BENEFITS ASSISTANT

UNJSPF - United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund; New York (NY); On-site; USD 45,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

UNJSPF - United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund in New York City invites applications for a National GS-6, General Service position. No higher education required; locally recruited.

The role serves clients on participation, entitlements and benefits under Pension Administration. The incumbent reports to the Chief of the Client Services Section and works with colleagues across the Fund to advise clients, process applications, and prepare data and reports.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in employee benefits administration or related area; five years if first university degree.
• Two years in client services and at least one year in data analytics are desirable.
• Experience in a pension fund in client servicing or processing entitlements is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide information to participants and retirees/beneficiaries on participation, entitlements and benefits.
• Advise clients in person, on the phone or in writing with regards to participation and benefit related enquiries.
• Undertake research to provide accurate information; ensure responses comply with Regulations and Rules and Pension Adjustment System.
• Route relevant requests to appropriate parties within the Fund's secretariat.
• Initiate administrative procedures as they relate to proof of residence and changes in country of residence.
• Advise units such as Insurance Section, FAFICS/AFICS on status of retirees and beneficiaries.
• Monitor and control Certificate of Entitlement verifications, releases, suspensions and benefits.
• Initiate computer runs for monthly activation/termination of benefits.
• Process and audit administrative actions relating to Fund participation.
• Run and audit estimates of future benefit options and entitlements.
• Review and process Emergency Fund applications.
• Participate in standardizing procedures and texts for communications.
• Assist with training activities and development of training materials.
• Assist with data collection, analysis, and presentation of information; support knowledge management.
• Assist with updating web content and brochures.
• Train junior staff as needed.
• Perform other duties as required.

Skills

Client services

Data analytics

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

UNJSPF - United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund New York City National GS-6, General Service - No need for Higher Education - Locally recruited position level Speaks English, French

The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF) was established in 1949 by the United Nations General Assembly to provide retirement, death, disability, and related benefits for staff of the United Nations and other member organizations of the Fund. UNJSPF administers benefits of more than 90,000 beneficiaries residing in more than 190 countries, paid in 18 currencies, and services more than 130,000 participants who work in the 25 member organizations of UNJSPF. The Fund has offices in New York (United States) and Geneva (Switzerland) and two liaison offices in Nairobi (Kenya) and Bangkok (Thailand), respectively. The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund-Pension Administration (UNJSPF-PA) comprises about 282 staff from diverse countries and cultures, based across four prominent duty stations (New York, Geneva, Bangkok, and Nairobi). We are a career employer offering unique opportunities for growth within the United Nations system. Our office is located in the heart of Manhattan, within walking distance from the Grand Central Station hub, in a state-of-the-art facility (the One Dag Hammarskjöld building). Visit www.unjspf.org for more details. This position is located in the Client Services Section, within the Pension Administration of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF). The incumbent will report to the Chief of the Client Services Section, who reports to the Chief of the Section. The Client Services Section provides services to the clients of the UNJSPF, advising them on participation, separation and benefit related issues and the correct application of the Fund's Regulations and Rules and the Pension Adjustment System.

Responsibilities

• Providing information to individual participants and retirees/beneficiaries as well as administrative staff of the member organizations of the Pension Fund on participation, entitlements and benefits.
• Advising clients in person, on the phone or in writing with regards to participation and benefit related enquiries.
• Undertaking necessary research in order to provide accurate information; ensuring responses to queries conform to the provisions of the Pension Fund's Regulations and Rules and the Pension Adjustment System.
• Routing relevant requests to appropriate parties within the Fund's secretariat.
• Initiating administrative procedures as they relate to proof of residence, changes in country of residence, etc.
• Advising relevant units, e.g., Insurance Section and the Federation of Associations of Former International Civil Servants (FAFICS) and the Associations of Former International Civil Servants (AFICS) at local and international locations, with respect to status of retirees and beneficiaries.
• Monitoring and controlling Certificate of Entitlement-related verifications, releases, suspensions and benefits.
• Initiating computer runs for monthly activation and/or termination of benefits.
• Processing and auditing administrative actions and procedures relating to Fund participation (validation, restoration and transfer of pension rights).
• Running and auditing estimates of future benefit options and entitlements and all types of pension benefits, computer generated or manually processed, including with regard to the application of the Pension Adjustment System.
• Reviewing and processing applications for Emergency Fund assistance.
• Participating in the standardization of procedures and texts for communications originated by the Section.
• Participating in the training activities related to the Section's work, including the preparation of training material, compilation of relevant information, and provision of training to individuals outside the Section.
• Assists with the collection and analysis of data as well as preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision making.
• Assists with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures.
• Training junior staff, as needed.
• Performing other duties as may be required.

• Professionalism: Knowledge of UNJSPF Regulations and Rules and related procedures and how they apply. Knowledge of UN systems and procedures as they relate to UNJSPF Regulations and Staff Rules, and good understanding of the UNJSPF operations. Ability to identify issues and analyse client cases and provide correct and timely responses, within the provisions of the Regulations and Rules and the Pension Adjustment System. Handling of UNJSPF data responsibly and with confidentiality. Ability to perform analysis, modeling and interpretation of data in support of decision- making. Ability to plan and organize workload within the UNJSPF benchmarks. Ability to maintain accurate records, interpret/analyse a wide variety of data, and identify/resolve data discrepancies and other problems. Demonstrated use of initiative and ability to make appropriate linkages in work processes and anticipate next steps. Shows pride in work and in achievements; 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. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects 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 audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients" and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in employee benefits administration or related area is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to five (5) for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher. At least two (2) years of experience in client services is desirable. One (1) year or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable. Experience in a pension fund in the area of client servicing or processing entitlements is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. 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

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

This temporary position is available for six months with the possibility of extension, subject to availability of funding. This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. Applicants for positions in the General Service and related categories must be authorized to work for the United Nations in the duty station where the position is located. Please upload proof of citizenship or permanent residency in the country of the duty station. Alternatively, please upload a copy of your legal status and work authorization. Staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment. The applicable human resources procedures are governed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Fund and the UN Secretariat. Any candidate from a member organization of the UNJSPF applying for this post is considered as an internal candidate provided, he/she has been appointed through the appointment and promotion procedures applicable in his/her respective organization.

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.