UN Volunteer Operations Associate

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women is an organization grounded in the vision of equality as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. Its mission is to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, empower women, and achieve equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security. UN Women leads and coordinates efforts within the United Nations System to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action globally. The organization provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors. UN Women has a presence in multiple countries and operates through various sub-offices to address the unique challenges faced by women and girls, particularly in crisis situations like Afghanistan, which is currently experiencing one of the world's largest humanitarian crises.

Job Overview:
The UN Volunteer Operations Associate will play a crucial role in supporting the operational functions of the UN Women Jalalabad Sub-Office. This position involves providing operational support to the team, ensuring adherence to operational procedures, and facilitating financial management, vendor payments, procurement processes, and logistical arrangements for field missions. The incumbent will report directly to the head of the sub-office and will be responsible for ensuring that the program team receives timely support to implement planned activities. The role requires close collaboration with the UN Women Programme and Operations teams in Kabul, as well as engagement with local authorities and civil society partners. The Operations Associate will be expected to analyze results achieved during implementation and support the application of systems and procedures to enhance operational efficiency.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The specific duties and responsibilities of the UN Volunteer Operations Associate include:

• Providing administrative support in the preparation of programme work plans, budgets, and proposals related to programme implementation.
• Participating in review meetings and assisting in assessing the managerial and operational capacities of implementing partners in collaboration with the programme and technical team.
• Offering technical support and guidance to colleagues on operational issues.
• Ensuring a continuous flow of information between the Sub-Office and the Country Office as needed.
• Supporting the monitoring and documentation of petty cash expenditures and preparing relevant reports.
• Coordinating pre-audit preparations for the Sub-Office and ensuring that programmes/projects are audit-ready.
• Undertaking logistical, administrative, and financial arrangements for meetings, workshops, events, and missions.
• Providing administrative and logistical support in planning and preparing for road missions across the region, including coordination with other agencies regarding transportation and accommodation.
• Making travel arrangements for the Programme Team, including processing travel requisitions and claims. 1
• Preparing public information materials and briefing packets. 1
• Contributing to the preparation of procurement plans and monitoring their implementation. 1
• Generating procurement-related reports and drafting responses to inquiries. 1
• Reviewing procurement requests and initiating procurement procedures for office and project equipment, supplies, and services. 1
• Monitoring and maintaining office stationery supplies and keeping a log of distribution. 1
• Coordinating asset management in the office and preparing periodic inventory reports. 1
• Providing administrative support for organizing training sessions for operations/projects staff on administrative matters. 1
• Co-facilitating training or consultation meetings as required. 1
• Participating in monitoring visits and missions and supporting documentation of such visits/missions. 1
• Supporting communication with partners, stakeholders, and beneficiaries as required. 2
• Compiling lessons learned and best practices in administration, procurement, and human resources.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a strong set of qualifications, including:

• A solid understanding of operational, financial, and logistical processes within an organization.
• Proficiency in administrative support functions, including budgeting, planning, and procurement.
• Strong analytical skills to assess operational capacities and results.
• Excellent communication skills to facilitate collaboration with various stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively in a team and independently, demonstrating initiative and problem-solving skills.
• Familiarity with UN Women’s mission and objectives, particularly in relation to gender equality and women's empowerment.

Educational Background:
Candidates for the UN Volunteer Operations Associate position should possess a relevant educational background, typically including a degree in business administration, finance, social sciences, or a related field. Advanced degrees or specialized training in operational management or project management may be advantageous.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have a minimum of 1-2 years of relevant experience in operational support, administrative functions, or project management. Experience working in a humanitarian or development context, particularly in relation to gender equality and women's rights, is highly desirable. Familiarity with UN systems and procedures would be an asset.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, and proficiency in local languages such as Dari or Pashto is highly desirable. Knowledge of additional languages may be considered an advantage, particularly in enhancing communication with local stakeholders and partners.

Additional Notes:
This position is a local UN Volunteer role, meaning that the incumbent must be a resident of Afghanistan and familiar with the local culture and traditional norms. The role is expected to be full-time, and the incumbent must abide by all legal norms applicable in the country. The position may involve challenges due to the complex humanitarian context in Afghanistan, and the incumbent should be prepared to navigate these challenges while providing essential support to the UN Women team.