Background
The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) is a voluntarily funded, autonomous institution within the United Nations. One of the few policy institutes worldwide focusing on disarmament, UNIDIR generates knowledge and promotes dialogue and action on disarmament and security. Based in Geneva, UNIDIR assists the international community to develop the practical, innovative ideas needed to find solutions to critical security problems.
Responsibilities
Within limits of delegated authority, the Team Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:
- Performs a wide range of office support and administrative functions for multiple UNIDIR programmes.
- Responds or drafts responses to routine correspondence and other communications; uses standard word processing package to produce a wide variety of large, complex documents and reports.
- Monitors processes and schedules related to the unit’s outputs, products, tasks, etc.; where applicable, assists in the verification of receipt and accuracy of requisite documents, approvals, signatures, etc. to ensure compliance with relevant legal, financial and other requirements.
- Researches, compiles and organizes information and reference materials from various sources for reports, workplans, studies, briefings, meetings/conferences, etc.
- Generates a variety of standard statistical and other reports, work orders, etc., using various databases.
- Proofreads documents and edits texts for accuracy, grammar, punctuation and style, and for adherence to established standards for format.
- Initiates the payment of contractors’ invoices and monitors payments.
- Provides secretarial, administrative and logistics support to meetings, boards, committees, conferences, etc.
- Assists in the preparation of presentation materials using appropriate technology/software.
- Maintains calendar/schedules; monitors changes and communicates relevant information to appropriate staff inside and outside the immediate work unit.
- Performs data entry and extraction functions.
- Reviews, records, distributes and/or processes mail and other documents; follows up on impending actions.
- Updates and maintains large distribution lists; monitors, prepares and distributes various materials, reports, where possible using electronic formats; handles arrangements for printing and translation as necessary; coordinates shipment arrangements, courier services, etc.
- Performs general administrative tasks (e.g. leave and attendance recording, arrangements for meetings and other events, reservations, budget follow up, etc.), to include preparing and/or processing administrative requests/documents (e.g. requisitions, purchase orders, travel requests, contracts, expenditure authorizations, visa applications, etc.).
- Maintains files (both paper and electronic) and databases for work unit.
- Assists in providing software and office equipment support.
- Provides guidance to less experienced staff on general office processes and procedures, computer applications, etc.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Schedule for the proposed work
A workplan will be agreed within the first two weeks of the contract. The Team Assistant will have regular meetings with their First Reporting Officer in order to set assignments within the workplan and monitor progress. S/he will inform their First Reporting Officer and relevant personnel if there are any issues concerning meeting agreed deadlines.
Performance indicators
The Team Assistant will be evaluated against their agreed workplan and according to the UN staff performance evaluation guidelines.
All UNIDIR personnel are required to demonstrate the core values of the UN: Professionalism, Integrity and Respect for Diversity. In addition, s/he shall demonstrate the following competences:
- Professionalism: Knowledge of general office and administrative support including administrative policies, processes and procedures; 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.
- 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 their own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
- Planning and organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
- 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 the delivery of products or services to client.
Qualifications and experience
Education
High school diploma or equivalent is required.
Experience
- At least three (3) years of experience in general office support or related area is required.
- Experience in the field of administration with the United Nations or similar international organizations is desirable.
- Experience using an ERP in a large organization is desirable.
- Experience preparing and editing official correspondence is desirable.
- Experience compiling statistics and providing analysis, including through the use of spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel, is desirable.
Languages
For this assignment, fluency in English (both written and oral) is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview.
Travel
The Team Assistant may be required to travel during the course of this assignment. Dates and locations will be determined during implementation of relevant projects. S/he must complete the UN course BSAFE (online) along with other mandatory trainings. Copies of certificates of completion must be provided to UNIDIR.
How to apply
The applicant should submit:
- A cover letter
- PDF of a UN Personal History Profile (PHP) created via Inspira. Please refer to the consultant roster guide
- Name and contact details of three references (may be included in PHP)
- Brief responses (up to 50 words for each response) to the screening questions below in PDF format
Screening questions:
- At least three years of experience in general office support or a related area is required for this position. Please explain how you meet this criterion.
- Explain your experience using ERP systems in a large organization, specifying the system used and your level of responsibility.
- Explain your experience preparing and editing official correspondence, including the types of documents you have handled.
Applications should be sent as email attachments, with the subject line “Application: Team Assistant (G4)” to unidir.recruitment@un.org. No applications will be accepted by post. Deadline for submission of applications is 11 July 2026. Closing date is midnight Geneva time.
Send to
unidir.recruitment@un.org
Subject line
Application: Team Assistant (G4)
Please note Incomplete applications and applications generated with Artificial Intelligence will not be processed. Due to the high volume of applications received, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Should you move forward in the process, you may be contacted for further assessment. UNIDIR is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. This post is financed through extra-budgetary funding. Possibility of extension beyond the initial appointment will be subject to satisfactory performance, availability of the post and funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate. This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. All Staff in the General Service and related categories shall be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of each office, irrespective of their nationality and of the length of time they may have been in the country. A staff member subject to local recruitment shall not be eligible for the allowances or benefits applicable to international recruitment. 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.
