Profile - Head, Field Human Resources Office

UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to their plight. UNRWA’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions. For its international team, UNRWA is seeking expressions of interest from qualified professionals for the following profile:

Profile – Head, Field Human Resources Office

The Head, Field Human Resources Office (HFHRO) is responsible for managing and monitoring the Agency’s most valuable assets, its people. More specifically, the HFHRO’s responsibilities involve attracting and retaining talented individuals, building trust, motivating staff, ensuring that staff possesses the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to perform their responsibilities, and preparing employees for future challenges. The incumbent is the principal Adviser to the Director of Field Operations and his/her Deputies on all human resources matters. Technical guidance and advice are received from the Director of Human Resources. In accordance with the established Agency policy and procedures, the incumbent will:

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide strategic advice and support to the Field Director and his/her deputy, managers and staff on human resources related matters including but not limited to recruitment, appointment, transfer and assignment of Area staff in the Field and International staff to professional level P3, temporary staffing arrangements, management of reassignments and disciplinary issues. Provide reports on all HR related activities, prepare special reports and participate and/or lead special human resources projects. Keep abreast of developments in various areas of human resources, as well as design and implement a comprehensive communication plan whereby the staff and community are kept abreast of issues related to HR matters;
• Manage, supervise and monitor the work of the Field Human Resources Department team in carrying out all human resources transactions including preparation of personnel actions, maintenance of staffing tables and processing of contracts. Ensure timely response of the team to all requests on human resources related matter and be responsible for setting the Human Resources strategic plan/vision. Provide coaching, mentoring and training to the Field Human Resources staff members;
• Ensure the application of Staff Regulations, Rules, Personnel Directives and Instructions, and other statements of policy governing the duties, obligations, privileges, benefits and entitlements of Agency staff. Provide guidance and assistance to the Office of the Field Director and Field Departments on related matters and act as principal point of liaison between the Director and the Area Staff Unions. Provide advice and/or mediates in work-related conflict situations;
• Plan, develop and implement recruitment strategies for the efficient and timely hiring and placement of staff including management of applicable on-line recruitment system, preparation and circulation of vacancy announcements, developing of assessment tools, evaluation of applications, and conducting local recruitment campaigns. Provide guidance to hiring managers on job reviews and development of post descriptions, arrange for/or chair Area staff and non regular staff Interview Panels and make consequent decisions or recommendations to the Field Office Director or his /her deputy. Prepare job offers for successful candidates, review and recommend level of remuneration for consultants, coordinate the placement of interns and volunteers, and administer their related issues. Manage and improve the use of area staff rosters utilized in the field. Design, coordinate and provide relevant statistical information and data on field recruitment activities, effectiveness of media, gender analysis etc., collaborate with gender experts and provide information to interested groups regarding employment opportunities;
• Review and provide advice on exceptions to policies, regulations and rules, administer and provide advice on salary and related benefits, travel, and social security entitlements, determine and recommend benefits and entitlements for staff on the basis of contractual status. Support salary and entitlement surveys. Inform and explain to staff in respect of rights, responsibilities, code of conduct, sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), harassment/prohibited conduct policies and difficulties associated with work and entitlements;
• Have overall responsibility for the assessment, implementation and evaluation of the Field’s Performance Management System. Assist and advise the Field Director and his/her Deputy and Heads of programmes in determining appropriate staff development plans. Maintain confidential central records of the Field Human Resource processes including grievances and complaints and coordinates their resolution, and where appropriate liaises with Field Legal Officer/consultant to resolve cases and prepare responses to requests for Decision Reviews. Ensure transparent, fair and consistent application of disciplinary measures and reviews, and provide advice on policies that would prevent recurring conflicting situations;
• Provide advice to the Field Director and/or his/her deputy regarding HR planning. Participate in the preparation and development of a yearly HR plan and oversee its implementation; evaluate the outcomes of the plan and takes necessary actions, as required;
• Oversee the preparation and delivery of training and development programmes and of staff mobility programmes to build the capacity of the field staff. Evaluate effectiveness and impact of staff development and career support programmes and recommend ways to enhance effectiveness and impact.

Professional Knowledge and Experience

• Advanced university degree from an accredited educational institution in human resources management, business administration, social sciences or related discipline;
  • Eight years of progressively responsible experience in human resources management including staff administration, recruitment, training and development, with at least three years of experience as head of an HR Division or team leader in an HR department, in a large governmental, international or commercial organization, including experience in developing countries; including two years of international experience outside one’s home country;
• Excellent command of spoken and written English.

Competencies

• Demonstrated in-depth technical knowledge of all aspects of human resources management with proven analytical skills. Commitment to implementing the goals of gender equality as set out by the Agency;
• Ability to develop clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies and capability to monitor and adjust plans and actions as necessary;
• Ability to reach objective and reasoned positions and to articulate these   clearly;
• Proven ability in working independently in addition to leading and working as part of a team, managing their output. Providing advice, coaching and mentoring as required;
• Established skills in building productive internal and external work relationships at all levels;
• Ability to negotiate persuasively a range of problems, to take and defend collaborative decisions that include sensitive, complex and contentious issues and to advise managers and staff on different options to meet client needs;
• High level of motivation, initiative and creative thinking; good judgment;
• Ability to work to tight deadlines on multiple tasks, often under pressure;
• High degree of tact, diplomacy and discretion.

Desirable Qualifications

• Advanced computer literacy and knowledge of HR database;
• Membership, or eligibility for membership, of a registered HRD professional body;
• Working knowledge of Arabic and/or any other UN language;
• Knowledge of UN Rules and Regulations;
• Knowledge of Middle Eastern cultures and employment practices.

Additional Information

The incumbent will be required to reside in the field of assignment and to travel in the Agency’s area of operations in the Middle East, as and when required.

Equivalency

When the minimum requirements are not fully met, the Director of Human Resources may exceptionally substitute part of the unmet requirements with a combination of relevant academic qualification, additional professional training and progressive relevant work experience. NB: Work experience alone or formal qualifications with no relevant work experience are not considered an acceptable combination.

Conditions of Service

UNRWA offers an attractive compensation package at P-4 level. Benefits, subject to eligibility, include education grant, dependency allowance, home leave, pension fund, health insurance and 6 weeks of annual leave. Additional benefits apply for certain duty stations. All UNRWA duty stations (with the exception of Gaza and Syria) are family duty stations. Initial contract for regular appointments is for two years, with the possibility of further extensions subject to the availability of funds and the continuing need for the post. Temporary appointments may also be offered.

How to Submit an Expression of Interest

Please register at http://jobs.unrwa.org by creating a personal profile and completing UNRWA Personal History Form. Please note that UNRWA only accepts degrees from accredited educational institutions. Profile postings are utilized to facilitate sourcing of candidates for regular recruitment needs. Expressions of interest will be reviewed as needed.

General Information

UNRWA is a United Nations organization whose staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, neutrality and impartiality. This includes respect for and commitment to human rights, diversity, and non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. UNRWA staff are expected to uphold these values at all times, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. UNRWA is a non-smoking work environment.

The statutory retirement age for staff entering or re-entering service in the UN Common System after 1 January 1990 is 62 and 65 after 1 January 2014. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete a term of appointment will normally be considered.

On appointment, all individuals will be asked to sign a self-attestation, confirming that they have not committed, been convicted of, or prosecuted for, any criminal offence and that they have not been involved, by act or omission, in the commission of any violation of international human rights law or international humanitarian law.

Date of issue: 25 January 2017/ NH