The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies. The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegations and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

The Agenda for Renewal provides a vision for how the IFRC sees its role in the implementation of Strategy 2030. The Agenda for Renewal ensures that the IFRC provides strategic and operational membership coordination, National Society
Development services and represents the collective with humanitarian diplomacy and advocacy.

The IFRC Secretariat work is guided by its Plan & Budget 2021-2025, articulated around five strategic priorities: Climate and Environmental Crises, Evolving Crises and Disasters, Growing gaps in health and wellbeing, Migration and Identity, Values Power and Inclusion. The Plan & Budget 2021-2025 also defines three enablers: Engaged, Accountable, Trusted.

This position is in the Human Resources Department of Panama and reports directly to the Human Resources Manager.

The Human Resources Assistant role is responsible for the delivery of excellent customer service to staff, potential hires and National Societies under service agreements in the following functional areas: talent acquisition; employee relations and consultations; policy interpretation and application, performance and talent management consultation, training and career path planning. The HR assistant provides and promotes a customer service-oriented culture that values proactivity, continuous improvement, innovation, and high performance.

Talent Acquisition

• Support line managers with registering new positions on HRIS.
• Draft budgets and salary calculations for new positions.
• Support the full recruitment cycle (posting vacancies within and outside the organization, shortlisting, administering behavioural and written assignments, schedule and conduct interviews and background checks)
• Draft employment offers and contracts.
• Conduct new employee enrolments on HRIS and IFRC email Administration.
• Support in the new employee onboarding and in-boarding.

Talent Management

• Work proactively to identify staff performance gaps and relevant development needs and suggest appropriate training and development plans for HR Manager evaluation.
• Address compensation and benefits related staff data and queries.
• Draft budgets and salary calculations for staff growth/position changes.
• Maintain knowledge of Panama labour laws and all internal HR policies and guidelines related to day-today support to employees.
• Coordinate briefings and debriefings with the hiring unit by facilitating completion of administrative arrival and departure related formalities.
• Support in employee outplacement processes for employee separations.
• Follow-up with all transactions assigned, properly informing interested parties of the steps and outcomes of each portion of the process.
• Constantly monitor and review SOPs and procedure guidelines to improve internal processes.
• Monitor and promote the use of training benefits and tools to support staff development.
• Monitor and support employee work life cycles for adequate High Potential detection and Career Path planning.
• Monitor leave management reconciliation and queries.

Customer Experience Management

• Serve as the Service Champion and provide excellent service to all stakeholders.
• Be proficient in all HR tools and policies to better provide guidance and services to our stakeholders.
• Act as an HR contact point for staff of the diverse department(s)
• Support in the employee engagement activities and initiatives such as milestones, birthday celebrations, anniversaries, retirements, etc.
• Support in the offboarding process including exit interviews to identify service gaps and opportunities for improvement.
• Contribute to client HR strategies to support programs and operations and to ensure the timely provision of HR solutions to meet anticipated challenges.
• Guide and support staff in all D365 queries to maximize the use of human resources systems.
• Support in the coordination and preparation of employment letters of assignments and other related documentation; compile accurate employee records (hard and/or soft copies) for the personnel file, payroll (salary deposits) and benefits (insurance, pension, etc.) purposes.

Support HR Functions

• Provide the HRM with effective and timely support on several diversified issues, including scheduling meetings, preparing presentations, handling queries, processing invoices/payment requests, etc.
• Support in preparing necessary paperwork for new and departing staff including housing documents, bank guarantees, attestations, and work certificates.
• Provide support as needed in relocation assistance to new hires, including on travel and shipping arrangements.
• Receive request for issuance / renewal of IFRC passports (red booklet)
• Support in drafting HR Communications regarding change initiatives, HR policies, procedures, guidelines, tools and engagement activities using established channels.

Compensation

• Process Panama payroll including all related aspects of all applicable salary deductions, calculations of salary advances, insurance coverage, pension, social security, leaves, and terminations among others.
• Post monthly payroll to ERP once the salaries are paid to ensure the budget codes are updated as per financial requirements.
• Support compensation and benefits projects or any other HR related projects

Benefits Administration

• Support in the proper administration of staff benefits, including but not limited to Pension Funds, Health and Life Insurance others.
• Cascade and promote staff benefits established by the organization.


National Society Capacity Building

• Act as an HR resource and deploy to the field for emergency response operations.
• Provide support in case of major emergencies by coordinating speedy deployment of emergency staff in cooperation with the Disaster and Crisis Management dept.
• Provide the National Societies and PNS’ with HR technical support and advice on all HR related matters.
• Participate in all assigned trainings that will grow the overall HR knowledge for constant improvement of the department.

University Degree in Human Resources Management, Business Administration, or 
relevant area. 

1-3 years of professional HR Generalist working experience X
1-3 years of experience on organizational development, recruitment, selection
processes.

Excellent customer service skills

Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills

Ability to work in a cross-cultural and cross functional environment

Availability to work outside normal working hours, e.g. weekends if necessary

Ability to work towards tight deadlines and handle multiple tasks

Excellent organization and planning skills

Well-developed networking and relationship management abilities

Excellent influencing skills

Languages

Fluently spoken and written English

Fluently spoken and written Spanish

VALUES: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability.

CORE COMPETENCIES: Communication; Collaboration and Teamwork; Judgement and Decision Making; National Societies and Customer Relations; Creativity and Innovation; Building Trust.