Org. Setting and ReportingThis position is located in the Committee, Policy and Legal Affairs Section (CPLA), United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Chief, CPLA and under the overall guidance of the Director of UNOOSA. The main responsibilities carried out by UNOOSA are: to serve as the secretariat to the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and its subsidiary bodies, as executive secretariat to the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems and its Providers’ Forum and as the secretariat to the Space Mission Planning Advisory Group; to implement the United Nations Programme on Space Applications and the Programme on the United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response; to maintain the Register of Objects Launched into Outer Space; and to discharge the responsibilities of the Secretary-General under the United Nations Treaties and Principles on Outer Space and related resolutions. For more information on UNOOSA, please visit https://www.unoosa.org ResponsibilitiesThe Project Assistant will administratively support the Committee, Policy and Legal Affairs Section (CPLA) in the implementation of capacity-building activities in space law and policy, in particular, the Global Space Law Project, which provides legal assistance to emerging space faring nations to develop national space law and which is funded exclusively by extrabudgetary sources. The Project Assistant will support the project by providing administrative assistance in fund management, carrying out outreach activities. The Project Assistant will also provide support in implementing the project’s activities by assisting with the organization and delivery of technical advisory missions. Within limits of assigned authority, the specific responsibilities assigned to this position include: • Assist in the coordination of project planning and a wide range of preparation work for the Global Space Law Project, including budgeting; monitor status of project proposals and receipt of relevant documentation for review and approval. • Assist in drafting concept notes, donor reports, questionnaires, and other official documents; compile, summarize, and present basic information/data on the project and related topics or issues. • Monitor the status of expenditures and prepare draft cost plans/budgets, ensuring the completeness and compliance with relevant rules and procedures prior to submission for final approval and signature; verify availability of funds; identify inconsistencies; distribute project documents to relevant parties upon approval; maintain good working relationships with various stakeholders; ensure necessary approval and entry in a computerized budget system such as the in-house SAP system, Umoja; update and prepare background documents for submissions by UNOOSA on budgetary and administrative questions. • Serve as focal point for administrative coordination of project implementation activities, involving extensive liaison with diverse organizational units to initiate requests, obtain necessary clearances, process and follow-up on administrative actions, such as recruitment of consultants, travel arrangements for senior staff and for experts and other external participants, as well as payments and disbursement of funds. • Provide secretarial, administrative and logistics support, as required, to meetings, workshops, conferences, special events and other activities of UNOOSA; assist in preparing notes and minutes of meetings as requested/assigned. • Compile, summarize and enter data on project planning and delivery, identify shortfalls in delivery, budget overruns, etc., and bring to the attention of management. • Provide general office assistance; respond to information requests and inquiries; review, log and route incoming correspondences, set up and maintain files/records pertaining to the Project; organize meetings; handle routine administrative tasks. • Respond to complex information requests and inquiries on the project and refer inquiries to appropriate personnel for handling as necessary. • Maintain websites and databases of the Project by scanning, converting and posting a variety of documents onto the site. • Assist in the preparation and delivery of presentation materials using appropriate technology/software. • Assist in backstopping, as may be necessary, other General Service colleagues during periods of absences or leave. • Assist with the collection and analysis of data as well as preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision making. • Assist with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures. • Support the Secretariat team in servicing meetings of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and its subsidiary bodies, as necessary. • Perform other work-related duties as assigned. Competencies• Professionalism: Knowledge of internal policies, processes and procedures generally and in particular those related to programme/project administration, implementation and evaluation, technical cooperation, programming and budgeting. Knowledge of or familiarity with issues related to space law and policy. Understanding of the functions and organization of the work unit and of the organizational structure and respective roles of related units. Ability to work well with figures, undertake basic research and gather information from standard sources. Demonstrated ability to apply good judgment in the context of assignments given. Ability to perform analysis, modelling and interpretation of data in support of decision-making. 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. • Creativity: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks “outside the box”; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches. • 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. EducationHigh school diploma or equivalent. Job - Specific QualificationNot available. Work ExperienceA minimum of five (5) years of work experience in programme or project administration, technical cooperation or related area is required. The minimum number of years of relevant experience is reduced to three (3) for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher. Work experience in using office software packages (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) is required. Work experience in an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, such as Umoja, is required. Work experience in drafting concept notes for beneficiaries of capacity building or training projects and donor reports is required. Work experience in maintaining databases and creating log-in credentials for e-learning courses is desirable. Experience in liaising with other Secretariat offices or other UN entities are desirable. Experience in communicating with donors and recipients of United Nations programmes/projects is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. There are no additional desirable languages specified. 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).