Senior Programme Assistant (Social and Human Sciences)
OVERVIEW
Post Number : SHS 901
Grade : G-7
Parent Sector : Social and Human Sciences Sector (SHS)
Duty Station: Paris
Job Family: Programme Coordination
Type of contract : Fixed Term
Duration of contract : 2 years, renewable
Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates
Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 11-AUG-2025
UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism
ONLY CANDIDATES ELIGIBLE TO WORK IN FRANCE MAY APPLY TO THIS POSITION
OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST
The UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture rewards, each year, two laureates – individuals, groups or institutions – who, through their work and outstanding achievements, endeavour to disseminate greater knowledge of Arab art and culture. Applicants to the UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab culture must have contributed significantly towards the development, dissemination and the promotion of Arab culture in the world. The winners are chosen by the Director-General of UNESCO, on the recommendation of an international Jury of experts in the field of Arab Culture and having distinguished themselves, over several years, by meritorious actions. Thus, the winners contribute to the promotion of cultural dialogue and the revitalization of Arab culture.
Long Description
Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences and the direct supervision of the Chief of the Inclusion, Rights and Intercultural Dialogue Section, the incumbent ensures the effective implementation of the UNESCO Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture, iniciates and undertakes all the necessary activities to that end.The incumbent delivers and coordinates a wide range of administrative, communication and promotional services for the effective management of the UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture. The work context calls for an extensive and in-depth knowledge of administrative rules, procedures and protocols and their inter-relationship. The incumbent maintains close working relations with staff at various levels witin the Section, Field Offices, Legal Affairs (LA), Bureau of Strategic Planning (BSP), Communication and Public Engagement (CPE), Bureau for Digital Business Solutions (DBS), and other relevant services (HRM, FIN, etc.), as well as with the members of the Jury, the donor and media, and operates as the first line of contact or focal point for the UNESCO-Sharjah Prize.
The incumbent will perfrom the following tasks:
Long Description
- Organize and follow-up thoroughly the work concerning the Prize with respect to communications, meetings and workflows; provide substantive and administrative support: in managing the Prize's programme of work and ensuring the participation of the Chief of Section in meetings and events, as planned; coordinate and follow up effectively and efficiently. Facilitate interactions and information flow between the Chief of Section and different partners of the Prize; identify and bring sensitive and urgent matters to the attention of the Chief of Section. Liaise with the members of the International Jury designated for the Sharjah Prize, providing them with the necessary guidance and information to facilitate their examination and deliberation on candidates' files.
- Contribute substantively by conducting research and offering recommendations regarding candidates for the International Jury's consideration. Draft circular letters, signed by the Director General, for the call for applications. Support applicants by actively collaborating with the Bureau for Digital Business Solutions (DBS) to offer precise and timely guidance on the effective use of the platform for submitting candidatures. Ensure the completeness and validity of the received and oversees the regular updating of the User’s Guide. Maintain consistent follow-up with applicants to address outstanding issues, clarify requirements, and confirm resolution. Analyze and pre-evaluate the candidatures in accordance with the established criteria, preparing the evaluation sheets and ensuring their timely translation and delivery to the Jury members.
- Track and respond to requests formulated by various partners of the Prize managing and scheduling with appropriate consultation as required; arrange appointments and maintain the agenda for the Prize; serve as first point of contact and liaise with senior officials; receive visitors (often high-ranking); place and screen telephone calls and answer enquiries; effectively prioritize and resolve related competing demands.
- Research, compile and summarize background materials for the use of internal and external partners as well as the preparation of reports, briefings, speeches making sure of the consistency of the information; scan information sources to identify issues of interest concerning the Prize to the supervisor; support the Prize by preparing materials and presentations for officials trips/special meetings including Executive Board/General Conference, CEB, HLCM, HLCP, etc. ; independently and carefully handle a variety of complex information requests and queries; draft responses to a diverse and wide range of correspondence and other communications; communicates sensitive information to senior management and coordinates responses to sensitive inquiries on behalf of the Chief of Section in close collaboration with CPE and SHS colleagues.
- Monitor and review the preparation of reports by staff as well as correspondence, briefing notes and other documents about the Prize; exercise quality control function for the outgoing documents; proof-read, edit and review texts for adherence to format, grammar, punctuation and style, in accordance with standard practices and protocol; prepare correspondence for the supervisor's signature, and make informal translations, as applicable.
COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)
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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
• Completed secondary education, technical or vocational education.
Work Experience
• At least ten (10) years of relevant work experience in secretarial and/or administrative tasks.
Skills and competencies
• Strong interpersonal and excellent coordination skills for the preparation of information and documents, organization of meetings, events and resolution of problems.
• Excellent drafting skills with particular reference to correspondence and internal reports.
• Excellent communication (writing and oral) skills to deal with officials and staff at various levels within and outside UNESCO.
• Discretion and capacity to deal efficiently and tactfully with people of different cultural backgrounds.
• Good computer skills to establish/modify filing reference and information of standard office software (MS Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
• Flexible to adjust to work schedules and priorities.
Languages
• Excellent knowledge (spoken and written) of English and good working knowledge of French.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education
• Specialized training/certification in secretariat/administration.
Work Experience
• Experience in the United Nations System or other multilateral organizations and/or in the field of international relations and diplomacy, multilateral settings/cooperations and development.
• Familiarity with UNESCO’s intergovernmental processes and procedures.
Languages
• Knowledge of Arabic.
• Knowledge of another official language of UNESCO (Chinese, Russian and/or Spanish).
Long Description
BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS
UNESCO’s salaries consist of a basic salary and other benefits which may include if applicable: 30 days annual leave, family allowance, medical insurance, pension plan etc.
The approximate annual starting salary for this post is 53 842 Euro €.
For full information on benefits and entitlements, please consult our Guide to Staff Benefits.
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 an 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.
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UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of staff members shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity. UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. UNESCO is committed to achieving and sustaining equitable and diverse geographical distribution, as well as 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. Candidates from non- and under-represented Member States (last update here) are particularly welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities 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.
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