Senior Officer, HR Advisory Services

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network, with 191 member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. IFRC uses the Triple R – response, resilience and respect – to deliver on Strategy 2030. IFRC responds to disasters and crises, ensuring timely, coordinated and locally led humanitarian action. IFRC supports its members in building community resilience in the areas of climate and environment, health and wellbeing, and migration and displacement.

IFRC promotes respect for our fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality, including in our work on values, power and inclusion. The IFRC focuses throughout on our core mandate – our raison d’être – of strategic and operational coordination, humanitarian diplomacy, National Society development, and accountability.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General and has its Headquarters in Geneva and five regional offices in Africa (Nairobi); the Americas (Panama); Asia Pacific (Kuala Lumpur); Europe (Budapest); and MENA (Beirut) as well as representation offices, service centres and delegations across the globe.

The IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.

This position is based in Budapest, Hungary and provides support to the Regional Office for Europe and Global Services Centre.

The HR Business Partner serves as a strategic advisor and trusted partner to regional leadership, supporting the implementation of IFRC HR policies, enabling effective people management, and strengthening organizational capacity across the Europe Region and Global Services Centre (GSC). This role supports a full range of HR functions - including policy implementation, employee relations, performance management, digital transformation talent recruitment, staff well‑being, and HR analytics - while ensuring alignment with humanitarian principles, safeguarding, local labor law, and IFRC regulations.

HR Policies, Processes and Procedures

• Support the implementation of IFRC HR policies, procedures, local labor law, and government regulations across the region.
• Support in review, revise, and update HR guidelines and procedures, including national staff regulations for Hungary, in close cooperation with the IFRC HR Department.
• Advise managers and staff on HR policies and ensure compliance, highlighting legal, financial, and organizational risks.
• Draft and deliver standard and non-standard HR documents as required.
• Build strong relationships with managers and staff and serve as a trusted source of HR advice.

Employee Relations

• Advise management and staff on complex contractual issues and interpretation of HR policies and Staff Regulations.
• Support conflict prevention and resolution through mediation, facilitation, and coaching.
• Refer staff and managers to coaches, stress counselors, or the Staff Health and Well-being team, as appropriate.
• Facilitate enforcement of workplace policies to ensure high standards of conduct.
• Support regional and GSC teams in addressing sensitive workplace matters in accordance with IFRC procedures.
• Conduct exit interviews, analyze trends, and propose actionable recommendations for senior leadership.

Digital Transformation (DT) & Technical Talent Recruitment

• Partner with hiring managers to understand and define staffing needs for digital transformation and IT roles.
• Lead proactive sourcing strategies for hard-to-fill humanitarian tech profiles (e.g., ICT Coordinators, Data Analysts, IT Service Desk, Data Engineers etc).
• Maintain regional talent pipelines and build networks with tech communities, NGOs, universities, and sector partners.
• Ensure inclusive, bias aware recruitment aligned with safeguarding norms.

Performance Management

• Lead, coordinate, and monitor the regional Performance Review and Assessment (PRA) cycle.
• Provide training, guidance, and support to managers and staff on performance processes and documentation.
• Guide managers on implementing performance improvement plans (PIPs).

HR Business Partnering

• Act as a strategic advisor to assigned Units, supporting engagement, productivity, and people development.
• Support organizational change processes and help staff navigate transitions.
• Co-create and implement performance management frameworks and feedback systems.
• Advise on complex employee relations matters and help strengthen a culture of open communication.
• Promote continuous learning and organizational improvement.
• Collaborate with managers to define HR priorities and develop aligned implementation plans.
• Identify talent needs and design strategies for attraction, retention, and development.
• Provide guidance on compliance with IFRC policies, regulations, and legal requirements.
• Analyze patterns in HR issues and design solutions that support structured decision-making.
• Advise leadership on HR compliance and participate in audits when required.

Contribution to an Effective, High Quality HR Team

• Serve as Officer in Charge during the absence of the Regional HR Manager.
• Contribute to enhancing regional HR metrics, processes, and decision making tools.
• Participate actively in regional and global HR projects, policy development, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure accurate registration and updating of HR master data in HR systems.
• Provide backup support to HR colleagues when necessary.
• Liaise with IFRC Headquarters on international HR lifecycle matters, sharing challenges and proposing solutions.
• Provide HR surge support during emergency responses.

Duties applicable to all staff
1. Work actively towards the achievement of the IFRC Secretariat’s goals.
2. Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles.
3. Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager.

Required: 

• University degree in HR or related field. A combination of a first-level university degree and extensive relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Preferred: 

• Professional HR qualification.
• Qualification or Certification Project Management.

Required: 

• Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience.
• Extensive experience working with the local labor law.
• Proven experience in IT/digital recruitment and sourcing for technical profiles.
• Demonstrated HR professional experience in a multicultural, international, matrix organization (IO, NGO, corporate).
• Solid experience working with all aspect of employee management cycle.
• Experience in facilitating and supporting management/HR/admin personnel in HR related matters.

Preferred: 

• At least 3-5 years of HR generalist experience.
• Understanding of and experience of working with the International Federation/ICRC and/or the RCRC National Societies.

Required: 

• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of HR practices and professional credibility.
• Strong knowledge of HR policies, labor regulations, and humanitarian principles.
• Ability to manage sensitive and complex HR issues with discretion.
• Knowledge and experience in HR related legal issues.
• Excellent documentation skills for all HR related matters and excellent written and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to work in a cross-cultural and cross-functional environment.
• Analytical and strategic thinking and ability to translate it into practice. Solution oriented mindset.
• Well-developed networking and relationship management abilities.
• Excellent persuasive and influencing skills, Excellent customer service skills.
• High integrity, maturity, and discretion in handling confidential matters.
• Self-supporting in digital and software (MS Office Suite, internet, collaborative platforms, ERP for HR)
• Fluent spoken and written English and Hungarian.

Preferred: 

• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic).

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

Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust.

Comments: This is a national staff position open to Hungarian nationals and others who are legally eligible to work in Hungary. Candidates must be able to provide proof of their eligibility to work in Hungary.