DUTY STATION
Geneva, Switzerland
COMMENCEMENT OF DUTY
1 September 2025
or as soon as possible thereafter NATURE OF APPOINTMENT
Fixed-term - 1 year
Organizational Unit
Group on Earth Observations Secretariat WMO is committed to achieving diversity and a balanced workforce. Applications are welcome from qualified women and men, including those with disabilities. The statutory retirement age after 1 January 2014 is 65. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Group on Earth Observations (GEO) is an intergovernmental partnership focused on advancing access to Earth intelligence for informed decision-making.
As GEO implements its Post-2025 Strategy and responds to funding challenges, strategic engagement with its Member States is critical to securing financial and technical support for its Trust Fund and operations. At the same time, effective coordination and support to the Secretariat Director's engagements and responsibilities require dedicated executive assistance.
This position is being established to provide direct support to the Chief of Member Services in implementing Member engagement and resource mobilization strategies, and to provide scheduling and executive coordination support to the Secretariat Director.
Under the supervision of the Chief of Member Services and the Secretariat Director, the incumbent will perform the following tasks:
SUPPORT TO MEMBER ENGAGEMENT AND RESOURCE MOBILIZATION (Approx. 70%)
- Conduct research on Member State profiles, priorities, and past engagement with GEO to inform tailored outreach strategies.
- Prepare tailored briefing notes, talking points, and correspondence (letters/emails) to GEO Member States, emphasizing financial and in-kind contributions.
- Maintain a structured and regularly updated tracking system for all outreach and follow-up interactions with Member States.
- Support meetings with Member States: coordinate scheduling, prepare background materials, record key outcomes, and track follow-up actions.
- Liaise with the Operations Team to ensure contributions are recorded, acknowledged, and communicated back to Members.
- Help identify new opportunities for secondments, technical assistance, or visibility from Members who are not able to contribute financially.
EXECUTIVE SUPPORT TO THE DIRECTOR (Approx. 30%)
- Manage the Director's calendar and support scheduling of internal and external meetings.
- Ensure timely preparation of all background materials and briefing notes for the Director's engagements, coordinating with relevant team members.
- Draft high-level correspondence, memos, and summaries on behalf of the Director.
- Track and follow up on key actions arising from the Director's meetings with partners and Members.
OTHER RELATED TASKS
- Perform other related duties as assigned by the supervisor, contributing to the overall success of the Secretariat.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Master's degree in business or public administration, social or political sciences, economics, law, international cooperation or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience
A minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in intergovernmental organisations, diplomacy, or public affairs. Experience supporting executive-level leadership, particularly with calendar and meeting coordination. Familiarity with international development or science-policy processes is an asset.
Other requirements
- Excellent organizational and time management skills, with strong attention to detail.
- Strong writing and editing skills, with a proven ability to produce high-quality written materials, including official correspondence, memos, reports, and other policy documents.
- Proven proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage professionally and diplomatically while handling sensitive matters with discretion and confidentiality.
- Proactive approach to problem-solving and sound judgment in setting priorities.
- Collaborative and team-oriented, with a strong commitment to shared goals and mutual support.
- Demonstrated resourcefulness and ability to plan, organize, and manage multiple workloads effectively, even under pressure and in dynamic work environments.
- Ability to work in a multicultural setting and to foster diversity and team spirit.
Languages
Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of another UN language is an asset. Note: The working language of the GEO Secretariat is English.
(Note: The official languages of the Organization are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.) SALARY AND ALLOWANCES
Annual net base salary on initial appointment is: US$ 55163
Annual post adjustment on initial salary is: US$ 47220 (in addition to the net base salary) Additional Information:
Applications should be made online through the WMO e-recruitment system at https://erecruit.wmo.int/public/.
Do not send your application via multiple routes. Only applicants in whom GEO has a further interest will be contacted.
Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit a written test and/or an interview. Date of issue of vacancy notice: 1 July 2025