United Nations University (UNU)
UNU is an international community of scholars engaged in policy-oriented research, capacity development and dissemination of knowledge in furthering the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The mission of UNU is to contribute, through research and capacity building, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations and its Member States.
For the past four decades, UNU has been a go-to think tank for impartial research on human survival, conflict prevention, sustainable development, and welfare. With more than 400 researchers in 12 countries, UNU's work spans the 17 Sustainable Development Goals' full breadth, generating policy-relevant knowledge to effect positive global change. UNU maintains more than 200 collaborations with UN agencies and leading universities and research institutions across the globe.
About Office/Institute
UNU- Biotechnology Programme for Latin America and the Caribbean (BIOLAC) is one of 14 research and training Institutes that comprise the think tanks in the UNU system. UNU-BIOLAC promotes the use of biotechnology for the sustainable development of Latin American and Caribbean countries. UNU-BIOLAC accomplishes its goals by building capacities, creating knowledge, and achieving problem-oriented research on significant areas of concern for the region. In addition, it acts as a go-to think tank for science-based information to solve the most pressing problems where biotechnology could play a prominent role. UNU-BIOLAC materializes an academic community through a dynamic network of researchers and institutions participating as Programme members under several cooperative agreements. This network coordinates research and training projects, conducts training activities, and mentors short-stay research visits and training internships. This position Full-time might require international travel. The UNU-BIOLAC Executive Assistant will be based in Caracas, Venezuela.
Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the BIOLAC Programme Head and the administrative & programmatic direction of the UNU Headquarters, the Executive Assistant to the Programme Head will perform duties as follows:
- Provides administrative support to the Programme Head focusing on the achievement of the following results:
- Oversees and manages all forms of institutional communications and prepares a brief for the Programme Head when required.
- Maintains and updates UNU-BIOLAC's databases.
- Assists the Programme Head and the Finance and Administrative Assistant to plan the biannual budgets.
- Assists the Information and Networking Assistant and Programme Head in implementing the Communications Policy.
- Serve as Focal Point for: Safety and Security, Risk Management and Due Diligence.
2. Applications and management for Academic Activities:- Channelling (receiving, revising, sending for evaluation, approval or rejection and follow up) course applications, fellowship applications, and webinar applications.
- Follow up on the evaluation of applications for academic activities and approved academic activities, and on financial reports.
- Receives and reviews contract evaluations for quality assurance purposes.
- Review contract requests to ensure quality and compliance with rules.
3. Assist the Programme Head in the Organization of all academic activities:
- Manages the Open Calls for academic activities (Courses, Fellowships, Travel Grants and Webinars)
- Follow up on the application processes and updates.
- Maintains constant communication with the grantees.
- Collaborates with the implementation of all academic activities.
4. Makes necessary coordination and due arrangements for IAC meetings implementations:
- Assists the Programme Head in organizing the UNU-BIOLAC International Advisory Committee meetings.
- Sets and follows up on the IAC meeting agenda.
- Prepares minutes of the IAC meeting.
5. Provide support to the Programme Head in the efforts to expand the Programme:
- Proposes and follows up on actions related to fundraising as instructed by the Programme Head.
- Keeps continuous and fluid communication with the Programme’s allies (Universities, institutions, etc.), donors and Stakeholders.
- Serves as a focal point between the external partners and allies and UNU-BIOLAC.
6. Performs other duties assigned by the Programme Head.
Key Performance Indicators
- Quality and level of engagement with internal and external stakeholders to ensure that UNU is seen as a reliable and trustworthy partner by research partners, governments, donors, and civil society.
- Academic support for research fellows on issues regarding their academic activities.
- Updated and efficient maintenance of UNU-BIOLAC's Databases.
- Personnel well trained in their respective chores.
- Timely and reliable information provided to all UNU-BIOLAC staff.
- Priority attention to all academic activities.
Competencies
Values:
-
Inclusion - Take action to create an environment of dignity and respect for all, regardless of age, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, geography, grade, language, nationality, racial identity, religion, sex, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, social origin or any other aspect of identity.
-
Integrity - Act ethically, demonstrating the standards of conduct of the United Nations and taking prompt action in case of witnessing unprofessional or unethical behaviour, or any other breach of UN standards.
-
Humility - Demonstrate self-awareness and willingness to learn from others.
-
Humanity - Act according to the purposes of the United Nations: peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet.
Behaviours:
-
Connect and Collaborate - Build positive relationships with others to advance the work of the United Nations and work coherently as One UN.
-
Analyse and Plan - Seek out and use data from a wide range of sources to understand problems, inform decision-making, propose evidence-based solutions and plan action.
-
Deliver Results with Positive Impact - Hold oneself and others accountable for delivering results and making a positive difference to the people and causes that the United Nations serves.
-
Learn and Develop - Pursue own learning and development and contribute to the learning and development of others.
-
Adapt and Innovate - Demonstrate flexibility, agility and the ability to think and act in novel ways.
