Special Assistant to the United Nations Ombudsman, P4

The Office of the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services (UNOMS) is headquartered in New York, USA with regional branches located in Bangkok, Beirut, Entebbe, Geneva, Nairobi, Santiago and Vienna. UNOMS was established as the informal pillar of the United Nations internal system of administration of justice. Its mandate is to provide staff members and affiliated personnel with access to impartial and neutral services to address work-related concerns. This position is located in the Front Office of UNOMS. The incumbent will report to the United Nations Ombudsman.

Within delegated authority, the Special Assistant to the United Nations Ombudsman will be responsible for the following duties: • Coordinate overall programmatic and administrative support to the Head of Entity, United Nations Ombudsman and Assistant Secretary-General. • Support strategic and operational planning by advising the United Nations Ombudsman and the Chief of Service on matters relating to the effective direction of office operations, assisting with the preparation, implementation and monitoring of the office work plan and actively contributing to the development of solutions to operational issues that may arise. • Monitor and ensure that the Delegation of Authority Framework is carried out in compliance with organizational requirements and provide advice and guidance in this regard. • Establish the strategic objectives and specific commitments of and monitor implementation of the compact between the Secretary-General and the United Nations Ombudsman and advise on any necessary action to meet targets. • Coordinate and collate input to management and inter-governmental bodies, especially on budgetary, administrative and legal matters. • Ensure meetings are organized and followed up adequately. Coordinate input for all meetings from within the Office. Prepare agendas for the meetings and share summaries with the team members as appropriate. • Provide operational support and guidance to the Office’s regional branches on administrative and budgetary matters. • Support the Chief of Service in daily operations, including with coordination and information management; prepare related materials for the Chief of Service. •Act as focal point for administrative activities including related to human resources, budgetary matters, and special projects under the Office's work programme. • Represent the Office as focal point on assigned issues by attending the various meetings, conferences and participating in the working groups; make presentations on assigned topics/activities; accompany and support the United Nations Ombudsman to meetings, as needed. • Contribute substantively and operationally to the delivery of the three key areas of the Office’s conflict resolution programme, which includes case work, systemic analysis and outreach & skill-building. • Perform other related duties as required.

Professionalism: Knowledge of the Organization's human resources policies and procedures. Ability to apply various United Nations administrative rules and regulations in work situations. Conceptual, analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis. Ability to network and maintain excellent relationships with a wide variety of partners and stakeholders. Ability to work in an international setting and operate effectively across organizational boundaries; respect for and understanding of diversity, including its impact on workplace issues and conflict and possible resolution. 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. Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. 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.

An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent degree) in social science, international relations, conflict resolution, public administration, human resources, management or related fields is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Not available.

A minimum of seven years of experience in public administration, finance and budget, human resources management, or a related area is required. Experience providing support to a senior manager and working in a front office setting is required. Experience working in the United Nations common system or a similar international organization is desirable. Experience in coordinating high-level meetings and preparing executive-level written materials, including briefing notes, talking points, statements, reports and meeting summaries, and representing an office in meetings or working groups is desirable.

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

• 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. • Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professional's programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position. • Individual contractors and consultants (Affiliate Personnel) who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months, irrespective of the administering entity, are ineligible to apply for professional and higher temporary or fixed-term positions and their applications will not be considered. • Applicants who have reached the mandatory age of separation are not eligible to apply for job openings. • At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. • For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 August 2026, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, China (People's Republic of), Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Nicaragua, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu.

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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.