at the duty station/s specified in the Job Opening. Applying to this job opening carries an expectation to accept the offer, if selected. • Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. • Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service. • At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. • The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. • this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 August 2025, are strongly encouraged to apply: o Unrepresented: Brunei Darussalam, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Kiribati, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Sao Tome and Principe, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu. o Under-represented: Andorra, Angola, Belize, China, Cuba, Germany, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Libya, Malta, Monaco, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Turkmenistan, United States of America • Education qualification exceeding the specified requirement of this job opening including university degrees and certificates shall not give rise to additional entitlements or benefits, or facilitate a move to the Professional category. The movement of staff members from the General Service and related categories to the Professional category in the United Nations Secretariat is exclusively allowed through the Young Professionals Programme competitive examinations. Only a few staff members pass the competitive examinations. Passing the competitive examinations does not guarantee movement to the Professional category. For further information, please visit https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=GP.
United Nations Considerations
According to 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. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.