ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

Org. Setting and ReportingThe United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. UN-Habitat is the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system. UN-Habitat works with partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities. UN-Habitat promotes urbanization as a positive transformative force for people and communities, reducing inequality, discrimination and poverty. The UN-Habitat Afghanistan country office is part of the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP). The position is located in Kabul, Afghanistan. Learning from the experience in the last 30 years and recognizing the realities of the current context in the country, UN-Habitat in Afghanistan designs and implements projects in settlements of all sizes, putting the needs of people first, targeting the most vulnerable and meeting local needs by focusing on area-based and community-driven outputs. The portfolio currently covers projects ranging from humanitarian responses to supporting recovery and meeting basic human needs. UN-Habitat collaborates closely with the UN country team as well as with technical and financial partners in Afghanistan, in alignment with the UN Strategic Framework for Afghanistan (UNSFA) and the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plans (HNRP). In alignment with those frameworks and the new UN-Habitat global strategic plan (2026-2029), UN-Habitat Afghanistan has recently published its strategic priorities for 2026-2027 for the office. Afghanistan is experiencing a continuous humanitarian crisis, with over half a million people in the need of humanitarian assistance. Many people are displaced due to climate change, internal displacement or massive returns from neighbouring countries, and many have sought refuge in the relative safety of cities, which are growing rapidly. The number of people living in unplanned, underserviced and informal settlements, including in risk prone areas, is increasing and living conditions as well as access to services is inadequate. The unfolding crisis in Afghan cities and settlements of all sizes, which is accelerated by climate change impacts and natural disasters, is occurring in a context of underlying vulnerabilities, including infrastructure deficits, insecure livelihoods and pervasive tenure insecurity. Most at risk are displaced people in informal settlements, with women, disabled and ethnic minorities being particularly vulnerable. UN-Habitat applies a participatory, community-driven and area-based approach, using participatory spatial planning and action planning processes to enable communities to identify and implement priority service and infrastructure investments to support their socioeconomic recovery processes and creating an enabling environment for durable solutions and sustainable infrastructures. UN-Habitat's community-centered \"People's Process\" is a proven and effective approach to reduce vulnerability at scale in the Afghan context. UN-Habitat builds upon its long tradition of partnering with communities in informal settlements to create sustainable and safe settlements, improve living conditions and adequate livelihood opportunities to those most in need. The position covers sub-functional specialities such as human resource administration, planning, programming/budgeting, and implementing, monitoring and evaluation of business functions. The Associate Administrative Officer reports to the Country Programme Manager, UN-Habitat Afghanistan, as the direct supervisor, and to the Senior Human Settlements Officer responsible for backstopping operations in Afghanistan at ROAP. Within delegated authority, the Associate Administrative Officer will be responsible for the following duties: ResponsibilitiesHuman Resource Management; • Undertakes actions related to the administration of the unit's human resource activities, e.g., recruitment, placement, promotion, performance appraisal, job classification reviews, separation of staff members, training etc., ensuring consistency in the application of UN rules and procedures. Oversee day-to-day HR processes. • Provides information regarding conditions of service, duties and responsibilities, and privileges and entitlements under the Staff Rules and Regulations. • Coordinate with UNOPS and third-party contractors on staff issues and ensure accurate and timely communication and ensure compliance with rules/regulations. • Provides information on unit's staffing needs for inclusion in department's staffing table. Budget and Finance; • Assists in developing the unit's work program and budget; analyses inputs and formulates resource allocations by work program, or business processes. • Ensure compliance with relevant donor agreements and UN policies. • Monitors budget/work program with respect to the Afghanistan office's budget, trust funds and grants, on a regular basis, and reallocates resources as necessary, if necessary, address budget management deficiencies. • Supports the implementation of procedures and systems for implementing the appropriate financial database and contribute in responding in audit processes. • Contributes to the development of budgetary guidelines for own unit. General Administration; • Supervises support staff as required. • Ensure compliance with corporate information management and improve business processes for the office. • Contributes to the collection and analysis of data as well as identification of trends or patterns and provides draft insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. • Documents requirements and background information used for data analysis. • Performs other related administrative duties, as required (e.g., operational travel programme, monitoring accounts, procurement planning and processes and payment to vendors and individual contractors for services, physical space planning, lease agreements and the identification of office technology needs and maintenance of equipment, software and systems). CompetenciesPROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of administrative, budgetary, financial and human resources policies and procedures. Ability to apply various United Nations administrative rules and regulations in work situations. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis. Ability to identify issues, formulate opinions, make conclusions and recommendations. Able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas 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. EducationAdvanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in business or public administration, finance, accounting, law or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Proven experience of data collection and data analysis skills for identification of trends and evidence-based decision making is desirable. Job - Specific QualificationNot available. Work ExperienceA minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in administration, human resources, budget and finance or related area is required. Experience working with relevant UN Departments or similar organizations, Agencies and Funds and/or partners in the area of fund or programme management, including in interagency teams such as Operations Management Team (OMT) is required. Experience in formulating UN or similar international organization work programmes and budget planning is required. Experience in a multicultural environment and within a UN or similar organizations is required. Experience and expertise in responding to audit questions and implement recommendations is desirable. One (1) year or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. Either Dari or Pashto is required. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).