Job Opening

This internship is within the Strategic Solutions Section, Policy, Strategy and Governance Division, Office of Information and Communication Technology (OICT), for a period of three months with an opportunity for extension up to nine months, if required by the section. Our innovative team is looking interns that have interest in technology innovation and software solutions provisions to Member States.

The internship is UNPAID, full-time and for three months with an opportunity for extension, depending on the needs of the Office.

Interns work five days per week (37.5 hours) under the supervision of an Information Systems Officer in the section to which they are assigned.

Daily responsibilities will depend on the individual’s background and the intern’s assigned section as well as the internship period.

Duties may include, but are not limited to:

•Assistance in drafting and preparing documents/presentations
•Attending and summarizing meetings
•Participation in training activities, including the preparation of training materials and user documentation, and compilation of relevant information
•Assistance in developing documentation and material and publishing them to websites
•Interacting with other OICT teams responsible for technology innovation
•Attend and support the preparation of meetings, conferences, workshops and other events
•Supporting ongoing technology challenges/hackathons
•Support towards the capture, management and analysis of data, information, statistics and reports
•Support the activities of OICT as needed as deemed necessary by their supervisor.

Communication :
•Speaks and writes clearly, concisely and effectively
•Good written and oral language skills
•Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately
•Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication
•Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience
•Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed

Teamwork :
•Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others
•Places team agenda before personal agenda
•Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position
•Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings
•Good interpersonal skills,
•Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues from different national and cultural backgrounds to achieve organizational goals.

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
•Is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.

Technological Awareness
•Keeps abreast of available technology
•Understands applicability and limitations of technology to the work of the office
•Actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks
•Shows willingness to learn new technology

To qualify for an internship with the United Nations Internship Programme, the following conditions must be met:

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent); or
have graduated with a university degree (as defined above) and, if selected, must commence the internship within a one-year period of graduation;

For this internship position, Applicants must:

Be savvy users of standard Microsoft Office software applications (Word, PowerPoint, Visio, etc.);
Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter; and
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;
Show interest or have demonstrated intention to study further, or;
Work in a field relevant to the work of Information and Communications Technology, Information Management, Communications, Customer Relationship Management Systems, Technology Innovation and/or relevant fields.

Applicants are not required to have professional work experience for participation in the programme.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat.

For this position advertised, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required.

Knowledge of another official UN language is an advantage.

Applicants are encouraged to clearly indicate their areas of interests and highlight their specific skills and/or experience in their cover note.
They are asked to do so carefully in order to enhance the value of the internship for both themselves and the receiving UN department.

Potential candidates may be contacted by the hiring manager for further consideration.

A complete online application (Cover Note and Personal History Profile) is required. To complete an online application, please create and complete a personal history profile (PHP) and a cover letter in the UN e-Recruitment system (careers.un.org).

Please ensure that you indicate your proficiency in the English language in your PHP.

Please note that incomplete applications with not be reviewed.

The cover note should include:

Title of the degree currently being pursued by the applicant and the specific subjects taken;

Expected graduation date from the degree programme that the applicant is enrolled in;

List the IT skills and software programmes (relevant to this internship) that you are proficient in;

List of your top three areas of interest;

Explanation on how an internship with the Office of Information and Communications Technology in the United Nations fits within your career plans and why you would be the best candidate for this team;

Explanation of your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme

Please note that due to the large number of applicants, the Office of Information and Communications Technology is not able to reply to each application and that only short-listed applicants will be contacted for further consideration

In your Personal History Profile, be sure to include all past work experiences (if any), education, skills, languages and three references.

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.

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.