Administrative Assistant (AUSC) at the African Union (AU)

The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent. It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organization of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999). We are an Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Administrative Assistant (AUSC)

Requisition ID: 1611
Location: Yaounde, Cameroun
Division: Finance and Administration Unit
Reports to: Finance and Administrative Assistant
Directorate / Department: AU Sports Council
Number of Direct Reports: 0
Number of Indirect Reports: 0
Job Grade: GSA5
Contract Type: Regular

Purpose of Job

• To facilitate the smooth functioning of administrative support services, including but not limited to administration - office management, general services, operations, records management, procurement etc - within the Finance and Administration Unit of AUSC and beyond, as required.

Main Functions

• Provide timely operational support
• Assist in activity planning
• Prepare operational work schedules and follow up implementation  
• Handle communication at operational level and provide update
• Assist in the compilation and maintenance of data and information for preparation, implementation and monitoring of budgets, activities etc.
• Coordinate and/or engage in technical assistance and/or logistical work
• Assist in the creation, improvement and maintenance of operational processes  and systems
• Prepare office communication and draft reports.

Specific Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support in accordance with the Terms of Reference of the Office;
• Undertake all administrative matters relating to the organisation of meetings, seminars, workshops and conferences planned under the AU Sports Council’s work plan, including securing and arranging meeting venues, arranging participants’ travel, and other administrative arrangements;
• Organise all travel related to the work of the AUSC, including fact finding missions, follow up missions and similar activities which require travel arrangements;
• Organise both incoming and outgoing correspondence, including the establishment of a physical and electronic log/registry system and filing; create, update and maintain special files (of confidential nature or for closer access for respective official’s use) through an organized filing system
• Manage correspondence for priority action, notification of deadlines and acting on routine matters;
• Arrange and maintain calendar of appointments and preparing travel plans for missions; schedule appointments, meetings and travel arrangements that may include coordinating arrangements for multiple participants
• Assist the Office in the timely preparation of relevant papers and documents for meetings, seminars, workshops and conferences, and in the finalization of related reports;
• Undertake administrative action related to the procurement of equipment and services including preparation of purchase orders, contracts for consultants, related payment requests, and monitoring and follow-up on such requests;
• Liaise with partner agencies on relevant administrative and financial matters, as well as with internal stakeholders including Administration, Finance, HR Units within AUSC and the respective directorates at AU HQ level, as required.
• Assist the implementation and monitoring of budgets as need be. Liaise with the Accounts Assistant and the FAO on budgetary matters as required.
• Provide communications support and assistance to ensure timely responses to inquiries, email and correspondences, assist the team of Secretaries whenever required.
• Draft and finalise correspondence, reports and documents and ensuring correctness of style and compliance with AU procedures and standards;
• Perform such other tasks as required.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Diploma OR Bachelor's Degree in Administration, Management, Office Management or related fields with three (3) and two (2) years relevant work experience respectively.
• Experience in international organizations will be high advantage.
• Experience in drafting official communication is required; experience in preparing reports and summaries, presenting information allowing easy analysis and understanding is required.
• Experience in organizing events, liaising with various support functions and stakeholders.
• Experience or knowledge of tasks related to office management, secretarial tasks, records management, procurement and supply chain management are required
• Understanding of procurement processes is required
• Understanding and experience of facilities management, correspondence handling is required.

Required Skills:

• Excellent drafting and data presentation skills
• Capacity to work under pressure and according to precisely set timelines
• Ability to coordinate activities, contribute to planning, understand linkage between activities and the office’s objectives
• Excellent organization skills, very good time management skills
• Attention to detail; proactive, adaptable and flexible as required
• Ability to understand the requirements and standards of both internal and external stakeholders; readiness to assist at all times.
• Understanding of AU working systems, specifically those in overall administration, human resources, finance, procurement, protocol, and conference management is an advantage.
• Understanding of the diplomatic work environment, its requirements and contexts is required.
• Excellent knowledge and experience to use computer applications including but not limited to MS-Word, MS-Excel, MS-PowerPoint. Experience in using SAP will be an important advantage.
• Very good interpersonal skills, capacity to work and go along with a variety of personalities and stakeholders
• Very good communication skills, both written and spoken
• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (English, French, Arabic, Portuguese or Spanish) is required and fluency in any other second AU working language will be an advantage. Mastery of the French language will be a preferred advantage.

Leadership Competencies:

• Developing Others
• Flexibility
• Risk Awareness and Compliance

Core Competencies:

• Teamwork and Collaboration
• Accountability awareness and Compliance
• Learning Orientation
• Communicating Clearly

Functional Competencies:

• Trouble shooting
• Job Knowledge and information sharing
• Task Focused
• Continuous Improvement Awareness

Tenure of Appointment

• The appointment will be made on a regular term contract for a period of three (3) years, of which the first twelve months shall be considered as a probationary period.
• Thereafter, the contract will be for a period of two years renewable, subject to satisfactory performance and deliverables.

Languages:

• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish) and fluency in another AU language is an added advantage.

Remuneration
Indicative basic salary of US$ 15,758.00 (GSA5 Step 1) per annum plus other related entitlements e.g. Post adjustment (48% of basic salary), Housing allowance US$ 16,813.44 (per annum), and education allowance (100% of tuition and other education-related expenses for every eligible dependent up to a maximum of US$ 10,000.00 per child per annum), for internationally recruited staff and a maximum of $3,300 per child per annum for locally recruited staff.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply

Application Deadline  13th February, 2023.

Note

• Only candidates who have meet all the requirements of the post and have been shortlisted for an interview will be contacted.
• Only applications registered online with a complete curriculum vitae (CV) attached will be considered.
• The Africa Union is an equal-opportunity employer, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Gender Mainstreaming: The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply