Assc Reg HR Officer

Associate Regional Human Resources Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT:

Associate Regional Human Resources Officer will function under direct supervision of the Senior Regional Administrative or Regional Human Resources Officer. Incumbent will manage HR related activities within the region, through direct supervision, coaching and guidance to locally recruited administrative staff responsible for the personnel administration and other HR related matters.  He/she will assist the Senior Officer responsible for Administration/ Human Resources in the process of staffing and budget reviews, recruitment and appointment of staff, and in the performance management and staff welfare issues. Incumbent will have close working relationship with the staff-related services in UNHCR, such as the Personnel Administration & Payroll Section, Recruitment & Postings Section, Performance Management, Medical Service, Staff Welfare and Global Learning Centre. He/she will also maintain contact and close cooperation with other UN agencies in the region.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability:

- UNHCR recruits, contracts and deploys staff and makes sufficient use of affiliate workforce in the region to meet its current and future operational needs.
- The workforce in the region is well-informed of and understands the organisation's human resources policies and practices.
- UNHCR's learning programmes and activities build the competencies of its workforce in the region to meet the operational needs and career goals.
- UNHCR provides a healthy, safe and respectful working environment for its workforce in the region.

Responsibility:

- Participate in the preparation of the annual operations programme review submissions of the countries in the region, and in the review of the training needs of the staff, making appropriate proposals to meet identified needs.
- Ensure that UNHCR's workforce in the region has a sound awareness of UN/UNHCR staff rules and regulations (including the Code of Conduct) and is aware of its rights and obligations as well as benefits and entitlements.
- Coordinate timely advertisement and the filling of General Service and National Officer vacancies. Participate in the work of the local/regional Assignments Committee (AC). Provide guidance to managers in preparing their submissions for the AC. Ensure the recruitment, assignment and reassignment of local staff, is performed in accordance with UN/UNHCR rules and procedures.
- Supervise maintenance of the personnel records in the regional office, including MSRP entries into HR module, as well as of the attendance, overtime and leave records.  Provide support, guidance and training to administrative staff performing personnel administration related functions.
- Brief newly arrived international staff on related administrative formalities and ensure all arrangements are expedited in relation to their accreditations, and coordinate their onward travel to the field office, if applicable.
- Supervise administration of UNHCR medical insurance plan for locally recruited staff. Coordinate support to staff and dependants in case of medical evacuation.
- Maintain liaison with the support sections and divisions at headquarters, specifically with DHRM, on matters related to the recruitment and personnel administration support, medical and other issues of staff welfare and safety.
- Perform other duties as required.

Authority:

- Enforce compliance with the UN/UNHCR staff rules and regulations, as well as with the performance appraisal and management system.
- Clear issuance and extension of contracts for locally recruited staff.
- Clear payments related to personnel issues such as settlement of travel claims, overtime claims, hazard pay, MIP reimbursements, medical and security evacuations, shipment costs.
- Represent UNHCR in the working groups/task forces within the country/regional UN inter-agency mechanism on coordination of salary surveys, staff safety and welfare concerns.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED.  :

- University degree in Human Resources Management/Administration, Law or similar disciplines.
- Minimum 4 years of previous relevant work experience in progressively responsible functions in an office that administer/manage a large number of staff, preferably within the UN.
- Good knowledge of UNHCR administrative procedures and processes and exposure to provision of support services in an international organization.
- Excellent knowledge of English and working knowledge of another UN language.

(In offices where the working language is not English, excellent knowledge of working language of duty station and working knowledge of English.)

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES:

- Knowledge of UN/UNHCR field operational realities, especially in hardship duty stations.
- Field experience with UNHCR and/or with other humanitarian organizations is an asset.
- High IT affinity and working experience of PeopleSoft/MSRP HR module, as well as with MSRP Financials and Focus.