Senior Programme Assistant (Social and Human Sciences) Readvertisement

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:1 year

Recruitment open to:Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time):15-DEC-2025

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

Initial appointment for 12 months that may be extended subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance

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 (ADG/SHS) 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 initiates 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 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 perform 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 Prizes programme of work and ensuring the participation of the Chief of Section in meetings and events as planned; coordinate and follow up effectively andefficiently. 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 attentionof 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 Jurys consideration. Draft circular letters signed by the DirectorGeneral 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 Users 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 theagenda 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 the UNESCO Executive Board/General Conferenceand other UN-Bodies 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 supervisors signature and prepare 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).
Flexibility 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 UNESCOs intergovernmental processes and procedures.

Languages

Knowledge of Arabic.
Knowledge of another official language of UNESCO (Chinese Russian and/or Spanish).

BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS

UNESCOs 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 Euros .

For full information on benefits and entitlements please consult our Guide to Staff Benefits.

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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