Administrative Assistant

Result of ServiceThe Administrative Assistant reports to the Head of Brazil Office. He/She shall duly and timely perform his/her obligations, under this Terms of Reference. The consultant will work in close collaboration with the UN-Habitat’s operational and technical teams. Work LocationJuiz de Fora, Brazil Expected durationSix (6) months with possibility of renewal Duties and ResponsibilitiesBackground The main mandate of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is to promote sustainable development of human settlements and policies conducive to adequate housing for all. Within this framework, UN-Habitat supports central and state governments, as well as local authorities and other partners for the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, the 2030 Agenda with the Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda. UN-Habitat helps the urban poor by transforming cities into safer, more inclusive, compact, integrated, resilient and connected places with better opportunities where everyone can live with dignity. It works with organizations at every level, including all spheres of government, civil society, and the private sector to help build, manage, plan and finance sustainable urban development. The Regional Office for Latin American and the Caribbean – ROLAC – is based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Agency puts emphasis in developing and managing activities in the host country. Indeed, for the past years, UN-Habitat has expanded its portfolio in Brazil by working with the three tiers of government to support the formulation and implementation of more effective, sustainable, participative, and socially fairer urban economic, social, and environmental policies. The “Weaving the city: planning with a participatory approach” project is another phase of the “Territories of Citizenship” project, a partnership between the Municipality of Juiz de Fora and UN-Habitat, launched in December 2021. It applied the Quick Participatory Mapping (QPM) methodology across 139 Special Zones of Social Interest (ZEIS) and two rural districts, alongside the development of a comprehensive Socioeconomic Profile of the prioritized areas. In 2023 and 2024, this project was expanded with the creation of the Public Policy Observatory, a platform dedicated to local data production and analysis to support evidence-based decision-making, enhance transparency, and align municipal policies with global sustainable development goals. In 2025, “Weaving the city: planning with a participatory approach” will focus on improving the quality of life of Juiz de Fora’s urban area by promoting inclusive public spaces, sustainable practices, and the integration of gender and diversity perspectives. The initiative also aims to strengthen local capacities for the formulation and monitoring of public policies aligned with global sustainable development agendas, while expanding social participation and community engagement in urban management. To implement this project, as well as the UN-Habitat mandate in Brazil, it is required to hire an Administrative Assistant. Report to UN-Habitat Manager The Administrative Assistant reports to the Head of Brazil Office, who will evaluate him/her. Responsibilities The Administrative Assistant will support the implementation of the project, and its activities, with the following responsibilities: a) Provide administrative support to implement project-related activities. b) Support the project team’s communication with local counterparts and partners, such as local governments, civil society organizations, universities, private sector, etc. c) Support the adequate execution of technical and/or administrative activities of the project. d) Organize project meetings and document group meetings, forums, consultations, training events and other activities related to project planning, development, and implementation. e) Support in the collection of data, legislation and other documents in municipal offices and archives. f) Organize and archive all documents and information relevant to project administration. g) Support the receipt and distribution of correspondence, materials, and equipment. h) Support the team through audits and other administrative and financial compliance checks. i) Maintain and update office inventory. j) Request quotes for low-value acquisitions. k) Write official letters in Portuguese. l) Support the selection processes of technical and/or field personnel, schedule and organize interview panels, contact shortlisted candidates for interviews and provide post-interview feedback if necessary. m) Assist in receiving monthly reports from consultants and/or field staff, including the procedures necessary for the monthly payroll. n) Assist in the organization of events (in-person or online), including registration forms, attendance lists, issuing certificates, booking venues and coffee breaks, and other necessary operational activities. o) Assist with travel requests for the technical team, including travel requests and mission reports. p) Be responsible for keeping information organized and accessible. q) Carry out specific activities and other tasks that may be requested by the supervisor. r) Support other administrative functions as requested by the UN-Habitat operational team in Rio de Janeiro. s) Participate in missions as requested. The consultant will be responsible for completing all courses and training activities that are indicated to him/her by his/her supervisor. The security course BSAFE, from UNDSS, is required to be accredited during the first month of employment. The consultant will be responsible for his/her own security, so the person should get familiarized with United Nations security mechanisms and comply with them according to the Framework of Accountability for the United Nations Security Management System. Outputs/Work Assignment The Administrative Assistant will support the implementation of the project. The consultant shall be paid a monthly allowance, upon presentation and approval by the Head of Brazil Office of monthly activities’ report. Qualifications/special skillsEducation Required: • Bachelor's degree in Administration, International Relations, Public Management, or related fields is required, or additional three (3) years of relevant experience to the post, beyond the requirement. Work experience: • Minimum two (2) years of experience in administrative, secretarial, project management, operational and/or human resources activities is required. • Professional experience with local governments and/or civil society and advocacy initiatives is desirable. • Previous experience within or with the United Nations System is desirable. • Familiarity with and interest in urban development issues, as well as the Organization's global urban agenda, is desirable. Skills: • Good computer skills in Windows, as Microsoft Office, Outlook, Microsoft Teams, and Web search engines are required. • Mastery of technological tools and use of software and online platforms is required. • Mastery of online event and conference tools is desirable. • Good knowledge of project management methodologies is desirable. Competencies • Professionalism: Experience working in an inter-institutional environment, project management, monitoring-evaluation; approaches and strategies regarding good urban governance and local and regional development. • Planning and organization: Professional approach to work, strong sense of responsibility, operate with minimal supervision; proven organizational skills and ability to manage a workload efficiently and within set deadlines. • Communication: Ability to write clearly and effectively; listen to others, interpret messages correctly and respond appropriately; show openness in information sharing and keep everyone informed; solid abstract reasoning skills together with a proven capacity to write documents for diverse audiences. • Teamwork: Ability to work with teams, demonstrate leadership, conflict management and consensus facilitation skills; ability to work in a multicultural and multi-ethnic environment, and to respect diversity; sensitivity to the main streaming of vulnerability; willingness and ability to work in difficult environments. Knowledge Management • The person must know the processes, procedures, and norms of UN-Habitat, to guarantee an adequate quality of the activities described above, following the standards of the organization. • The person will propose formats and procedures that allow the efficient implementation of the activities related to the project development. • The person must know the file of the Office, work with it, and ensure its proper maintenance, accessibility for all staff, and due updating. • The person will prepare databases related to the project running. • The person will make sure that all relevant technical information will be adequately shared with the correspondent staff. • The person will ensure that all produced material will be fit-for-purpose and delivered, in an organized way, for posterior consultation and use of the Agency. • The person will only share the information produced with the team agency, assuring the privacy of the content. Languages• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat, and Spanish is the working language of the Regional Office. • For the post advertised, fluency in Portuguese is required. Working knowledge in English is desirable. Additional InformationTravel details The consultant must be available to travel to the places related to the activities in the country, if requested by the Head of Brazil Office. Missions will be coordinated and financed by UN-Habitat, according to the United Nations travel rules and guidelines. Remuneration SB-3/1 – BRL: 4.891,53 (net amount) UNDP Brazil Salary Scale Notes Appointment against this post is on local basis and only nationals from Brazil or external candidates who hold a permanent visa in Brazil may apply. The extension of this contract is subject to availability of funds and/or performance. Any contract extension is not automatic. It is required for all the curricular information to be inserted in the system, which may take a few hours. Only complete applications in English will be considered. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. Due to the volume of applications received, receipt of applications cannot be acknowledged individually. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Applications should be submitted through INSPIRA and must include all documents required at the system, please be ready to include the following information at the “Candidate Profile” (CP) at Inspira: • Cover memo (maximum 1 page) • Educational Background (incl. dates) • Professional Experience (assignments, tasks, achievements, duration by years/ months) • Expertise and preferences regarding location of potential assignments • Other Experience and Expertise (e.g. Internships/ voluntary work, etc.)* * Please note that Internships, self-employment and part-time count as 50%. In addition to it, note experience not relevant to the position will not be considered. All applications should be submitted to: Inspira UN-HABITAT does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. If you have any questions concerning people or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of these offices and requesting the payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unon.org. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.