UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

(Only candidates who are entitled to work in France may apply to this position)

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Culture, the general supervision of the Chief of the Living Heritage Entity and the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist in charge of the Safeguarding, Implementation and Monitoring Team, the incumbent shall exercise the functions of Programme Assistant providing support to administrative and programme support aspects of the operations of activities associated to the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund and the budget management of the LHE, related to the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

In particular, the incumbent will:

Receive International Assistance requests submitted by States Parties, undertake completeness check and ensure their registration in the knowledge management system of the Entity and their preparation for technical assessment by the Secretariat or for examination by the Committee or its Bureau.

Respond to enquiries about International Assistance requests, processes, procedures and projects and route information, as appropriate. Produce and complete in final form correspondence in accordance to the standards and procedures established by the Entity, the Culture Sector and UNESCO, such as letters and emails to States Parties and other stakeholders regarding International Assistance requests and projects.

Long Description

Support the administrative implementation of individual International Assistance projects: inform team members of processes, procedures and timeframes to secure timely implementation of administrative actions, finalize contracts and their amendments on the basis of drafts prepared by the Associate Programme Specialist and/or the Programme Specialist of the Team; monitor the implementation status of each project alerting team members of delays, omissions or discrepancies and, following discussion, undertake corrective or other necessary actions; verify completeness and compliance against terms of reference of submitted documents for the Associate Programme Specialist and/or the Programme Specialist’s review; prepare payment requests against contracts; monitor deadlines for administrative services; ensure the timely execution of contracts by liaising with contractors and other actors involved and alerting team members of outstanding matters related to the execution of individual projects, in compliance with UNESCO rules and regulations.

Maintain the information concerning International Assistance requests and projects approved, ensuring easy retrieval of information, documentation and data. Ensure that information is made available to the public as necessary.

Register voluntary contributions to the ICH Fund, contribute to the preparation of statutory budgetary documents, respond to inquiries from States Parties concerning their compulsory contributions to the ICH Fund, provide support in the preparation of budget breakdowns for new projects, prepare claims for the staff time cost recovery on LHE Special Accounts.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

Accountability (C)

Communication (C)

Innovation (C)

Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)

Planning and organizing (C)

Results focus (C)

Teamwork (C)

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For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Certificate of secondary, technical and/or vocational education

Experience

At least 2 years of professional experience in supporting programmes and projects in the fields related to culture

Experience in administrative and programme support within UNESCO system

Experience in budget management according to UNESCO standars

Skills/Competencies

Excellent interpersonal skills in multicultural contexts

Good time management skills

Ability to work under pressure

Excellent IT skills (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)

  Languages

Excellent knowledge of French and English both written and oral

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Advanced University degree (Master’s or equivalent) in the field of culture or humanities

Languages

Excellent knowledge of other languages, both written and oral

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.

The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview.

UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.

Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.

UNESCO applies a zero tolerance policy against all forms of harassment.

UNESCO is committed to achieve and sustain gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities, as well as nationals from non-and under-represented Member States (last update here) are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. Worldwide mobility is required for staff members appointed to international posts.

UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.