ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

Organizational Context

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority, setting the environmental agenda and promoting sustainable development within the UN system. The Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ROLAC) in Panama City supports UNEP's programs through regional cooperation. This Administrative Officer role is situated within ROLAC, reporting directly to the Regional Director.

Job Purpose

The Administrative Officer in UNEP's Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ROLAC) plays a crucial role in ensuring efficient and compliant operations. This position supports the Regional Director and senior management by overseeing human resource activities, including recruitment, performance management, and staff development, ensuring adherence to UN Staff Rules and policies. The role also involves managing budgets and finances, monitoring allocations, and implementing sound financial controls. Additionally, the officer is responsible for general administration, including procurement, travel, and IT support, and supervises administrative staff. A key aspect is providing strategic and operational support to the Americas Administrative Hub, ensuring efficiency, compliance, and coordination with the New York Office, while also contributing to data-driven planning and decision-making.

Responsibilities

Manage all aspects of Human Resource activities, including recruitment, placement, promotions, performance appraisals, vacancies, job classification, separations, and training, ensuring full compliance with UN Staff Rules and policies. Provide expert advice to senior management on HR matters, including conditions of service, entitlements, and risk management. Oversee HR budget preparation and implementation, staffing table control, and vacancy management. Promote a culture of integrity, accountability, diversity, and inclusion. Oversee budget and finance functions, including monitoring allocations, reporting, and maintaining sound financial management systems. Implement and monitor general administrative services, such as procurement, travel, communications, IT, and utilities. Supervise and mentor administrative and finance staff, fostering high performance and knowledge sharing. Ensure UNEP interests are represented in common system activities related to services, premises, and privileges. Provide strategic and operational administrative, HR, procurement, budget, and financial services to the Americas Administrative Hub, ensuring efficiency and compliance. Analyze data to identify trends and support decision-making through reporting and visualization.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in administration, finance, accounting, or human resources management is required. International experience with the UN or a comparable organization is mandatory. Experience with an ERP system (e.g., SAP) is required. Desirable experience includes complex international organizational issues, UN programme/project management, and data analytics.

Skills

Professionalism, Planning and Organizing, Client Orientation, knowledge of administrative, budgetary, financial and human resources policies, ability to analyze and interpret data, ability to identify issues and formulate recommendations, ability to manage time and resources effectively, ability to maintain productive partnerships.

Explore related opportunities