RECRUITMENT ASSISTANT United Nations Volunteers Programme

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. Volunteerism is a powerful means of engaging people in tackling development challenges, and it can transform the pace and nature of development. Volunteerism benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer by strengthening trust, solidarity and reciprocity among citizens, and by purposefully creating opportunities for participation. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for recognition of volunteers, working with partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing an increasing number and diversity of volunteers, including experienced UN volunteers, throughout the world. UNV embraces volunteerism as universal and inclusive, and recognizes volunteerism in its diversity as well as the values that sustain it: free will, commitment, engagement and solidarity. UNV engaged 7,765 UN volunteers in 2010, on a total of 7,960 assignments. With an average age of 37 years and the requisite professional skills and qualifications of some 5 to 10 years relevant experience, UN volunteers served in 132 countries in 2010 and came themselves from 158. The majority – 80 per cent – come from developing countries themselves. One third of UN volunteers served in their own countries, with the others carrying out international assignments. The financial equivalent of programme activities exceeds US$235 million annually. In addition, as the focal point in the United Nations for the International Year of the Volunteers (IYV2001), UNV is active in the follow-up to the Year, for which the key objectives are the recognition, facilitation, networking and promotion of volunteerism. UNV is headquartered in Bonn, Germany and has approximately 150 staff positions – with the majority in Bonn and some positions with different UN peacekeeping and political missions, and in other Headquarters locations (e.g. New York and Tokyo). The major organizational groups within UNV are: the Office of the Executive Coordinator (OEC); the Evaluation Unit (EU); the Corporate Planning and Performance Unit (CPPU); the Volunteer Programming and Management Group (VPMG) comprising the Peace Division (PD) and the Development Division (DD), Volunteer Recruitment Resources Section (VRRS), Quality Assurance Unit (QAU), Volunteer Knowledge and Innovation Section (VKIS); the Partnerships and Communications Division (PCD) comprising the Partnerships Section (PS) and the Communications Section (CS); The Management Services Division (MSD) comprising the Information and Communication Technology Section (ICTS), Finance Section (FS), Human Resources Section (HRS), and the Administration Unit (AU). Additionally the Common Services Unit (CSU) provides support to the UN presence in Bonn. Organizational setting: The Volunteer Recruitment Resources Section (VRRS)forms part of the Volunteer Programming and Management Group and assumes functions pertaining to UNV’s Volunteer Management Cycle (VMC), in particular those related to “Outreach”, "Application to UNV” and “Identification, Submission, Selection”, which directly support the recruitment of international UN volunteers.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Deputy Chief, Volunteer Recruitment Resources Section, the Recruitment Assistant contributes to UNV’s corporate objective in terms of fielded UN volunteers in as much as it provides an appraisal and a ready supply of suitable candidates for international UNV assignments. Specific duties include the following: Summary of key functions: Assess incoming application against general recruitment criteria, which includes: Appraise general suitability of newly registered profiles and rank them according to set criteria. Validate and/or correct profession and position codes selected by applicants during the registration process. Assist in outreach missions and information events on behalf of UNV, including meeting prospective candidates for individual discussions/advice. Identify suitable candidates for UNV assignments, which includes: Search/match/identify suitable candidates from the UNV database for predominantly technical assignments in diverse areas of expertise for various agencies and partners of UNV. Contact all short listed candidates to ascertain their interest and immediate availability for the relevant assignment and providing a brief overview of the UNV conditions of service. Ensure that all procedures pertaining to the selection of UN Volunteers for a specific assignment are complied with. Conduct suitability calls for submitted candidates as required, ensuring their fit for the relevant assignment. Check recommendations on the performance of former UN Volunteers and national UN staff before inclusion of profiles into the database and/or the file of the UN volunteer/candidate. Inform candidates on their non-selection as applicable. Maintain records of selection steps and assessments of candidates and support the preparation of statistical reports on activities performed. Keep internal and external parties updated on status of identifications/submissions and liaise with candidates, Country Offices and Recruitment Partners under his/her portfolio. Liaise with Roster Clerks and request their support in tracking qualified candidates and other necessary information. Other related duties that may be assigned.

Competencies

Functional Competencies Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing Documents innovative strategies and new approaches Identifies and communicates opportunities to promote learning and knowledge sharing Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise Understands the main processes and methods of work regarding to the position Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks Identifies new and better approaches to work processes and incorporates same in own work Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments Design and Implementation of Management Systems Uses information/databases/other management systems Provides inputs to the development of simple system components Client Orientation Reports to internal and external clients in a timely and appropriate fashion Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients Responds to client needs promptly Core Competencies Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment Self-development, initiative-taking Acting as a team player and facilitating team work Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively Creating synergies through self-control Managing conflict Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others Informed and transparent decision making

Required Skills and Experience

Education: Secondary education and preferably some additional training in human resources management, business administration, psychology or social sciences. Experience: 5 years of relevant work experience including at least two years in human resources recruitment ideally of international staff. Ability to carry out a large volume of procedural duties accurately, and often under pressure and to respect confidential information. Strongly desirable minimum of two years of work experience in development, or peacekeeping environments in the field. Language Requirements: Excellent command of both oral and written English and French languages; fluency in another UN working language, in particular Spanish is highly desirable. This post is for local recruitment only. All travel, interview and relocation costs, if any, incurred to take up an appointment at the duty station in Bonn are at the expense of the applicant. Applications should be submitted on line and include the UNDP Personal History Form (P11) posted at http://sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.