Job Detail

Palais des Nations
Phone +41 (0)22 917 1141
CH-1211 Geneva 10 Fax +41 (0)22 917 0176
Switzerland www.unidir.org • @unidir

Programme Intern – Office of the Director
Programme: Office of the Director
Office :United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR)
Duration: Until 28 June 2019 (negotiable), unpaid, based in Geneva, Switzerland
Full time/part-time: Part-time, 50%
Application Deadline: 5October 2018

About UNIDIR
The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research — an autonomous institute within the United
Nations—conducts research on disarmament and security. The Institute explores current issues
pertaining to a variety of existing and future armaments, global diplomacy, and local tensions and
conflicts. Working with researchers, diplomats, government officials, NGOs and other institutions since
1980, UNIDIR acts as a bridge between the research community and Member States.

Terms of Reference

This highly unique internship supports the Office of the Director in a range of strategic, project and
administrative areas, and reports directly to the Director and/or her delegate.

Duties of the intern include, but are not limited to:

• Supports the implementation of strategic and/or administrative projects;


• Drafts official documents and conducts research related to the work of UNIDIR;


• Assists in outreach and partnership activities with UNIDIR interlocutors;


• Attends conferences and meetings, and provides verbal and written briefings to colleagues;


• Contributes to day-to-day tasks in the Office of the Director as needed, including
  communication, coordination and administrative matters;


• Performs other duties as requested by the supervisor.

The internship is unpaid, part time (50%) and based in Geneva, Switzerland. The internship is until
28 June 2019 (negotiable).
Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of
the intern or their sponsoring institutions.
Applicants for the internship must show proof of valid medical insurance coverage to cover the full
period of the internship and provide a medical certificate of good health prior to the internship’s
commencement. The United Nations accepts no responsibility for the medical insurance of the intern
or costs arising from injury, illness or death that may occur during an internship.
Competencies
Core competencies are the skills, attributes and behaviours which are considered important for United
Nations staff, regardless of their function or level, as well as interns. The Core Competencies for
internships at UNIDIR include:

• Communication: Identifies the information needs of target audiences and tailors
  communication accordingly, drafts clearly and concisely, good written and oral language
  skills, demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.


• Teamwork: Good interpersonal skills, ability to work collaboratively with colleagues from
  different national and cultural backgrounds to achieve organizational goals.


• Planning & Organizing: Uses time efficiently, foresees risks and allows for contingencies when
  planning, monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary to ensure tasks are completed.


• Creativity: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services, offers new and different options
  to solve problems, takes an interest in new ideas and ways of doing things, is not bound by
  current thinking or traditional approaches.


• Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be ‘clients’, and seeks
  to understand and reflect the clients’ points of view in their work.

Education
To qualify for an internship with the United Nations Internship Programme, applicants must meet one
of the following requirements:

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

At UNIDIR, preference will be given to applicants with post-graduate degree qualifications relevant to
the Institute’s specific current needs, for instance in the fields of international relations, political science
or communication science. However, other disciplines will be considered.
Work Experience
Applicants:

• are not required to have professional work experience for participation in the programme,
  while demonstrated experience/interest in conventional arms and small arms and light
  weapons control will be considered an asset;


• shall be computer literate in standard software applications;


• 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 includes willingness to understand and be tolerant of differing
  opinions and views.

Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations in Geneva. Fluency in English is
required for this internship. Knowledge of French an asset.
How to apply
If you are interested in this position, please send us your CV and cover letter in PDF format named as
SURNAME_Name_CV-CL to rigg@un.org with “UNIDIR OD Programme Internship Application” in the
subject line. The application deadline is 5October 2018.
We thank all those who apply, however, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.