ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

Organizational Context

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority. CITES is an international agreement to protect endangered species from trade threats. This role is within the CITES Secretariat in Geneva, reporting directly to the Secretary General, CITES.

Job Purpose

This role supports the CITES Secretariat in Geneva, reporting to the Secretary General. The primary purpose is to manage and advise on administrative, budgetary, financial, and human resources matters. This includes formulating budgets, planning and costing programmes and projects, providing financial policy advice, managing trust funds and donor funding, ensuring efficient financial services and internal controls, and overseeing HR and general services. The role also involves team leadership, capacity development, and contributing to business continuity and risk management to ensure smooth operations and compliance with UN standards.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include leading budget formulation and governance support, advising on financial needs, and presenting reports to governing bodies. The role involves programme and project planning, costing, and ensuring alignment with UN rules. Providing financial policy advice to senior leadership on UN financial regulations and IPSAS-compliant practices is crucial. The incumbent will coordinate administrative services, manage trust funds and donor funding, oversee project closure, and facilitate audits. Ensuring efficient financial services, maintaining internal controls, and managing transactions within the ERP system (Umoja) are essential. The role also encompasses coordinating and supervising HR services, overseeing procurement, ensuring compliance with UN regulations, and contributing to business continuity and risk management. Additionally, the role involves supervising and mentoring staff, identifying training needs, and delivering training on UN policies and tools.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressive experience in administration, financial management, or accounting is required. This includes at least five years in managing extra-budgetary resources, cost plans, financial reporting, and ERP systems. Experience in budget formulation, advising senior management, and supervising staff is also required. Experience with multilateral environmental agreements, donor-funded projects, internal controls, risk management, and data analytics is desirable.

Skills

Professionalism, Planning and Organizing, Teamwork, Accountability, knowledge of administrative, budgetary, financial, and HR policies and procedures, UN financial regulations and rules, intergovernmental processes, financial management of trust funds, data analysis and interpretation, client service, compliance, and continuous improvement.

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