Human Resources Officer

The United Nation Secretariat maintains rosters of qualified and available candidates to fill anticipated job openings in peacekeeping operations, special political missions, and other field operations. The purpose of this job opening is to generate a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in the roster for Human Resources Officer at P-4 level. The entire assessment process takes an average of six months; all applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application (whether successful or unsuccessful) within 14 days of the conclusion of the process. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently will be invited to apply for field mission vacancies open only to roster members. Roster membership does not guarantee selection.

These positions are located in Peacekeeping Missions and Special Political Missions. Applicants will be expected to serve in hardship duty stations with difficult working and living conditions. An updated list of missions and additional information on working in the field can be found at http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/about/dfs/The Human Resources Officer usually reports to the Head of the Unit, a Senior Human Resources Officer or Chief of Administration.

Within limits of delegated authority, the Human Resources Officer will be responsible for the following duties: (These duties are generic, and may not be performed by all Human Resources Officers.)

RECRUITMENT AND STAFF SELECTION :

Projects and monitors vacant posts of assigned level/group, mission-wide and ensures adherence to policies and procedures in filling these posts.
Manages recruitment process including coordinating with client offices in forecasting and identifying vacancies, preparing job openings, reviewing and screening of candidates.
Review job openings in consultation with hiring managers, ensuring that the evaluation criteria and responsibilities are in line with the approved or classified documents.
Manages the preliminary review, prepares and submits recruitment cases to approving officials/entities. Conducts interviews for selection of candidates. Reviews recommendation on the selection of candidate by client offices. Participates in task forces and working groups identifying issues/problems, formulating policies and guidelines, and establishing new procedures on
recruitment and staff selection. Coordinates and administers language professional examination and other programmes and tests related to the recruitment of professional, general service
and other categories of staff; Manages the recruitment and selection of national staff ensuring the development of job descriptions for approved posts, liaising with the UNHQ on the
classification of such posts, advertising and guiding managers on the selection process in line with UN staff rules and regulations.

ADMINISTRATION OF ENTITLEMENTS AND BENEFITS:

Advises the Head of the Unit or Senior Human Resources Officers on the development, modification and implementation of United Nations policies and practices on entitlements.
Provides advice and guidance to managers and staff on human resources related matters. Reviews the recommendation of level of remuneration for consultants.
Provides advice on interpretation, application and exceptions to policies, staff regulations and rules. Represents the office in joint bodies and working groups relating to salaries and other conditions of service. Supervises the process of knowledge/awareness building amongst the programme managers, senior management and staff members with regard to the staff
rules and regulations, and related guidelines in the administration of entitlements and their strict application by the HR Section, including consistent implementation of delegated authority;
Monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of related guidelines, staff rules HR rules and regulations, practices and procedures, and recommends revisions to Field Personnel Division (FPD) through the CHRO where necessary.

PLANNING AND BUDGET:

Contributes to the mission planning process throughout the mission life cycle by providing analysis and advice on the staffing requirements and the emerging capacity gaps in accordance with the mission’s mandate. Contributes to the budget development process by providing analysis and advice on the human resources requirements and organizational structure of all sections based on the FPD guidelines on budget review. Reviews and reflects recommendations of the staffing reviews into the staffing requirements for purpose of budget preparation;
Constantly reviews and monitors staffing related costs and expenditures in UMOJA/HRIS in line with funds allotment, ensuring that funds for staffing costs are available, and where necessary alerts the Chief Human Resources Officer to follow up with Finance and Budget Office to deploy funds to meet any shortfall; Ensures that expenditures related to staffing are within the budgeted staffing costs, coordinating with the Finance and Budget Units at both the mission and Headquarter levels to ensure availability of funds;
Advises hiring managers on loaning of posts between sections and movement of posts and staff between locations based on the SOP on Staffing table and Post Management, ensuring the integrity of the staffing table as approved in the budget without discrepancy in sections and locations.
Reviews and clears the documentation for submission of classification requests as well as the implementation of classification result.

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT:

Supports the mission in the implementation of the performance appraisal system and monitors its compliance with the proper implementation of the performance management system, providing guidance and substantive support to mission components on standards for the development of service, section, unit and individual work plans.
Coordinates with the Integrated Mission Training Center to organize training/orientation programmes in performance management and supervisory skills as well as work plans.
Ensures full-compliance with the performance appraisal system and provides input to the establishment of Management Review Committee and Joint Monitoring Committee and Rebuttal Panel and acts as their facilitator and ex-offico member. Counsels staff and managers in cases of underperformance and facilitates the implementation of a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) or other remedial measures, when required.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT:

Provides regular information on vacancies and opportunities for the generic rostering system and works with FPD through the CHRO as a conduit for headquarters initiatives and as the initiator of individual career advice and counseling. Advises staff on training opportunities for HR staff as well as staff in general, giving particular attention to developing and implementing career development paths for national staff members; Continuously assesses the skill, expertise and knowledge of the HROs and HRAs, ensuring participation of human resources staff in relevant training programmes and designing individual on-the-job and group training programmes on specific subject matters in the area of human resources management, including in the use of HR IT systems (UMOJA, Inspira, ERP etc).

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE:

Coordinates with interested parties such as the Staff Association(s) and the mission’s Conduct and Discipline component, CHRO, Chief of Staff and/or CMS/DMS, to address and mitigate staff grievances with the purpose of resolving them at the lowest practical level. Develops preventive activities such as training and sharing best practices and recent jurisprudence related to human resources management. In consultation with FPD, coordinate the mission’s responses to formal and informal requests coming from different entities under the Administration of
Justice (AoJ) system and implement decisions applicable to the mission.

STAFF AND MANAGEMENT RELATIONS:

Supports dialogue between the management and international and national staff unions (Field Staff Union and National Staff Committee respectively to discuss HR matters and related staff issues; Together with the CHRO, participates in meetings with staff representatives to address issues affecting the staff and coordinate the quarterly meetings with the Head of the Mission and Director/Chief of Mission Support; Attends, as necessary, general or specific meetings for the staff on issues such as HR aspects of mandate implementation, status of HR reforms and other
organizational change initiatives etc.

Other:
Participates in the development of a set of actionable and targeted change management plans, including coaching and training in order to implement these responsibilities and reports on possible gaps and risks and recommends corrective action. Assists with the development of a communication strategy with a dedicated intranet page on HR issues and regular formal and informal meetings. Provides inputs in the context of the constant dialogue with the Heads of Operations/Administration of UN Country Teams for coordination of national staff
salary surveys, cost of living surveys, and other common policies on in-country entitlements for staff.

• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of human resources policies, practices and procedures and ability to apply them in an organizational setting. Ability to identify issues, formulate opinions, make conclusions and recommendations. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.



• PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.



• CLIENT ORIENTATION: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in human resources management, business or public administration, social sciences, education or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Certification in PRINCE2 or equivalent project management methodologies is desirable. Certification in Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) or equivalent programme methodologies is desirable.

A minimum of seven ( 7) years of progressively responsible experience in human resources management, administrative services, management and analysis or related area is reqiured. Practical experience with the planning and delivery of human resources services in complex, volatile and conflict and post-conflict environments is required. Experience managing staffing, administration, and talent acquisition using enterprise resource platforms is required. Experience working with United Nations common systems human resources and administrative procedures is desirable. Experience implementing change management initiatives is desirable.

English and French are the two working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Working knowledge of French is highly desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

According to 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, including but not limited to, respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to, whether they have committed or are alleged to have committed criminal offences or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on "The Application Process" and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The screening and evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications, including but not limited to, their education, work experience, and language skills, according to the instructions provided on inspira. Applicants will be disqualified from consideration if they do not demonstrate in their application that they meet the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations. Applicants are solely responsible for providing complete and accurate information at the time of application: no amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to a reference-checking process to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at midnight (New York time) on the deadline date.

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.