SENIOR STAFF ASSISTANT, Bogota, Colombia

## SENIOR STAFF ASSISTANT, Bogota, Colombia - Organization:UNVMC - United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia - Office:UNVMC in Bogotá, Colombia Organizational Setting and Reporting This position is in the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia (UNVMC). The incumbent will be based in Bogota will report to the SRSG. Within limits of delegated authority, the Senior Staff Assistant will be responsible for the following duties: - Manages and maintains the SRSG’s calendar, appointments, meetings, and official engagements, including with senior government officials, diplomats, and visiting delegations; - Anticipates SRSG's requirements for background material and ensures compilation of briefing material for appointments, meetings, or missions are complete and up-to-date; - Screens, prioritizes, and manages all incoming and outgoing correspondence, including confidential and sensitive materials (e.g. code cables, political and management correspondence); - Drafts, formats, edits, and finalizes correspondence, notes, submissions, and other documents for the SRSG, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and timeliness; - Maintains a tracking system to ensure effective follow-up on decisions and action points arising from meetings and communications; - Ensures coordination on administrative issues between the Office of the SRSG and Mission components, UN Headquarters, and UN agencies; - Organizes and coordinates the SRSG’s official travel, including itineraries, visas, clearances, and logistical arrangements, among others; - Provides administrative support related to attendance, leave monitoring, travel claims, requisitions, and other administrative processes within the Office of the SRSG; - Supports workflow management and prioritization in the SRSG’s Office, contributing to the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the Front Office; - Ensures proper record-keeping and secure handling of sensitive information in accordance with UN rules and standards; - Performs other duties as assigned. 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 in 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. Teamwork - Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; Solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; Is willing to learn from others; Places team agenda before personal agenda; Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. Planning & Organizing - Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; Identifies priority activities and assignments; Adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate; Amounts of time and resources for completing work; Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. High school diploma or equivalent is required. Job - Specific Qualification A high education degree on social, communication, economic or political sciences, or related area, is desirable. Technical training in secretarial or administration is desirable. A minimum of eight years progressive experience working for a high-ranking UN or government official is required. Proficiency and in-depth knowledge of UN system's operation is required. Working experience in post conflict settings is required. Experience in providing personal assistance and administrative support in the front office of senior management is required. Working experience in UN field operations of the UN Common system is desirable. Field experience working in the Latin America and Caribbean region is desirable. English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, EnglishandSpanish are 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 for details). Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by an informal interview. - This position is temporarily available until 31 December 2026. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. - While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. - Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. - This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. - 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 temporary 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. Please note that pursuant to the Staff selection system policy (ST/AI/2025/2): (1) Applicants for positions in the Field Service category cannot be of the nationality of the country where the position is located, and (2) Applicants for positions in the Professional and higher categories in a mission, field operation, or resident coordinator’s office cannot be of the nationality of the country where the position is located. For currently serving staff of a United Nations Common System organization, only the UN-recognized nationality will be considered for the purposes of these restrictions. - 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. - Candidates interested to work for the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia may wish to check out our Realistic Job Preview videos to get an idea of the living and working conditions in different duty stations in Colombia.: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL- 8SCkVjg-e3073SwTDG1VQf