CHIEF OPERATIONS SUPPORT SECTION
18 hours ago
New York
Org. Setting and Reporting The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF) was established in 1949 by the United Nations General Assembly to provide retirement, death, disability, and related benefits for staff of the United Nations and other member organizations of the Fund. The Pension Fund pays benefits in 19 currencies to more than 70,000 beneficiaries who reside in 190 countries, and services more than 150,700 participants who work in the 25 member organizations of the Pension Fund. The Fund has offices in New York (United States) and Geneva (Switzerland) and two liaison offices in Nairobi (Kenya) and Bangkok (Thailand), respectively. The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund-Pension Administration (UNJSPF-PA) comprises about 250 staff from diverse countries and cultures, based across four prominent duty stations (New York, Geneva, Bangkok, and Nairobi). We are a career employer offering unique opportunities for growth within the United Nations system. We offer staff competitive benefits, including up to six weeks of annual leave per year, a defined benefit pension plan (not subject to variation of capital markets), parental leave, a comprehensive insurance plan, and flexible working arrangements subject to operational requirements. Our office is located in the heart of Manhattan, within walking distance from the Grand Central Station hub, in a state-of-the-art facility (the One Dag Hammarskjöld building). Visit for more details. This position is located in the Operations Support Section (OSS), within the Operations Service of the Pension Administration / United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund. The Operations Support Section (OSS) ensures the effective administration of participation and separation processes, document quality control, and operational training and systems support. It comprises three specialized units: Operations Coordination and Liaison Unit (OCLU): Manages participation data exchanges with member organizations, ensures data quality, maintains demographic and employment records, and coordinates follow-up on unsubmitted separation documents, and serves as the primary focal point for member organizations Records Management and Quality Control Unit (RMQCU): Oversees document management in New York and Geneva, performs quality control on separation documents, and administers the Certificate of Entitlement process. Operations Technical Support Unit (OTSU): Develops training and eLearning for Operations staff, supports system enhancements (IPAS), updates operational procedures, and serves as the audit focal point. The incumbent reports to the Chief of the Operations, and through him/her, to the Chief Executive of Pension administration. The position is located in New York. Responsibilities Under delegated authority and the general supervision of the Chief of Operations, the Chief of Operations Support Section is responsible for the following: 1. Plans, directs and oversees the activities of the Section which includes providing strategic leadership and operational oversight of the Section's work programme. Specifically, the incumbent: (a) leads and supervises the Section's work programme, establishing work plans, resource requirements, and performance indicators to ensure timely and high-quality outputs; (b) provides direct managerial supervision and substantive guidance to staff, including allocating assignments, monitoring performance, maintaining appropriate staffing levels, and overseeing staff development and evaluations through the Performance Appraisal System (ePAS), and (c) offers overall leadership across the Section's three work units, ensuring coordination, quality assurance, and continuous improvement, while preparing monthly performance reports for senior management. 2. Provides effective support to the Chief of Units in implementing key projects across the Operations Support Section, including the development of Business Intelligence dashboards, support for HR and financial pension interfaces, coordination of training and eLearning initiatives for staff and member organizations, and the advancement of innovation and modernization efforts such as Robotic Process Automation, Artificial Intelligence, and paperless processes. 3. Provides overarching management and coordination of all activities within the Operations Support Section, including conceptualizing and managing projects, advising senior management on policy and operational matters, and recommending strategic actions, analyzing emerging issues, coordinating with technical teams on IT systems, and providing substantive input to the Integrated Pension Administration System (IPAS) on participation and records management. 4. Oversees and supports participation-related activities across departments, ensuring consistency with Fund regulations and best practices. Provides hands-on assistance during peak periods and collaborates on training, procedures, and records management. 5. Builds and maintains relationships with UN offices and member organizations to improve enrollment and separation processes. Represents the Fund at interagency meetings, contributes to outreach activities, and supports the development of publications and website content. 6. Drafts analytical reports and provides authoritative advice on pension-related matters to governing bodies such as the Pension Board, ACBAQ, and the Fifth Committee. Offers strategic guidance to senior management on regulatory interpretation and emerging issues. 7. Performs other duties as may be required. Competencies Professionalism: Knowledge of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund of that of a similar international organization's Regulations, Rules and Pension Adjustment system. Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of pension and staff benefits administration, especially with regard to processing benefit entitlements and document management. Proven analytical skills. Ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues related to records management, pension / staff administration and entitlements. Ability to review and edit the work of others. 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. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects 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. Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors commitments. Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards. Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules. Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments. Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable. Managing Performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority. Makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member. Accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills. Monitors progress against milestones and deadlines. Regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff. Encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative. Actively support the development and career aspirations of staff. Appraises performance fairly. Technological Awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology. Understands applicability and limitations of technology to the work of the Office. Actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks. Shows willingness to learn new technology. Education Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in business administration or public administration, finance, management or related area is required. A first level university degree (in one of the above areas) in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Job - Specific Qualification Not available. Work Experience A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in the area of employee benefit administration, finance or human resources or related area is required. At least five (5) years of experience managing and leading large teams is required. At least five (5) years of experience in pension administration in the UN Common System or similar International Organization is desirable. Experience contributing to transformational initiatives or organizational change projects is desirable. Experience in using data analysis tools to measure and report on KPIs and SLAs is desirable. Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult for details). Required Languages LanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeakingEnglishUN Level IIIUN Level IIIUN Level IIIUN Level III Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview. Special Notice • The applicable human resources procedures are governed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Fund and the UN Secretariat. Any candidate from a member organization of the UNJSPF applying for this post is considered as an internal candidate provided, he/she has been appointed through the appointment and promotion procedures applicable in his/her respective organization. • Staff members are subject to the authority of the head of the entity and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. • The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. • For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 August 2024, are strongly encouraged to apply: Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu. 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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on "Manuals" in the "Help" tile 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.