UNV Human Resources Policy Officer in USA

UN VOLUNTEER DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT USAR000014--UNV Human Resources Policy Officer The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that promotes volunteerism to support peace and development worldwide. Volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development and it benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for volunteerism globally, encouraging partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing volunteers.In most cultures volunteerism is deeply embedded in long- established, ancient traditions of sharing and support within the communities. In this context, UN Volunteers take part in various forms of volunteerism and play a role in development and peace together with co-workers, host agencies and local communities.In all assignments, UN Volunteers promote volunteerism through their action and conduct. Engaging in volunteer activity can effectively and positively enrich their understanding of local and social realities, as well as create a bridge between themselves and the people in their host community. This will make the time they spend as UN Volunteers even more rewarding and productive.

General Information

Country of Assignment United States

Host Institute United Nations Secretariat

Volunteer Category International Specialist

Number of Volunteer 1

Duration 12 months

Expected Starting Date 01-10-2018

Duty Station New York [USA]

Assignment Place Non-Family Duty station

Assignment Place Remark

Reasonable accommodation:

The UN system is committed to creating an inclusive workplace, and commits to taking appropriate measures to enable persons with disabilities to access employment opportunities and benefit equally from employment-related opportunities by providing reasonable accommodation. In this context, “reasonable accommodation” means necessary and appropriate modification and adjustments not imposing a disproportionate or undue burden, where needed in a particular case, to ensure to persons with disabilities the enjoyment or exercise on an equal basis with others of all human rights and fundamental freedoms[1]. Should applicants may need reasonable arrangements to facilitate their interview and assessment during the recruitment and selection process, please submit your request in your application

[1] Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Article 2

Living Conditions

22 Jun 2018 Page 1 of 7 New York City is a cosmopolitan duty station that offers diversity in lifestyle and culture. The incumbent will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. Regarding accessibility of the city, see for instance nyc.com.

United Nations Headquarters in New York were designed to address the real-life accessibility requirements of all persons, following

the 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design, as well as international best practices. See SG Report

A/71/344 “Towards the full realization of an inclusive and accessible United Nations for persons with disabilities”.

Assignment Details

Assignment Title UNV Human Resources Policy Officer

Organizational Context & Project Description

Organizational Context:

The UNDP-UNV Talent Programme for Young Professionals with Disability

The incumbent will be recruited under the UNDP-UNV “Talent Programme for Young Professionals with Disabilities”, the pilot of

which is being funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The programme aims at

increasing the inclusion of persons with disabilities into the workforce of the United Nations, and at building a talent pipeline of highly

qualified professionals with disabilities who can contribute to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at

national and global levels. Initially the Programme will focus on engaging professionals with physical and sensory disabilities and

with a particular focus on women with disabilities.

The UN Secretariat

The UN Secretariat is one of the six main organs of the UN. It is organized along departmental lines, with each department or office

having a distinct area of action and responsibility. One of these Departments is the Department of Management

(http://www.un.org/en/hq/dm/), of which the Office of Human Resources Management (OHRM, see

http://www.un.org/en/hq/dm/hr.shtml) is a part. Offices and departments coordinate with each other to ensure cohesion as they

carry out the day-to-day work of the Organization in offices and duty stations around the world. At the head of the United Nations

Secretariat is the Secretary-General.

The Policy and Conditions of Service Section (PCSS)

The UNV Human Resources Policy Officer will serve in the Policy and Conditions of Service Section (PCSS) of the Human

Resources Policy Service (HRPS) of the Office of Human Resources Management (OHRM). The PCSS consists of a team that

includes the Chief of Section, Human Resources Officers, Associate Human Resources Officers, Senior Human Resources

Assistants and Human Resources Assistants. The core functions of the PCSS are:

To develop human resources policies according to the Secretary-General’s human resources management strategy in

consultation with management and staff representative bodies, as appropriate; prepare amendments to the Staff Regulations

for submission to the General Assembly; draft or coordinate revisions to the Staff Rules and administrative issuances setting

out rules, policies and procedures; and approve the publication of all administrative issuances, information circulars and

official forms;

To contribute to the development of a common system human resources policy in the areas of compensation and conditions

of service, and in the review and expansion of common services in the human resources area; contribute to the work of inter-

agency bodies, including the High-level Committee on Management and the Human Resources Network, and represent the

United Nations at the International Civil Service Commission; and monitor the implementation of policy instructions and

guidelines related to salaries, allowances and other entitlements, providing substantive support to legislative bodies during the

consideration of these issues.

Supervisory framework:

Establishment of a work plan: during the first month of the assignment, the UNV HR Policy Officer will work jointly with his/her

direct supervisor to finalize and agree upon a work plan. The final work plan will be discussed and mutually agreed to by the

UNV HR Policy Officer and his/her supervisor.

Evaluation: the United Nations Performance Management and Development System (e-performance) will serve as a primary

22 Jun 2018 Page 2 of 7 platform to evaluate the UN Volunteer’s performance. Ongoing discussions will take place between the supervisor and supervisee throughout the reporting period. The incumbent will be receiving general verbal and written guidance on a regular

basis as well as on the job-training and counselling, coaching, training and mentoring by the supervisor as well as by other HR

Policy Officers in the team as necessary. He or she is expected to work independently, including undertaking the necessary

consultations with officers in other departments/offices of the UN Secretariat as well as Funds and Programmes under the

overall supervision of the Chiefs and/or other HR Policy officers in PCSS.

Project Description:

Projects and organizational developments in which the UNV Human Resources Policy Officer will be involved include the following:

In his report A/72/492, the Secretary-General is looking at a wide range of management reform measures to enable the UN

Secretariat to be more efficient, agile and nimble including through a simplified and streamlined policy framework and an

enhanced delegation of authority framework combined with new strengthened monitoring / oversight mechanisms to ensure

greater accountability. In that context, PCSS has launched the “simplification and streamlining of the UN policy framework

(SSPs) Project. The first phase of the project will consist of the presentation of the SG’s report containing proposed

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amendments to the staff rules and regulations at the 73 session of the GA.

In addition, in December 2016, the General Assembly, in its resolution 70/244, approved a new common system

compensation package which includes, inter alia, a unified salary scale; the introduction of a dependent spouse allowance;

changes in periodicity for granting step increments; a revised grant scheme (with a global sliding scale); changes in eligibility

requirements for repatriation grant; and a revised package of benefits for staff members who relocated. PCSS performs key

activities to support the implementation of the new compensation package

Ongoing and future activities include:

Providing support to OHRM and Umoja colleagues in the context of implementation of the new compensation package;

SSPs Project: Participating in a holistic comprehensive review of the legal/policy framework for Human Resources, including

staff regulations and rules, and existing human resources-related issuances (SGBs, AIs, ICs, guidelines) in particular those

affecting field operations;

Reviewing the new Policy Handbook to meet the needs of HR practitioners, staff members and other users, especially those

in field operations;

Implementing communications and outreach learning activities to various stakeholders with a view to enhance awareness of

existing policies and build capacity for operational implementation and interpretation of human resources policies throughout

the global HR community of the UN Secretariat;

Developing tools that facilitate policy formulation, consultation and review processes established in the UN Secretariat and

developing tools to improve the advisory and policy interpretation services provided by the Section, including workflow

improvement.

Sustainable Development Goals 8. Decent work and Economy Growth

UNV Focus Area Securing access to basic social services

Task description

Description of Tasks:

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of the Human Resources Policy Service and Chief of the Policy and Conditions of Service

Section (PCSS), the UNV Human Resources Policy Officer will:

Participate in the development of new human resources policies and make recommendations on practices and procedures, in

the development and implementation of the Secretary-General’s proposals, including those directly related to field operations;

Participate in the comprehensive review of existing human resources-related issuances (Secretary-General’s bulletins,

administrative instructions, information circulars), with a view to streamline, consolidate and abolish or amend outdated

issuances to better support operational requirements in the field;

Conduct background research, including but not limited to academic studies, private and public sector best practices, other

UN organizations’ strategies, General Assembly and ICSC decisions; and prepare policy opinions, studies, briefs, reports and

correspondence including on field-related activities;

22 Jun 2018 Page 3 of 7 Provide policy advice on substantive and procedural questions related to administration and management of staff to human resources officers, executive officers, administrative officers and managers in all locations including field duty stations;

Assist managers, supervisors and staff in all locations with understanding and interpretation of human resources policies;

Review requests for revision of existing forms or preparation of new forms; prepare forms incorporating technical

specifications and substantive requirements from submitting offices/departments; and maintain up-to-date catalogues of all

forms;

Participate in the review of the recently launched electronic HR Handbook on the new HR Portal by comparing it for instance

with the structure of the old HR Handbook, eliciting feedback from HR practitioners including in field operations on the new HR

Handbook and proposing solutions for enhancement to ensure accuracy, relevance and effectiveness within the Organization;

Support the maintenance of relevant guidelines, develop learning materials and contribute in the preparation, review and

finalization of internal standard operating procedures (SOPs), workflow processes and other relevant tools working in

collaboration with other HR and administrative entities of the UN Secretariat, including field operations;

With the guidance and under supervision of the HRPS professional staff, to conduct a study of the underlying core concepts of

the disability and reasonable accommodation in the workplace and a research on the prevailing outside best practice in the

implementation of those concepts with a major focus on the reasonable accommodation and awareness raising, as well as to

participate in the monitoring by OHRM of the implementation of the UN Secretariat policy on employment and accessibility for

staff members with disabilities (ST/SGB/2014/3);

Participate as PCSS representative in meetings or working groups within the Office for Human Resources Management or

with other departments and offices;

Engage with UN Agencies based in New York and elsewhere to exchange best practices, policy, approaches and share

experiences pertaining to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the UN system and workforce.

Furthermore, participants in the Talent Programme are required to:

Strengthen their knowledge on the SDGs and the United Nations Development System;

Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external

publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);

Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNDP and UNV publications/websites, newsletters,

press releases, etc.;

Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to

use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:- Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by

reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International

Volunteer Day)- Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country- Provide annual

and end of assignment reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities using UNV’s Volunteer Reporting Application-

Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.-

Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers- Promote or advise local groups in the use of online

volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever

technically possible.

Results/Expected Outputs

Results/Expected Outputs:

As an active OHRM team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to OHRM in

the accomplishment of her/his functions.

Provide a final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as

reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

• The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring and formal on-the-job training, when working with (including

supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counter-parts, including Implementing Partners (IPs); • Age, Gender and Diversity

(AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment • A final

statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development dur-ing the assignment, such as reporting on the

number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed

22 Jun 2018 Page 4 of 7Qualifications/Requirements

Required Degree Level Bachelor degree or equivalent

Education - Additional Comments

a. Qualifications, skills, experience:

The incumbent must be a dynamic, multi-functional person, who supports OHRM with professionalism, dedication and client

orientation. The following qualifications are required:

Hold a Bachelor or Master level degree or be enrolled in a university degree at Bachelor or Master level in human resources

management, public or business administration, law or related area;

Experience in drafting and editing documents is desirable;

Experience in providing policy interpretation and advice in an international organization is desirable;

Experience in drafting policy documents, Staff Rules and Regulations within the UN common system or other

intergovernmental organization is desirable;

Experience in researching legal and/or human resources databases/resources is desirable;

Interest in the UN and adaptability to a multicultural environment;

Strong commitment to working for sustainable development and human rights.

Languages: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations. For this post, fluency in spoken and written

English is required. Knowledge of French is highly desirable.

Driving license: not required.

Computer skills: proficiency in computer systems, including word processing and spreadsheet applications, is required (Microsoft

Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, etc.).

Required experience 0 months

Experience Remark

Qualifications/Requirements:

To be eligible to apply to the UNDP-UNV Talent Programme for Young Professionals with Disabilities, candidates should:

Be no more than 35 years of age;

Be a person living with a physical or sensorial (hearing or visual) disability.

Work experience will be an advantage but not a requirement.

Language Skills

English (Mandatory) , Level - Fluent

AND - French (Optional) , Level - Working Knowledge

Area of Expertise

Human resources management and development Mandatory

Area of Expertise Requirement

Driving license: not required.

Computer skills: proficiency in computer systems, including word processing and spreadsheet applications, is required (Microsoft

Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, etc.).

22 Jun 2018 Page 5 of 7 Need Driving Licence No

Competencies & Values

Accountability

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Communication

Integrity

Planning and Organizing

Respect for Diversity

Working in Teams

Conditions of Service and other information

Condition of Service Click here to view Conditions of Service

Conditions of Service for International Specialist:

The contract lasts for the period indicated above with possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and

satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment.

A UN Volunteer receives a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) which is composed of the Monthly Living Allowance (MLA) and a Family

Allowance (FA) for those with dependents (maximum three).

The Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) is paid at the end of each month to cover housing, utilities, transportation, communications and

other basic needs. The VLA can be computed by applying the Post-Adjustment Multiplier (PAM) to the VLA base rate of US$ 1,602. The

VLA base rate is a global rate across the world, while the PAM is duty station/country-specific and fluctuates on a monthly basis

according to the cost of living. This method ensures that international UN Volunteers have comparable purchasing power at all duty

stations irrespective of varying costs of living. The PAM is established by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) and is

published at the beginning of every month on the ICSC website http://icsc.un.org.

For UN Volunteer entitlements, kindly refer to the link Calculator

In non-family duty stations that belong to hardship categories D or E, as classified by the ICSC, international UN Volunteers receive a

Well-Being Differential (WBD) on a monthly basis.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are provided a settling-in-grant (SIG) at the start of the assignment (if the volunteer did not reside in the

duty station for at least 6 months prior to taking up the assignment) and in the event of a permanent reassignment to another duty

station.

22 Jun 2018 Page 6 of 7 UNV provides life, health, permanent disability insurances as well as assignment travel, annual leave, full integration in the UN security framework (including residential security reimbursements).

UN Volunteers are paid Daily Subsistence Allowance at the UN rate for official travels, flight tickets for periodic home visit and for the final

repatriation travel (if applicable). Resettlement allowance is paid for satisfactory service at the end of the assignment.

UNV will provide, together with the offer of assignment, a copy of the Conditions of Service, including Code of conduct, to the successful

candidate.

Application Code USAR000014-2880

Application procedure

To be eligible to apply to the UNDP-UNV Talent Programme for Young Professionals with Disabilities, candidates should:

Be no more than 35 years of age; Be a person living with a physical or sensorial (hearing or visual) disability.

Work experience will be an advantage but not a requirement.

* Not yet registered in the UNV Talent Pool?

Please first register your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/signup. Important: After creating your account, complete all sections

of your profile and submit it. Then go to ‘My Page’ at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink.

Lastly, select the special call to which you would like to apply.

* Already registered in the UNV Talent Pool?

Please first update your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/profile. Then go to ‘My Page’ at

https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink to select the special call to which you would like to

apply.

Application deadline: 13-07-2018

Disclaimer

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme which welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are

committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture.

22 Jun 2018 Page 7 of 7