Research Assistant

The Research Assistant supports the Security Council Secretariat Branch by assisting in research, data collection, and analysis related to the work and procedures of the UN Security Council. The role involves preparing reports, maintaining databases, and supporting meetings and documentation processes to facilitate the Council's work.

Responsibilities

• Assists in identifying and monitoring substantive aspects of the work of the UN Security Council related to its practice and procedure.
• Identifies and evaluates a variety of documents, summarizes pertinent material, collects and analyses data and prepares background materials for monthly assessments, procedural research, Security Council presidential briefs, and reports, including the annual report.
• Systematically follows through and retrieves, highlights and compiles information from a wide variety of information sources; prepares input for the Branch electronic database and co-operates with research institutes and organizations in the collection of data.
• Assembles and examines original statistical material to ensure accuracy, clarity and validity; makes appropriate adjustments for monthly distribution to the Security Council.
• Designs, prepares and maintains a comprehensive record of assigned files on the Security Council’s agenda.
• Prepares a variety of reports, presentations, tables, lists, charts, data sets, and/or diagrams for information in order to facilitate the in-depth analysis of the retrieved information by supervisor and other users.
• Participates in the substantive and policy discussions of the Branch.
• Maintains and expands contacts with other departments in the Secretariat, as well as the UN agencies and programmes and other organizations relevant to the work of the Branch.
• Prepares, maintains and updates files and internal databases; designs and generates a variety of periodic and ad hoc reports, statistical tables, charts, graphs, and other background materials/notes to facilitate inspection and other reviews as needed and requested by the Security Council.
• Drafts meeting summaries, co-ordinates review and clearance process and co-ordinates with editor, translation services, etc., on finalization and publication of reports in official UN languages.
• Identifies the organizational requirements for Security Council conferences and meetings, including its subsidiary organs and assists in the preparation of documentation and reports for these meetings.
• Ensures the maintenance of the Security Council website.
• Attends a variety of meetings to follow discussions, takes notes and prepares summary report, notes for the file, correspondence, etc.
• Provides guidance and training to new/junior staff.
• Performs other related work as required.

Requirements

• High school diploma required.
• A minimum of seven (7) years of experience in research support or other related area is required.
• The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to five (5) for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher.
• Experience providing research assistance services to an intergovernmental or similar organ is desirable.
• Experience using documents and meetings management databases is desirable.
• English is required at UN Level II for reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
• French is desirable at UN Level I for reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

Skills

• Research Support
• Data Collection
• Data Analysis
• Report Preparation
• Database Management
• Meeting Management
• Documentation Management
• Research Assistance
• Security Council Procedures
• Document Management

Languages

English, French