Travel Assistant

Deadline for applications: 
Thursday, March 5, 2015 - 17:00
Reference number: 
15/GS/GSS/01

Contract type:

Duty station: 
Phnom Penh
Contract level: 
(GS-7)
Duration: 
The initial appointment is limited to one year only. Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds.
Recruiting Office: 
General Services Section, UNAKRT
Date issued: 
Friday, February 6, 2015

APPOINTMENT WILL BE MADE ON A LOCAL BASIS.
CANDIDATES UNDER SERIOUS CONSIDERATION WILL BE REQUESTED TO PASS WRITTEN TESTS AND TO TAKE AN INTERVIEW

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity.
Candidates will be expected to move periodically to new functions throughout their careers and are subject to the assignment by the Secretary-General to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations.

Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationships:

Under the applicable law, and in accordance with the terms of the Agreement between the United Nations and the Royal Government of Cambodia, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) has jurisdiction to try senior leaders and those who were most responsible for the crimes and serious violations of Cambodian penal law, international humanitarian law and custom, and international conventions recognized by Cambodia, during the period of the Khmer Rouge regime from 17 April 1975 to 6 January 1979.

SUMMARY OF DUTIES:

The United Nations Assistance to the Khmer Rouge Trials (UNAKRT) has been established as a technical assistance project that supports the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC). Under the terms of Agreement between the United Nations and the Royal Government of Cambodia, the Extraordinary Chambers will bring to trial senior leaders of Democratic Kampuchea and those who were most responsible for the crimes and serious violations of Cambodian penal law, international humanitarian law and custom, and international conventions recognized by Cambodia, that were committed during the period from 17 April 1975 to 6 January 1979. The position is located in the General Support Services (GSS), Department of Administration. Under the supervision of the General Support Services (GSS) Officer, the incumbent is responsible for the following duties,
• Liaises with airlines and travel agencies regarding their services, invoices and fares.
• Prepares travel authorizations by calculating air fare, daily subsistence allowance, terminal expenses and other appropriate entitlements ensuring that all travel authorizations are properly authorized in accordance with UN regulations, rules and procedures.
• Assures accuracy of entitlements and figures and that cost of transportation is the most economical to the organization and that budget allotment and object expenditure codes are valid.
• Monitors and reviews travel claims and supporting documentation for completeness, accuracy, reasonableness, validity, and conformity with UN Rules. Reviews the automated information management system and ensures that no claim is duplicated and that arrangements are made to collect charges for any deviation from the authorized itinerary and shipment allowance in excess of entitlements. Establishes reimbursable amount for each item and prepares a memorandum to the Finance Section requesting payment for the costs of transportation and excess baggage.
• Associates claims with travel authorizations or other obligation documents. Prepares amendments to existing obligation documents as and when required.
• Coordinates with the various Consulates and the host government Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the provision of visas for staff, consultants, interns etc.
• Supervises the use of UNAKRT vehicles.
• Monitors and reviews vehicle maintenance and repair of vehicles.
• Coordinates and liaises with customs office and forwarding agent for customs clearance of UN official shipments.
• Liaises with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Land Transport for the duty free import and registration of official vehicles and import of vehicles by staff members.
• Liaises with hotels to make arrangements on accommodation for staff and consultants.
• Provide any other duties that may be assigned from time to time.

Competencies: During the interview, candidates will be asked to demonstrate that they possess the following competencies:

• Professionalism: Knowledge of travel related processing requirements; plans, manages and resolves conflicting priorities. 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.

• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

• Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

• Technological Awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.

Qualifications:

• Education: High school or equivalent diploma plus relevant certification/diploma or other supplemental academic qualification or training in the field of business administration or public administration. Basic knowledge of computer skills, MS Office, Spreadsheet and Word is required.

• Work Experience: Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in administration, including travel rate construction, routing, and travel reimbursement, or related area. Consideration for up to 3 years equivalent work experience may be given for candidates in possession of a university degree.

• Language: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

ASSESSMENT METHOD:

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

HOW TO APPLY:

Candidates are
requested to complete the “Personal History Form” (P.11) available on the
UNAKRT Website at
http://www.unakrt-online.org/sites/default/files/p11.doc and submit their application
mentioning the vacancy announcement number and functional title in the subject
line of the email to the Human Resources Management Section, UNAKRT, to the
following email address
unakrt-jobs@un.org.

Applications from female candidates are particularly encouraged

Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted.

Due to the high volume of applications, no letters of acknowledgment will be sent. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

The United Nations shall place 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. (Charter of the United Nations-chapter 3, article 8).

This vacancy is open for Cambodian nationals only

THE UNITED NATIONS IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT

Remuneration: 
Starting from US$ 28,939 gross per annum depending on relevant background and experience.