Org. Setting and ReportingThe 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 www.unjspf.org for more details. This position is located within the Client Services Service (CSS) of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund - Pension Administration (UNJSPF-PA). The incumbent reports to the Chief of CSS through the Deputy Chief of CSS. The goal of CSS is to provide all participants, retirees and other beneficiaries of the Fund with responses to their inquiries in an accurate, timely and professional manner, with an aim of enabling such individuals to make informed financial decisions concerning their entitlements from the Fund. The post is located in New York. ResponsibilitiesWithin delegated authority, the Benefits Officer will be responsible for the following duties: (1) Assists in the management of the Section by: a. Planning, organizing and overseeing the work and activities of the Section, including distribution of work, the assignment of short- and long-term priorities and the allocation of staff to meet the priorities; b. Establishing quality and quantity work standards and ensuring they are met; c. Administering and managing participation, separation and post-retirement concerns of the staff of UNJSPF member organizations in the respective area of responsibility, including the handling of queries relating to participation, separation, retirement and post-retirement matters of such staff and records management; d. Ensuring consistent and uniform application and interpretation of the Fund's Regulations, Rules and Pension Adjustment System; e. Ensuring that correct, accurate and prompt advice is given to UNJSPF clients on the application, interpretation and benefit entitlements under UNJSPF Regulations, Rules and Pension Adjustment System; f. Providing staff, participants and beneficiaries as well as organizations with guidance and advice with respect to the financial implications of choices to be made under the UNJSPF Regulations and in other complicated cases. g. Ensuring clear, accurate and efficient records management; h. Recommending to the Chief of Section solutions to problems which require his/her attention; i. Performing all administrative supervisory functions for the Work Unit, including performance appraisals of the Section's staff under their supervision; j. Assisting in the management of UNJSPF Emergency Fund cases and the preparation of the relevant reports. (2) Provides user input to design of new computer subsystems, ensuring that full account is taken of the relevant provisions of the Regulations, Rules, Pension Adjustment System and administrative procedures of the Fund. This includes: a. Providing input to the design of specifications of subsystems; b. Testing the various subsystems and providing corrective information when required; c. Ensuring that subsystems can be used in an efficient way to produce accurate and consistent results. (3) Conducts information sessions and briefings on pension matters to member organizations, participants and beneficiaries, including: a. The formulation of programs and dissemination of related material; b. Preparing and updating relevant publications; c. Updating relevant information on the UNJSPF's website. d. Planning and delivering the relevant services in the area on pension-related issues to the local participants, retirees and other beneficiaries in close cooperation with the other CSS teams; e. Representing the Fund's interests in the region; promoting awareness of the Fund and its Regulations, Rules and Pension Adjustment System among participants and focal points in HR and Finance in local member organizations and among retirees and beneficiaries, as well as Retiree Associations; f. Serving as focal point and first point of contact for all pension matters in the duty station and provide personal assistance to all the Fund's clients in the region, including replying to the individual enquiries by phone, email, mail or in person, advising on the conditions of participation and related pension entitlements, documentation requirements for benefit implementation, including post-retirement advice on all pension-related matters; (4) Assists in the development, review and issuance of procedures and training programs for the Section, HR community and/or Pension Focal in local offices serviced by the Fund. This includes: a. Ensuring that staff become proficient in all areas of work in their Section; b. training staff in correct application of the computer systems; c. Reviewing and evaluating various aspects of the current work, recommending to the Chief of Section changes to policies and procedures, and implementing changes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness; d. Preparing the relevant documents to ensure efficiency, accuracy and consistency of the work produced by the Work Unit. e. Contributing to the ongoing review of service delivery processes and procedures to recommend changes, when required, to the pension focal points in HR, Payroll and Finance in the local offices serviced by the Fund; f. Drafting performance reports, recommendations, statistics, cost analysis, trends and periodic reports to the Chief of Section and senior management of the Fund relating to their needs and regional activities. CompetenciesProfessionalism: Knowledge of employee benefit entitlements. Knowledge of the Regulations and Rules of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund or of those of a similar international organization. Ability to apply rules and regulations; ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues related to pension administration and entitlements; ability to review and edit the work of others. Demonstrated knowledge of and familiarity with computer and transaction processing systems. Demonstrated research, analytical and evaluative skills. Shows pride in work and in achievements; 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 equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; Uses time efficiently. Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients ” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client EducationAdvanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in business or public administration, finance, human resources management, law or other related area is required. A first-level university degree in any of these fields, in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Job - Specific QualificationNot available. Work ExperienceA minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in business or public administration, finance, human resources management, law or related field is required. At least two (2) years of experience in the area of employee benefit schemes is desirable. At least three (3) years of experience in client services is desirable. Experience in guiding, training and overseeing the work of junior staff members is desirable. At least five(5) years of experience in pension management in the United Nations or a similar international organization is desirable. Two (2) years 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. French is desirable. 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).