Senior Executive Support Assistant

February 20, 2026

A (least hardship)

FamilyFamily

GS5

General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-04-01

Senior Executive Support Assistant

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The position of Senior Executive Support Assistant is located within a Division/Bureau or Office of the Representation/Head of Office. The role of this position is to provide administrative and secretarial support services to the Head of Office or immediate Supervisor, in order to ensure the smooth running of the Office and its flow and management of administrative and routinely information. This would involve direct contact with other staff members and contacts with the teams of high ranking officials, both within and outside UNHCR.
Subject to the nature of the task/assignment, the incumbent will work independently on routine tasks, while will follow instructions of the supervisor for more complex issues.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties
- Provide secretarial and administrative support to the UNHCR Office thus it's better able to meet its objectives.
- Arrange appointments and maintains supervisor's calendar. Receive visitors; places and screens telephone calls and answers queries with discretion.
- Arrange meetings, both internal and external, some involving high-ranking officials, and take minutes and/or notes at meetings.
- Prepare informal translations and may act as interpreter.
- Draft correspondence, documents and reports, some of which are highly confidential.
- Receive, screen, log and route correspondence, attach necessary background information and maintain follow-up system.
- Draft official correspondence, documents and reports on routine matters and/or for clearance by the supervisor and ensure follow-up. Maintain filing system for electronic and hard copy documents.
- Maybe required to assist in Human Resources tasks (attendance record, travel arrangements, preparation of travel authorisation, /claims, etc.) for staff within the unit.
- Assist in the preparation of visit programmes, briefings on issues covered by the Unit, collection of documentation for briefing kits; talking points and other material for missions, meetings and visits.

- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G5- 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable

Certificates and/or Licenses
Business Administration, Secretarial, Office Management,
Human Resources, or other related field
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified
Desirable
Completion of UNHCR learning programmes or specific training relevant to functions of the position.

Functional Skills
*IT-Computer Literacy
UN-UN/UNHCR Administrative Rules, Regulations and Procedures
CO-Drafting and Documentation
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

The ideal candidate for the Senior Executive Support Assistant role is highly organized, detail oriented, and able to manage multiple administrative workflows with efficiency and discretion. The candidate must have prior experience in executive or administrative support roles and demonstrate strong interpersonal skills when dealing with senior staff, external stakeholders, and government counterparts. In addition to the duties outlined in the standard job description, the incumbent will be responsible for managing interactions with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and immigration authorities, particularly in relation to visas, residence permits, and other official documentation for international staff. Therefore, the candidate should have proven ability to coordinate processes with these entities, including handling and tracking visa, permit, and related documentation requirements. Strong communication skills—both written and verbal—are essential, particularly for liaising with government offices and preparing clear, accurate correspondence. The successful candidate will be proactive, reliable, and able to maintain confidentiality while managing sensitive information. S/he should demonstrate excellent planning and follow up abilities, sound judgment, and a strong client service orientation.


Additional Information:

The position requires fluency in English and Malay languages.

Only short-listed candidates will be notified. The recruitment process might include a written test and/or oral interview for this job opening. No late applications will be accepted.

UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

Nature of Position:

Living and Working Conditions:

 

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CO-Drafting and Documentation, IT-Computer Literacy, UN-UN/UNHCR Administrative Rules, Regulations and Procedures

Certifications

Business Administration - Other, Human Resources - Other, Office Management - Other, Secretarial - Other

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Political awareness, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance