Org. Setting and Reporting
This internship is located in the Office of the Director (OD) in the Division for Special Activities (DSA) in the Department of Operational Support (DOS) at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
DOS was established to provide operational advisory services to operating entities across the Secretariat, including other departments, offices-away-from headquarters, field missions, and regional commissions.
DSA oversees a range of specialized or cross-cutting operational capacities. A large part of its responsibilities is to support start-up, surge, transition and liquidation requirements and to exercise authority on behalf of entities to which authority has not been granted owing to a lack of capacity or from which authority has been temporarily withdrawn.
The OD/DSA helps coordinate all of Division's activities and supports priority projects as needed, including strategy, analytics as well as communication and coordination.
The Intern reports to the Administrative Officer.
This internship is for an initial period of two months and may be extended up to six months depending on the needs of the Division.
The internship is UNPAID and full-time.
Responsibilities
Our interns work as members of our team in the Office of the Director/DSA, pursue projects that are designed to make a significant difference in DOS, and have opportunities to learn about the United Nations overall. We offer internship opportunities in two areas:
AREA 1: STRATEGIC SUPPORT
•Support strategic analysis to improve operational support provision across the UN Secretariat
•Support strategic peacekeeping reviews, including through analytics
•Support mission support planning activities
•Support priority projects such as business continuity through COVID-19
•Support activities related to operational partnerships
This track resembles consulting-like work, and draws on conceptualization, PowerPoint and project management skills.
AREA 2: ANALYTICS
• Help analyse resource and cost drivers in missions
• Support strategic peacekeeping reviews through analytics
• Support the teams in preparing data, data models, and surveys
• Develop dashboards and visualizations for senior managers, and provide user support
• Support data mining, optimization, metrics development, and predictive analytics
This track focuses on working with data and data models, as well as data visualization.
Competencies
Professionalism
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
It can be an advantage if you have interests, skills and knowledge the areas below:
AREA 1 : STRATEGIC SUPPORT
• Knowledge in strategy development and management
• Knowledge of project management techniques and approaches
• Knowledge of key business tools (e.g. Excel, PowerPoint)
• Familiarity in with consulting-like projects
AREA 2: ANALYTICS
• Knowledge in analytics, information management, visualization, and performance optimization
• Knowledge of data management techniques, quantitative analysis and methods
• Knowledge of key business tools (e.g. Excel, PowerPivot, PowerPoint)
• Knowledge of analytics tools (e.g. Microsoft SQL, PowerBI, SAP Business Objects, Tableau, Qlik)
• Knowledge in data visualization or survey design
Other competencies:
Planning and 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
Technological Awareness
• Actively seeks to apply emerging technology across tasks
• Keeps abreast of available technology
• Understands applicability and opportunities of technology for the organization
Education
To qualify for an internship with the United Nations Internship Programme, the following
conditions must be met:
1.Applicants at the time of application must meet one of the following requirements:
(a) Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree
or equivalent, or higher); or,
(b) Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree
programme (minimum bachelor's level or equivalent)
2.The field of study must be closely related to the type of internship you are applying for.
3. Proficient in standard word processing and software applications such as Microsoft Word,
Excel and PowerPoint or similar; Be proficient in standard office automation equipment,
scanner, printer, etc.).
4.Have demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal
commitment to the ideals of the United Nations Charter.
5.Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural
backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of
differing opinions and views.
Work Experience
Applicants to the United Nations Internship Programme are not required to have professional work experience. However, a field of study that is closely related to the type of internship that you are applying for is required.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship. Knowledge of an additional UN language is an asset. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat.
Assessment
Potential candidates may be contacted by the hiring manager directly for further consideration.
Special Notice
We recruit interns throughout the year for assignments of at least 2 months. In your cover note, please indicate when you would like to start your internship. Please note that start and end dates are flexible.
A completed online application (Cover Note and Personal History Profile) is required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
The Cover Note must also include:
•Title of degree you are currently pursuing.
•Graduation Date (When will you be/are graduating/have graduated from the programme?)
•List the IT skills and programmes that you are proficient in
•List your top three areas of interest and please explain how your interests, skills and knowledge match either the strategic support or the analytics track.
•Explain why you are the best candidate for this specific internship • Explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme
In your online Personal History Profile, be sure to include all past work experiences, IT skills, and three references.
Due to the high volume of applications received, we can ONLY contact successful candidates.
United Nations Considerations
According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.
Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.
The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.
Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.
