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UNDP Turkmenistan is searching for an Operations Assistant who will serve as the primary operational support for our Ashkhabad office. The role requires precise administrative work combined with critical financial and travel assistance tasks.Your responsibilities include handling payment processing and travel arrangements and event planning while you make sure all procedures follow UN requirements. The organization invites detail-oriented professionals who possess strong organizational skills and Turkmen and Russian language proficiency to join its team that supports Turkmenistan’s sustainable development initiatives.

Position Title: Operations Assistant
Job Identification: 31533
Posting Date: 29 January 2026, 9:14 AM
Application Deadline: 12 February 2026, 8:59 PM
Job Schedule: Full time
Location: Ashkhabad, Turkmenistan
Agency: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Grade: NPSA-5
Vacancy Type: National Personnel Service Agreement
Practice Area: Effectiveness
Bureau: Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS
Contract Duration: 6 months
Education & Work Experience: Bachelor’s Degree – 2 year(s) experience OR High School certificate – 5 year(s) experience
Required Languages: Turkmen, Russian
Desired Languages: English
Vacancy Timeline: 2 Weeks

Organizational Context and Role

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) established its partnership for strategic development work with Turkmenistan in 1995 and continues to serve as its reliable development partner. The largest UN agency in the country implements its projects which support national priorities through governance development and inclusive economic growth and climate resilience and health initiatives while managing a substantial yearly funding portfolio.

The UNDP Country Office in Ashkhabad requires a versatile and meticulous Operations Assistant to provide integrated support across administration, finance, and travel services. The Finance Unit Head and Assistant Resident Representative for Operations will supervise your work which helps maintain proper office functions that operate smoothly and within legal requirements. The role suits professionals who pay attention to detail because they can handle multiple tasks while working in a fast-paced environment that serves clients.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provide General Administrative Assistance:

• Organization needs to achieve complete compliance with all UN and UNDP established rules and operational procedures.
• The person will help plan and run events which include conferences and workshops and retreats by managing all aspects of the event which include venue setup and recordkeeping.
• The person will create meeting minutes while providing translation services whenever required.
• The team member will help with administrative support surveys which include calculations for Daily Subsistence Allowance.
• The person will help with quarterly inventory assessments and biannual asset verification procedures and prepare for audit evaluations by collecting necessary information.
• The employee needs to carry out additional administrative duties which will arise during their work.

2. Provide Support for Travel-Related Processes:

• Process travel authorizations and claims for staff, consultants, and visitors in line with UN entitlements and rules.
• Support the development of mission plans for delegations.
• Assist in creating travel profiles and prepare regular travel-related reports.
• Ensure timely processing of invoices for travel service providers.
• Maintain all documentation and records related to travel and protocol activities.
• Support the development of accurate Logistics Notes for events.

3. Provide Clerical Support for Financial Processes:

• The verification process requires examination of documents which support financial payments and all monetary operations linked to both project work and non-Quantum organization activities.
• The UNDP Quantum system serves as the platform through which we process both project and agency billing statements.
• I create payment orders which I then take to the local bank for payment execution whenever necessary.
• I handle check payments while I track checkbook activity and I submit requests for checkbook replenishment according to schedule.
• I check payment statuses daily in Quantum system and I take needed steps to fix any system errors.
• I track online bank statements while I handle payments which have been returned and I create bank communication documents according to requirements.
• All finance documents and related communication must be stored according to established filing procedures.
• I need to track payment requests and update their status throughout the process.

4. Support Knowledge Building and Knowledge Sharing:

• Participate in and support the organization of training on internal procedures for project staff.
• Contribute to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Perform other duties within the functional profile as assigned for the efficient functioning of the office.

Competencies

Core Competencies (Level 1):

• The demonstration of your ability to fulfill tasks through self-monitoring work execution together with your focus on small details and your achievement of high-quality work which you submit for evaluation at the agreed time.
• The person accepts two different types of innovation because he wants to find solutions that will bring better results to his work.
• The person who practices continuous learning maintains an open mindset with a curious nature while he shares his knowledge and learns from his mistakes and seeks feedback from others.
• The person who shows adaptability skills can handle changes while he uses his adaptability skills to manage uncertain situations.
• The person demonstrates motivation through his determination which enables him to perform well under pressure because he remains self-assured.
• The person shows kindness by understanding others which helps him establish friendly connections with them.
• The person shows respect for differences while he understands how unconscious bias operates and takes action against discrimination.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Secondary education (High School certificate) is required.
• A University Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, or an equivalent field will be given due consideration but is not a requirement.

Experience:

• The applicant needs to have five years of work experience which includes their time at high school or two years of work experience which includes their bachelor’s degree to qualify for this position.
• The candidate needs to demonstrate proficiency in using computers along with office software packages which include MS Word and Excel.
• The candidate who has worked at UN organizations or international development agencies will have an advantage for this position.
• The candidate who has experience in financial management and travel management and audit readiness processes will have an advantage.
• The candidate who possesses knowledge of web-based Enterprise Resource Planning systems together with their practical experience will have a competitive advantage.

Languages:

• Fluency in Russian and Turkmen languages is required.
• A working level of English is desired.

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