Project Assistant

United Nations University; Helsinki; On-site; EUR 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER) in Helsinki seeks a locally-recruited Project Assistant with a strong interest in global development and superb organizational skills.

Responsibilities include coordinating project planning, monitoring and reporting, organizing events, updating databases and drafting summaries. The role requires MS Office proficiency, ERP knowledge, and excellent English communication. Finnish is an asset.

Qualifications

• Completion of secondary education with at least five years of relevant work experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with at least two years of relevant work experience.
• Knowledge of the UN system is an advantage.
• Working knowledge of MS Office (Excel, Access, Word).
• Knowledge of ERP systems (PeopleSoft-Atlas) is an advantage.
• Excellent communication in English; Finnish is an asset.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and high resilience.
• Strong prioritization, multitasking and meeting tight deadlines.
• A good team player in a multicultural environment.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate project planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting and closure; identify shortfalls and report to management.
• Liaise on administrative coordination between project leaders, participants and staff.
• Organize events and activities with other units for project needs.
• Compile, summarize and present documents and reports; assist in presentations.
• Update internal databases and websites; generate standard and non-standard reports.
• Draft project summaries and activity reports for internal/external use.
• Contribute to responses to correspondence related to projects.
• Proofread and edit outgoing documents for format, grammar and style.
• Provide back-up support for Travel Assistant; assist during staff absences.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Organizational skills

Excellent communication

Time management

Multicultural teamwork

Education

Secondary school + 5 years experience

Bachelor's degree + 2 years experience

UN system knowledge

Tools

MS Office

ERP (PeopleSoft-Atlas)

Job description

The institute is looking for a locally-recruited project assistant with an interest in global development and superb organizational skills. Closing date: 5 December 2016, 23:59 UTC+2

United Nations University objectives

The United Nations University (UNU) is an international community of scholars, engaged in research, postgraduate teaching and capacity development, and dissemination of knowledge in furthering the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The mission of UNU is to contribute, through research and capacity-building, to solutions to pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations and its Member States. For more information please visit www.unu.edu.

United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER)

UNU-WIDER is a leading international development economics think tank. The Institute provides economic analysis and policy advice with the aim of promoting sustainable and equitable development for all. The Institute began operations in 1985 in Helsinki, Finland, as the first research centre of the United Nations University. Today it is a unique blend of think tank, research institute, and UN agency — providing a range of services from policy advice to governments, as well as freely available original research. For more information on UNU-WIDER, please visit www.wider.unu.edu.

UNU-WIDER is looking for an outstanding individual with strong commitment and potential to support the project management of the Institute.

Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Chief, Administrative and Programme Services and the thematic supervision of the Associate Programme Officer, the Project Assistant will perform a wide range of project support and administrative functions, including the following duties:

• Support in the co-ordination of project planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting and closure; identify shortfalls in delivery, budget over-runs, completeness and compliance with relevant rules and procedures; identify inconsistencies, and bring them to the attention of the management;
• Liaise on administrative co-ordination of project implementation activities between internal and external project leaders/participants and administrative/finance/communications personnel;
• Organize events and activities relating to the assigned projects in co-ordination with communications, procurement, and other support units providing secretarial, administrative and logistics support as required;
• Compile, summarize, and present a wide variety of documents and reports relating to assigned projects using appropriate technology/software; provide research and administrative support in preparation of presentations;
• Update internal databases; update websites, generate a variety of standard and non-standard statistical and other reports from various databases; maintains files/records (both paper and electronic);
• Draft project summaries and project activity reports for internal and external communications; assist in internal and external knowledge-sharing of project outputs and activities;
• Contribute to or draft responses to correspondence and other communications relating to assigned projects;
• Exercise quality control function for outgoing documents and electronic content; proofread and edit texts for adherence for format, grammar, punctuation and style;
• Provide support as a back-up for the Travel Assistant;
• During the absence of other staff of the Project Support Team, assists in carrying out their duties;
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required qualifications and experience

• Completion of secondary school education, with at least five (5) years of relevant work experience preferably in an international organization; or
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with at least two (2) years of relevant work experience preferably in an international organization;
• Knowledge of the UN system is an advantage;
• Working knowledge and experience in the use of MS Office such as Excel, Access, and Word;
• Knowledge of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system (preferably PeopleSoft-Atlas) is an advantage;
• Excellent communication skills with fluency in both oral and written English. Knowledge of other UN official languages and Finnish is an asset;
• Ability to work under minimal supervision and with high level of resilience;
• Strong ability to establish priorities, multi-task and work within tight timelines;
• A good team player with strong interpersonal skills demonstrated by the ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Remuneration

Remuneration will commensurate with qualifications, experience and level of responsibilities within the administration.

Duration of contract

This is a full-time position on a one (1) year Personnel Service Agreement (PSA) contract with UNU-WIDER, with the possibility for renewal subject to requirements and satisfactory work performance, with the combined duration of appointments not exceeding six (6) years.

This is a locally-recruited post and no relocation allowance applies. The post is limited to persons residing in Finland including persons holding a valid work permit. The successful candidate will be employed under a local contract and will not hold international civil service status nor be a ‘staff member’ as defined in the UN Staff Rules and Regulations.

Starting date: As soon as possible.

The United Nations shall place 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. (Charter of the United Nations: Chapter 3, Article 8).

Organizational unit

United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER)

Reference number

2016/UNU/WIDER/PSA/PA/86