Posting Title: TRAVEL OFFICER, FS6 (Temporary Job Opening)
Job Code Title: TRAVEL OFFICER
Department/Office: Regional Service Centre at Entebbe
Duty Station: ENTEBBE
Posting Period: 09 February 2021 – 15 February 2021
You may also like
- Government vacancies & Recruitment ( December 2024) : Open Jobs/Application
- UN Recruitment ( December 2024) : 671 Open Jobs/Online application
- WFP recruitment ( December 2024) : Open Jobs/Online application
Job Opening Number: 21-Administration-RSCE-149638-J-Entebbe (M)
Staffing Exercise N/A
Org. Setting and Reporting
The Department of Operational Support (DOS) was established to provide end-to-end operational support, advisory services and other solutions to operating entities across the Secretariat, including departments, offices away from headquarters, peace operations, and regional commissions.
The Regional Service Centre in Entebbe, Uganda (RSCE), was established in July 2010, following the adoption of General Assembly resolution 64/269. The Centre provides efficient, client-oriented and scalable services with the goal of moving transactional, non-location-dependent administrative functions to the Centre from its client entities. This includes transactional elements of human resources, finance, multimodal movement and control, personnel and cargo transport and information and communications technology (ICT) support. In addition to these services, the Office of the Chief RSCE and support offices through the Deputy Chief RSCE provides overall guidance on the operations of the RSCE including strategic planning, communication, budgeting, human resources management, property management, quality assurance and business intelligence, conference services, record keeping and archive management, and audit response and risk management.
For more information, please visit https://rsce.unmissions.org.
This position is located in the Regional Service Center, Entebbe (RSCE). The Travel Officer will report to the Service Line Manager.
Responsibilities
The Travel Officer will be responsible for the performance of the following duties:
• Supervise the day to day functions of the Travel Unit and coordinate all travel related matters within Service Line.
• Supervise a team of Travel Assistants and Finance assistants in the unit.
• Oversee the administration of all official Mission and entitlement travel requests and processing of shipment requests.
• Oversee and review the work of Travel Assistants for accuracy and correct application of the relevant rules and regulations.
• Review travel claims and supporting documentation for completeness, accuracy, validity and conformity with United Nations rules prior to approval and certification.
• Coordinate with the Finance Section, regarding reimbursement of travel, which took place after the financial period was completed.
• Closely liaise with Certifying Officers (TSA), Travel Shipment Processors (TPO), and Travel Claim Processors (TCP).
• Prepare and coordinate amendments to existing obligations as and when required, ensuring validity of budget allotment and cost centers assigned.
• Compile data and information and prepare travel related reports for various clients groups on regular basis.
• Coordinate with the appropriate office for clarification or additional information and meet with substantive sections or from troop contributing countries in order to discuss the details of
particular claims and to explain the nature of problems, delays and backlogs when occurred;
• Ensure that the established Invitation to Bid (ITB) system is complied with and that airline tickets are purchased at the most competitive market prices.
• Advice substantive sections/offices, and other relevant staff of arrival information;
• Provide guidance to Travel Assistants on service quality matters.
• Advise on calculation of airfare, excess baggage entitlements, terminal expenses, daily subsistence allowance for staff and dependents traveling on missions, etc.
• Advise Travel Assistants on the most direct and economical routes and plan routings and itineraries accordingly.
• Establishing reimbursable amount for each travel and processing of invoices for payment by Finance Section when required.
•Produce reports, analyze and prepare evaluation of current claims procedures and policies.
• Verify that services provided by the airline authorities and shipping agents are rendered satisfactory and in accordance with the contract before processing invoices for payment. Review and ensure that no claim is duplicated.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
Competencies
Professionalism:
Thorough knowledge of travel related processing requirements; good understanding of SAP Travel modules; ability to apply sound judgment in the context of assignments given; ability to analyze data, plan, manage and resolve conflicting priorities. Shows pride in work and in achievements; 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. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of peace operations.
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
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.
Education
High school diploma or equivalent. Technical training in of business administration or travel related matters is desirable.
Work Experience
At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in the field of administration, finance or travel related matters preferably including 2 years experience in a UN organization is required.
The minimum years of required experience is reduced to five years for candidates who possess a first level or advanced University degree is required.
Experience in a United Nations Shared Service operation is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an informal assessment exercise and/or interview.
Special Notice
•This position is temporarily available until 30 June 2021.
•If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.
•While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.
•Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.
•Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.
•Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as “retirement.” Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.
•The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.
United Nations Considerations
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.
The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side 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.
Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.
No Fee
THE 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.