Programme Assistant

Job Posting: 14/Feb/2025

Closure Date: 07/Mar/2025, 4:59:00 PM

Organizational Unit: DDCB

Job Type: Staff position

Type of Requisition: General Service

Grade Level: G-5

Primary Location: Italy-Rome

Duration: Fixed-term: 2 years with possibility of extension

Post Number: 2008032

CCOG Code: 2102b

**IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device**
- Staff in the General Service category are recruited locally from the Primary Location area, which is where the office is located._
- **FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture**:

- **Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply**:

- **Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values**:

- **FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination**:

- FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations._

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for _better production_, _better nutrition_, _a _better environment,_ and _a better life_, leaving no one behind.

**Organizational Setting**

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

The position is located in the _Programme and Budget Support Unit of the Office of DDG-Bechdol _at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

**Main Purpose**

The Programme Assistant is responsible for the coordination of specialized and complex processes and activities in support of the delivery of the division's work programme, planning and budgeting activities. He/she provides procedural guidance to managers and staff in the Division/Office/Centre.

**Supervision Received/Exercised**

The Programme Assistant works under the general supervision of the Senior Programme Support Officer and receives guidance from the Programme Associate. The incumbent operates independently and takes decisions on work priorities. Supervision received is focused on the quality of work outputs. He/she provides guidance and advice to other programme support staff.

**Working Relationships**

The Programme Assistant works closely with a wide range of colleagues in the Division/Office/Centre and with client Divisions/Offices/Centres, ensuring the consistency and quality of programme/project support services provided by the Division/Office/Centre.

**Key Functions/Results**
- Monitor both Regular Programme and Projects budgets ensuring that funds are properly allocated and reported upon and take corrective action if required; inform management of any budget issues that may require attention;
- Provide support to budget holders in the preparation of the Periodic Budgetary Reports (PBR), the biennial Programme of Work and Budget (PWB) and related work plans for the Division/Office/Centre;
- Prepare projects' budget revisions in consultation with budget holders;
- Respond to a variety of routine queries and provide clarifications on programme and project matters; inform management and team members of processes, procedures and timeframes to secure administrative services needed for programme/project execution; initiate correspondence to verify data, obtain additional information on transactions and budgetary matters;
- Coordinate the full array of administrative and financial actions related to staff management, non-staff support, travel, payments and procurement;
- Provide procedural guidance to Programme Assistants (G-4 level) and other staff in the work unit;
- Review and make recommendations to improve current programme/projects administration procedures and processes;
- Perform other functions as required.

**Impact of Work**

The incumbent's work impacts directly on the smooth operations and performance of the Division's/Office’s/Centre’s programme/project activities. He/she plays a lead role in the provision of programme support services for successful achievement of the organizational unit's mandate.

**CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWIN