Under the supervision of the Operations Manager P4, the Rome Common Services Center (CSC) will be newly established following the relocation of several UNICEF HQ Divisions to Rome, where they will be co-located with WFP HQ. This move is part of the Future Focus Initiative, aimed at achieving cost savings and supporting broader UN80 objectives. The Rome CSC will play a critical role in delivering operational support to all UNICEF Divisions based at WFP HQ, as well as coordinating closely with WFP on the services provided to UNICEF staff.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, a Champion

The Rome Common Services Center (CSC) will be newly established following the relocation of several UNICEF HQ Divisions to Rome, where they will be co-located with WFP HQ. The Rome CSC will play a critical role in delivering operational support to all UNICEF Divisions based in Rome as well as coordinating closely with WFP on the services provided to UNICEF.
Under the supervision of the Operations Manager P4, the Rome Common Services Center (CSC) will be newly established following the relocation of several UNICEF HQ Divisions to Rome, where they will be co-located with WFP HQ. This move is part of the Future Focus Initiative, aimed at achieving cost savings and supporting broader UN80 objectives. The Rome CSC will play a critical role in delivering operational support to all UNICEF Divisions based at WFP HQ, as well as coordinating closely with WFP on the services provided to UNICEF staff. 
The People & Culture officer is responsible for providing support to the Chief of Common Services in managing, monitoring and overseeing the full range of HR services, including but not limited to onboarding, offboarding, protocol, individual consultancy contracts, duty travel in support of operational activities. This role ensures delivery of HR services aligned with local operational requirements, host country regulations, and Rome duty station practices, while ensuring compliance with organizational plans, policies, procedures, guidelines, standards of performance, ethics, and integrity.

In addition, the People & Culture officer is also responsible for providing support to ensure quality assurance of services provided in HR-operational support – local protocol services, entitlement travel and low value individual contracting.  

The People & Culture officer, when supervising support staff, will be responsible for planning and guiding work in progress and for reviewing work completed by subordinate staff to verify accuracy and compliance with UNICEF policies, procedures, guidelines, standards of accountability, and ethics.   

How can you make a difference....

1. HR Operations and Individual Contracting Support

  • Support the processing of HR services and individual consultancy contracts in accordance with UNICEF policies, procedures and established workflows.
  • Assist in preparing documentation and inputs required for consultancy contracting, including contract requests, amendments and extensions, under supervision.
  • Support CSC colleagues in tracking transactions and timelines to contribute to service delivery within agreed service standards.
  • Escalate issues, exceptions or deviations from standard procedures to the supervisor, as required.

2. HR Transactions and Client Service Support

  • Provide information and clarification to staff and consultants on HR procedures, entitlements and standard processes, referring complex cases to the supervisor.
  • Support the maintenance and updating of onboarding materials, welcome booklets and standard communication templates for incoming staff.
  • Assist in onboarding and offboarding activities, including preparation of Service Gateway requests and coordination with relevant stakeholders. Support coordination of staff wellbeing or information initiatives, as requested and under guidance.

3. Support to Transactional HR Service Delivery

  • Support administrative coordination related to visas, residence permits, duty travel visas, grounds passes and protocol-related requests, in collaboration with service providers and partners.
  • Prepare and submit entitlement-related requests for review and approval by the supervisor.
  • Assist in maintaining records and documentation related to HR transactions, ensuring completeness and accuracy.
  • Support preparation of employment verification letters and standard HR confirmations following established templates and processes.

4. Coordination and Liaison

  • Liaise with internal HR colleagues, GSSC and service providers to follow up on HR service requests and ensure information is exchanged accurately.
  • Support coordination with WFP or other partners on HR administrative matters, as instructed.
  • Share routine HR-related information (e.g. public holidays, deadlines, procedural updates) with staff, following approved guidance.
  • Refer sensitive or complex HR matters to the supervisor for review and direction.

5. Learning and Capacity Development Support

  • Support organisation of staff briefings, onboarding sessions and information clinics in coordination with relevant colleagues.
  • Participate in learning activities to strengthen knowledge of HR policies, processes and systems.
  • Contribute to team activities by sharing lessons learned and supporting smooth delivery of services.
  • Perform assigned tasks as part of the team workplan and receive regular coaching and feedback.

6. HR Data and Record Management

  • Support Assist in maintaining HR records and master data, ensuring information is updated and accurately reflected in relevant systems.
  • Support data collection and basic reporting related to HR transactions and service delivery.
  • Flag inconsistencies or data issues to the supervisor for corrective action.
  • Support basic analysis of transactional data to contribute to service improvement discussions.

 To qualify as a Champion for every child you will have…

 Education:

  • A university degree (Bachelor's) in one of the following fields is required: Human Resources Management, Business Management, International Relations, Social Sciences, or another related field.  

Experience:

  • A minimum of 2 years of progressively responsible and relevant professional experience in Human Resource Management in an international organization supporting shared and/or common services is required.  
  • Demonstrated experience in applying HR policies, procedures, and entitlements is required.
  • Demonstrated experience in managing individual consultancy contracting processes is required.
  • Supervisory experience and providing client services to a large office in HQ or Regional office is required. 
  • Demonstrated experience in analyzing HR data to support decision-making and improve service delivery is an asset.  
  • Demonstrated experience in developing and maintaining standard operating procedures (SOPs) is an asset.  
  • In-depth knowledge of UN-UNICEF HR policies and procedures is an asset.  
  • Demonstrated experience and knowledge of host country administration requirements, including visas, residency, and protocol processes, is an asset.   

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

  • Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)
  • Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
  • Works Collaboratively with others (2)
  • Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
  • Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
  • Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
  • Drives to achieve impactful results (2)
  • Manages ambiguity and complexity (2) are required.

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. 

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.