Org. Setting and Reporting
The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF) was established in 1949 by the United Nations General Assembly to provide retirement, death, disability, and related benefits for staff of the United Nations and other member organizations of the Fund. UNJSPF administers benefits of more than 90,000 beneficiaries residing in more than 190 countries, paid in 18 currencies, and services more than 130,000 participants who work in the 25 member organizations of UNJSPF.
The Fund has offices in New York (United States) and Geneva (Switzerland) and two liaison offices in Nairobi (Kenya) and Bangkok (Thailand), respectively. The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund-Pension Administration (UNJSPF-PA) comprises about 278 staff members from diverse countries and cultures, based across four prominent duty stations (New York, Geneva, Bangkok, and Nairobi). We are a career employer offering unique opportunities for growth within the United Nations system.
We offer staff competitive benefits, including up to six weeks of annual leave per year, a defined benefit pension plan (not subject to variation of capital markets), parental leave, a comprehensive insurance plan, and flexible working arrangements subject to operational requirements. Our office is located in the heart of Manhattan, within walking distance from the Grand Central Station hub, in a state-of-the-art facility (the One Dag Hammarskjöld building). Visit www.unjspf.org for more details.
This position is located in the Operations Section of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF). The Senior Benefits Assistant reports to the Chief of Section. The Operations Service is responsible for ensuring that all eligible participants, retirees and other beneficiaries are serviced in accordance with the Regulations, Rules and Pensions Adjustment System of the Fund, while fully adhering to the communications, quality management and internal control policies as outlined in the Fund's management charter.
Responsibilities
The Senior Benefits Assistant serves as resource person and benefit system specialist to the Section. Within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties: Pension:
Provides information and advice and assists in the analysis and disposition of the most complex benefit cases.
Assists in monitoring of continuing eligibility of beneficiaries to pension benefits in light of fraud prevention strategy.
Prepares responses to enquiries and/or provides explanations to beneficiaries and Secretaries of Staff Pension Committees of member organizations with respect to the resolution of complex issues of interpretation and application of the Regulations and Rules and Pension Adjustment System of the Fund as they relate to participation and benefit determination.
Prepares periodic and ad-hoc circulars issued to all member organizations of the Pension Fund, e.g., application of special index, cost-of-living differential factors, new internal procedures and various status report on the processing of benefits.
Participates in the preparation of specific examples of benefit determination to serve as benchmarks in the development of new or revised computer programming of complex cases.
Provides technical assistance with respect to the electronic collection of data to enroll participants in the Fund and maintain their pension records.
Provides guidance to Benefits Assistants and assists to ensure that clients are provided with accurate information as to pension participation and benefit entitlements. Programme of work:
Assists in monitoring programme of work with respect to various audit observations and recommendations on a regular basis.
Suggests/drafts changes to processes, systems, and implements as necessary.
Drafts/Updates/Revises procedures, guides and/or other administrative documents for approval.
Serves as a subject matter expert on system issues/enhancements.
Assists in developing training materials.
Serves as the focal point for complex and possible exceptions to established procedures for recommendation to senior management for approval. General:
Provides on-the-job training to colleagues with particular emphasis on manual calculations and the development and application of the provisions of the benefits system.
Deputizes for Benefit Officer/Section Chief in his/her absence in overseeing the operations of the work Unit.
Assists 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.
Assists with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures.
Performs other duties as may be required.
Competencies
Professionalism: Knowledge of various employee benefit schemes related to health, life insurance and pension. Knowledge of accounting processes and procedures applicable to the administration of employee benefit schemes. Ability to maintain accurate records, interpret and analyze a wide variety of data. Ability to identify and resolve data discrepancies and other problems.
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. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work.
The ability to perform analysis, modeling and interpretation of data in support of decision-making. Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; 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 audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
Planning& 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; uses time efficiently.
Education
High school diploma or equivalent.
Work Experience
A minimum of ten years of experience in employee benefits administration or related area is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to eight years for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher. One (1) year of experience leading streamlining exercises or projects is desirable. One (1) year of experience developing and holding training sessions is desirable. One (1) year or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. 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).
Required Languages
Language | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking
English | UN Level II | UN Level II | UN Level II | UN Level II
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
The appointment is for an initial period of one year and extension of appointment is subject to funding availability. The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF) is an independent inter-agency body established by the United Nations General Assembly. The applicable human resources procedures are governed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Fund and the UN Secretariat.
Any candidate from a member organization of the UNJSPF applying for this post is considered as an internal candidate provided, he/she has been appointed through the appointment and promotion procedures applicable in his/her respective organization. Staff members are subject to the authority of the head of the entity and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.
Staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment.
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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.
By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised.
This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2
(a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2.
(c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.