Programme Assistant (2 posts)

OVERVIEW

Position Number: 1ITSC 0915TP & 1ITSC 0918TP

Grade: G-4

Parent Sector: Sciences Sector (SCS)

Duty Station: Trieste

Job Family: Administration

Contract Type: Fixed Term

Duration of contract: 2 years, renewable

Recruitment open to: Internal and external candidates

Application deadline (Midnight Paris Time): 09/12/2026

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

INSTRUCTIONS

Only candidates who are entitled to work in the E.U. may apply to this position.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Founded in 1964 by the late Nobel Laureate Abdus Salam and located in Trieste (Italy), the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) seeks to accomplish its mandate by providing scientists from developing countries with the continuing education and skills that they need to enjoy long and productive careers. ICTP has been a major force in stemming the scientific brain drain from the developing world. For more than 50 years, ICTP has been a driving force behind global efforts to advance scientific expertise in the developing world.

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Under the overall authority of the ICTP Director, the overall supervision of the Senior Coordinator (Programmes and Advancement) and the immediate supervision of the Technical Lead (Conference Services), the incumbent will provide administrative support to ICTP programmes throughout their organizational phases, facilitate the organization of scientific activities and ensure the accomplishment of administrative transactions of the Conference Support Services Unit. Essential responsibilities include:

KEY ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Visitor and Event Support:

• Provide day-to-day administrative assistance related to ICTP visitors and fellows; keep the ICTP visitor management tool up to date, review and ensure the quality of the data, and update and code financial/visit status, function and selection criteria.
• Provide guidance and training on the use of the visitor management tool to new or more junior staff.
• Assist in the organization and advertising of scientific events and programmes; book venues, register and in-process visitors, and provide support during their stay by making travel, visa and accommodation arrangements and answering their queries on procedural matters; ensure completion of out-processing requirements upon completion of the visit.
• Liaise with external parties and agencies on the external funding of relevant activities and provide administrative support to fund-raising initiatives.

Long Description

Administrative and Financial Support:

• Process and file incoming correspondence for the research and programmatic offices; prepare in final form a variety of outgoing correspondence and other administrative documentation; proofread outgoing documents for completeness, grammatical and typographical accuracy and compliance with guidelines.
• Provide procedural guidance on the preparation of documentation to scientific and administrative staff of the organizational unit.
• Generate financial and statistical reports; monitor the use of funds, ensuring compliance with approved amounts and guidelines; provide input into budget requests and financial updates by preparing cost estimates and calculations and cross-checking financial data.
• Prepare graphs, charts and tables for inclusion in scientific and administrative reports; prepare visual materials and format and finalize presentations.
• Make travel arrangements for staff; initiate procurement, HR, hospitality and other administrative requests, obtaining the necessary authorizations and funding allocations; monitor the approval of requests and follow up with relevant focal points on outstanding matters.
• Perform additional activities as required to ensure the success of the work team.

COMPETENCIES - Core (C) & Managerial (M)

• Communication (C)
• Accountability (C)
• Innovation (C)
• Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)
• Planning and organizing (C)
• Professionalism (C)
• Results focus (C)
• Teamwork (C)

Short Description

For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Completed secondary, technical and/or vocational school.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 3 years of experience in an administrative or programme assistance position, preferably in an international environment.

Long Description

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Ability to prioritize, plan and organize own work in order to respect deadlines.
• Ability to work efficiently under pressure, including during workload peaks, and to quickly switch attention between subjects.
• High level of reliability with a responsive and service-minded attitude and behaviour; tact and ability to work harmoniously with visitors and staff members of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds.
• Proficiency in standard office software, ERP systems and custom software for managing visits.
• Good knowledge of UNESCO rules and regulations relevant to the area of work; ability to provide procedural guidance to others.

LANGUAGES

• Excellent knowledge (spoken and written) of English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Experience in an international organisation or scientific/academic institution.
• Experience in the organization of scientific events, conferences or visitor programmes, including travel, visa and accommodation arrangements.

Long Description

LANGUAGES

• Working knowledge of Italian.
• Knowledge of other UN Official languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) is an asset.

BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS

UNESCO’s salaries consist of a basic salary and other benefits which may include if applicable: 30 days annual leave, family allowance, medical insurance, pension plan etc.

The approximate annual starting salary for this post is 39 780 EUR.

For full information on benefits and entitlements, please consult our Guide to Staff Benefits.

SELECTION AND HIRING PROCESS

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information, by the above deadline.

To apply, please visit the UNESCO Careers website. No modifications can be made to the application once submitted.

The process may include pre-recorded video interviews and/or written assessments, interviews with a Panel, as well as reference checks. In addition, candidates may be requested to provide additional information which may be pertinent to the position’s qualifications.

Please note that all candidates, whether selected or not, will be informed of the outcome of their application in due course.

Short-listed candidates may also be added to Talent Pools; subject to their consent (i.e. Data Privacy Statement).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of staff members shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity.
• UNESCO applies to a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment.
• UNESCO is committed to achieving and sustaining equitable and diverse geographical distribution, as well as gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Candidates from non- and under-represented Member States (last update here) are particularly welcome and strongly encouraged to apply.
• lndividuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.
• All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality.
• Geographical mobility is required for staff members appointed to UNESCO’s international posts.
• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. UNESCO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO. The list can be accessed through the link: https://www.whed.net
• The statutory retirement age at UNESCO is 65 years.
• UNESCO appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by the Organization, is required for International Professional positions.
• UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.