Programme Assistant, Human Impacts of Climate Change (HICC)

Programme Assistant, Human Impacts of Climate Change (HICC)

This junior professional role is for a person with an interest in international affairs and the United Nations and an alignment with Quaker values. Working primarily as an assistant to QUNO’s Representative for the Human Impacts of Climate Change (who is based in Bonn, Germany), the Programme Assistant will gain experience on influencing efforts at the United Nations and related multilateral organizations, in turn to communicate international with local and regional efforts.

Background

In Geneva and New York, QUNO brings Quaker peace and justice concerns to international processes through its programmes (human rights and refugees; peace and disarmament; human impacts of climate change; and sustainable and just economic systems).

We view climate change and environmental destruction as a peace and justice concern and advocate for urgent, transformative, and human rights-based approaches. We work through multilateral bodies including at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) to better integrate international climate policy efforts with human rights, the latest climate science, and care for the poorest, most vulnerable and all future generations. We view urgent, healthy and fair transformation of root causes driving climate change as a moral call to conscience to protect people and nature. We openly challenge money, power and securitization efforts that maintain unsustainable and unjust economic, political and social systems. We actively seek to improve rights-based participatory approaches that are anti‑racist and anti‑colonial, both externally and in our own work.

Our current priorities are:

Implementing a grant to maintain and deepen advocacy for a mitigation hierarchy prioritizing urgent, transformative, effective and ethical climate policies that promote peace, justice, and eco‑system health. This includes greater stakeholder engagement on IPCC findings for options which promote well‑being and planetary health. In turn, greater awareness of dangerous risks related to reliance on large scale 'techno‑fixes' that fail to address root causes driving planetary crises;
Advocating for human rights‑based approaches to climate action, including their role in peacebuilding during increased stresses on natural resources;
Implementation of a human right to a healthy environment;
Communication of the latest climate science, including energy transformations, sustainable economic and agriculture systems, behaviour and individual consumption change;
Challenge to militarized/securitized responses to climate change, and reliance on ‘techno‑fixes’, also known as geo/climate engineering which pose novel risks and delay rapid reduction of fossil fuels and other lucrative emission drivers;
Engaging local and inter‑faith efforts in ethical, moral and spiritual climate efforts.

Our style of work focusses on relationship building, dialogue and partnership, including through:

raising awareness and knowledge on our priorities, for example by writing briefing papers and making oral statements in UN bodies;
providing expert technical advice, ideas and strategizing with colleagues and contacts in civil society, diplomatic missions and the UN system;
a quiet diplomacy approach creating space for dialogue;
connecting with and convening formal and informal networks of other non‑governmental organisations, and connecting with local and regional climate advocacy and inter‑faith groups.

This role is an opportunity to gain first‑hand knowledge and experience of Quaker international work, through substantive work on the Human Impacts of Climate Change Programme and linkages between programmes and through linkages with other QUNO programmes and supporting all QUNO staff.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Programme Assistant’s work varies depending on their competencies and the programme’s priorities and opportunities available over the year. The post comprises three sets of responsibilities as follows:

1) Programme work with Human Impacts of Climate Change (HICC)

Assisting:

- the Programme Representative (who is based in Bonn) as required with all aspects of the HICC programme’s work, and taking on progressive responsibility by investigating and developing a particular area of work within the programme’s priorities;

- with organising, attending and reporting on meetings and events in person and online (e.g., UN, NGO and other meetings in Geneva including at Quaker House, and the UN June conference in Bonn);

- with researching and writing/delivering materials as required, e.g. written or oral QUNO submissions; internal notes and reports; developing and uploading HICC news for QUNO’s website and social media channels, responding to enquiries;

- acting as main link person between the Representative and Geneva‑based staff, including facilitating her participation in virtual meetings.

2) Summer School:

Jointly leading organization, logistics, programme planning and delivery of QUNO’s Quaker UN Summer School.

3) Additional Administrative and Support Tasks:

Assisting with:

lunches and other events at Quaker House or online, including technical support, catering and clearing up;
routine admin duties including minute taking, filing, post, photocopying;
maintenance of QUNO’s contacts database and other outreach tasks;
updating QUNO’s website and social media channels;
arranging travel and logistics for the Representative and visiting partners;
fundraising research, grant proposals and report writing;
contributing to QUNO culture and community and other tasks as required at Quaker House.

Whilst the work focuses on the UN and other international organizations in Geneva, much day‑to‑day work is administrative and in the Quaker UN Office. QUNO is a small team and everyone contributes to the work of all programmes, including exploring connections between them.

What we are looking for:

We are looking for someone who can contribute actively to QUNO’s administrative and programme work. Commitment to our shared values, willingness to learn, and analytical and writing skills are more important than specialist or academic knowledge. Please use these criteria to structure your personal statement on the application form.

Qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience:

understanding of Quaker values and sympathy with a Quaker approach; it is not necessary to be a Quaker member or attender but understanding of Quaker values and sympathy with a Quaker approach to the work are essential. If you are not familiar with Quakers please read some introductory information and consider how Quakerism relates to your values. This is a good starting point:
an active interest in international affairs and the UN’s work including climate change, sustainable behaviour, human rights and care for the poorest, demonstrated through relevant study, work, volunteering or other activities;
strong research and analysis skills, and verbal and written communication skills in English (demonstrated through, e.g., essays, briefing papers, advocacy materials, articles, content for social media/blogs, presentations, putting your ideas across in meetings, building relationships with people);
ability to work as part of a small team, get on well with all kinds of people, share common tasks and ask for help when needed.

Not essential but will be an advantage:

further relevant study beyond undergraduate level;
work, volunteering or other activity in relation to one or more of the programme’s areas of focus;
knowledge of French and/or another UN language;
lived experience of any of the issues the programme covers;
experience of the following; proof reading/copy editing, publication layout, preparing and posting social media content or website updates using Wordpress; donor research and funding proposals; voluntary or paid work in catering and/or in an office environment.

Eligibility to Work in Switzerland

Due to Swiss immigration law, we are only able to employ Programme Assistants who:

1. are nationals of:

Switzerland, or an EU or EFTA state; for the list of EU/EFTA states, see: efta_buerger_schweiz.html
for an exceptional candidate from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Indonesia, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Philippines, Russia, San Marino, South Africa, Tunisia, Ukraine, or USA. These being the countries with whom Switzerland has concluded bilateral agreements on the exchange of young professionals, see: we may be able to assist you to apply for the relevant visa; or

2. already have legal permission to work in Switzerland for the duration of the contract.

Regrettably, we cannot accept applications from candidates who do not fulfil the above requirements, including those have only UK nationality.

Salary and Benefits

The gross salary is CHF 4,262 per month (slightly less for those over 25 years of age). From this are deducted Swiss social charges and tax and a modest pension contribution. The estimated net income for 2026 after these deductions is approximately CHF 3,600 per month.

one return ticket from the appointee’s home base;
a limited budget for French language classes;
27 days paid holiday to be taken during the contract period (or pro rata if contract period is less than one year), in addition to Geneva public holidays and days between Christmas and New Year when the office is closed. Timing of holiday leave is to be agreed in advance with the HICC Representative.

You will have to pay for compulsory health insurance for Switzerland, and your accommodation and other costs. Whilst you are free to secure your own accommodation, QUNO has reserved individual studio accommodation at the Grand Morillon residence. Since accommodation can be difficult to find at short notice, QUNO has secured an individual studio accommodation at the Grand Morillon residence, at a cost to the Programme Assistant of approximately CHF 1'431 per month for rent and bills. This is considered good value in Geneva for quality and convenient facilities. If an appointed candidate prefers to find their own accommodation, they must advise QUNO by 20 July 2026. After this date, the candidate would be responsible for any cancellation charges.

Working Hours

QUNO operates on a 40‑hour work week in line with Swiss custom. Office hours are normally 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with a one‑hour lunch break. If agreed in advance some limited flexible working (i.e. adjusted hours or remote working) may be possible. There is no paid overtime. If agreed in advance, time worked in addition to the 40 hours is compensated by time off in lieu.

Supervision

Line management is provided by the Representative for the Human Impacts of Climate Change. The Representative is responsible for guiding you and reflecting with you on your learning and experience throughout the year, including through regular supervision and quarterly review meetings.

TO APPLY:

All applications must be made on the QUNO Human Impacts on Climate Change application form available on the QUNO website. Please save your completed form with your name and HICC as the filename (e.g. George Fox HICC) and email to with “Programme Assistant, HICC” in the subject line. Please do not send CVs, cover letters or other documents that have not been requested as these will not be considered. If you apply for more than one Programme Assistant position, you must apply for each separately using the relevant form.

Closing date for completed applications: Friday 8 May 2026 .

Interviews: expected to be held in person or online in the week of 25 May 2026.

Starting date: QUNO is committed to equality in policy and practice. Qualified persons of any religious affiliation, national origin, race, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability are encouraged to apply.

All applications are treated in confidence, will only be used for the purpose of selection for the Programme Assistant position and will not be retained longer than necessary for that purpose. We are grateful for all applications; however, beyond the automated acknowledgement you will receive upon submitting your application, we regret that we can only respond to shortlisted candidates. If you have not been invited to interview by 2 June, your application has not been successful on this occasion.

QUNO is committed to equality in policy and practice. Qualified persons of any religious affiliation, national origin, race, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability are encouraged to apply.

Ability to build strong human connections is essential to this role and we are looking for an authentic and accurate picture of who you are and what you would bring. We therefore encourage you not to rely on generative AI in preparing your application or at any stage of the selection process.

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