Principal Administrative Assistant (EDPP)

Vacancy Notice 1708

INTERPOL is the world’s largest international police organization, with 196 Member Countries. Created in 1923, it facilitates cross-border police co-operation, and supports and assists all organizations, authorities, and services whose mission is to prevent or combat international crime. 

INTERPOL actively encourages applications from women and nationals of member countries that are currently unrepresented among our staff (please click on this link to access the list of countries). Candidates from these countries are particularly encouraged to apply. 

INTERPOL’s recruitment process is merit-based hence all hiring decisions are made considering the applicant’s qualifications and the needs of the Organization.

Job Title: Principal Administrative Assistant (EDPP) 
Reporting To: Executive Administrative Assistant
Location: Lyon
Type of contract: Fixed-term Contract 
Duration (in months): 36.00 
Grade: 6   
Number of posts: 1
Level of Security screening:  Basic
Deadline for application: 27 July 2026

Conditions applying for all candidates

Only professional experience for which candidates can provide official proof of employment will be considered. Candidates could be requested to provide copies of such official documents prior to interviews/test.

* Subsequent extension to this post will be subject to the terms of the Organization’s Staff Manual, to satisfactory performance and to availability of funds.

Tests/interviews in connection to this selection procedure will take place approximately 4 weeks after the deadline for applications. Applicants are kindly requested to plan their availability during this period accordingly, in case they are short-listed.

​Selected candidates will be expected to report for duty approximately two to three months after receiving an offer of employment at the latest.

This selection exercise may be used to generate a reserve list of suitable candidates that may be used to address Organization's similar staffing needs in the future.

INTRODUCTION OF THE POST
The Executive Directorate Partnerships and Planning (EDPP) is responsible for overseeing and coordinating the strategic portfolio of INTERPOL in a comprehensive and cross-organizational fashion. The strategic portfolio has two main facets: 1) Internal strategic development and affairs, which is led by the Planning and Development Directorate, and; 2) External strategic affairs, which is led by the Strategic Partnerships Directorate and the three INTERPOL Special Representation Offices to the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), and the United Nations (UN).
Based in the EDPP Executive Office, and under the overall supervision of the Executive Director Partnerships and Planning and the direct supervision of the Executive Administrative Assistant, the incumbent provides daily administrative support for the Executive Directorate Partnerships and Planning and the EDPP Executive Office (EDPP/EO) to ensure their smooth administrative running. In particular, the incumbent will provide administrative assistance and deal with day-to-day matters concerning the Executive Directorate Partnerships and Planning as a whole, administratively handle all the requests from the Cabinet of the Secretary General and assume the back-up of the Executive Administrative Assistant.

PRIMARY DUTIES

DUTY 1 - Provide secretarial duties and administrative assistance to support the Executive Directorate Partnerships and Planning as a whole

• Perform a full range of daily administrative support and follow-up on the transversal files requiring an administrative coordination within the Executive Directorate Partnerships and Planning (for instance requests/compilation of EDPP inputs, follow-up of mission reports or actions, preparing and proof-reading of memos/letters, etc.), with the aim to ensure the smooth administrative running of the Executive Directorate.

• Act as the central secretarial liaison point between the EDPP/EO and the Executive Directorate Partnerships and Planning’s Directorates.

• Ensure the correct execution of the administrative processes and make sure that all secretaries in the Executive Directorate Partnerships and Planning take direction and guidance regarding administrative regulations and procedures. Provide ad hoc training to this effect to newcomers as required, as well as ad hoc administrative guidance if needed.

DUTY 2 - Coordinate EDPP administrative relations with the Secretary General’s Cabinet

• Manage all administrative relations and administratively handle and monitor all requests/files coming from the Secretary General’s Cabinet that are addressed to EDPP Executive Directorate, for an efficient, timely and qualitative delivery of tasks.

• Act as the central administrative liaison point between the Executive Directorate Partnerships and Planning and the Cabinet of the Secretary General.

DUTY 3 - Provide administrative assistance to the EDPP Executive Office

• Provide usual office support duties and administrative assistance to the EDPP Executive Office for daily administrative needs (for instance organization of EDPPEO meetings, drafting of memos, etc.), and when needed to the Executive Director Partnerships and Planning (for instance to provide further administrative support to the Executive Administrative Assistant).

DUTY 4 - Provide administrative back-up of the Executive Administrative Assistant

• Replace the Executive Administrative Assistant in his/her absence, by providing full secretarial and administrative support to the Executive Director Partnerships and Planning.

• Perform any other duties as required by the hierarchy.

REQUIREMENTS
All candidates will be assessed on the under mentioned requirements. Please only include professional experience for which you can provide official proof of employment (i.e. pay-slip indicating your functional title, work certificates, etc.). You could be asked to provide copies of such documents prior to interviews/tests. Any discrepancies found between the information stated in any of your application documents and the evidence of employment provided, will be considered misrepresentation and may lead to your disqualification from this selection procedure. This is especially important for your current and previous functional titles (they need to be exactly the same as the one in your contractual agreement), exact dates of employment, description of responsibilities and achievements, reason(s) for leaving and part-time work.

Training/Education required

• At least two years’ University education in a relevant area (e.g. administrative, business support, etc.)

Experience required

• At least three years’ experience in the administrative support or similar posts.

• Five years’ experience in administrative support area is required if the required level of education is not met.

• Experience within an international environment would be an asset.

Languages

• Proficiency in English is required.

• Proficiency in other official INTERPOL languages (Arabic, French and/or Spanish ) would be an asset.

Abilities required

• Advanced level skills in MS Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint, internet)
• Ability to grasp and get a command of administrative procedures/tools to be able to work with the required level of autonomy
• Ability to work in team as well as individually
• Flexibility, polyvalence and teamwork spirit
• Sense of initiative (self-initiator), motivated
• Attention to details and excellent organizational skills
• Service oriented and problem-solving attitude
• Strong communications skills, both in written and oral form
• Ability to react quickly and to adapt to changing circumstances
• Ability to maintain objectivity and apply logical reasoning
• Ability to work under pressure
• Ability to cope with sudden increase in workload and high degree of availability (may be required to work overtime or outside normal working hours).
• Ability to synthesize
• Discretion, diplomacy, tact, rigor and integrity
• Personal and professional maturity
• Good social skills, particularly in a multicultural environment
• Good listening skills