HR Assistant

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development. UNOPS provides project management, procurement and infrastructure services to governments, donors and UN organisations. Its services can be advisory, implementation or transactional, with the development of the national capacity always in focus.

UNOPS was the first organisation in the world that was awarded the four most prestigious accreditations in project management, including PRINCE2®, and one of five organisations in the world awarded the Gold Level from the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply. For its approach to project management and consistent quality UNOPS received ISO 9001 certification in 2011.

In Serbia, UNOPS has been active since 2000, became the Project Centre (RSPC) in 2012, and was reclassified, due a growing portfolio, to Operations Centre (RSOC) at the beginning of 2017. Since 2017, RSOC operations have expanded to North Macedonia, Georgia and Montenegro.

UNOPS has been a reliable partner primarily of the Government of Serbia, and later of the Governments of North Macedonia, Georgia and Montenegro, in providing support for demanding socio-economic reforms and facilitating accession to the European Union.

In particular, the HR Assistant will perform following tasks:

Support to policy development and implementation:

• Contribute to HR policy development and corporate HR initiatives by assisting to collect data on trends, risks and opportunities and sharing local HR best practices.
• Assist with projects in support of HR initiatives for attainment of business objectives in line with the corporate HR strategy.

Advisory Services:

• Provide advice and guidance to personnel on administrative procedures, processes and practices for delivery of HR services.
• Act as liaison between unit and internal and external clients and provides proactive customer service to expedite completion of projects, and provide information.
• As an interlocutor of HR, ensure that new hires' first impressions are positive and that they have all in-processing information completed.
• Advise hiring management and guide personnel on routine elements of UNOPS recruitment and performance management processes, and learning and development initiatives, resources, and plans.

Talent Acquisition and Administration:

• Support the completion of recruitment processes including offers and rejections, and updating recruitment on-line information system in line with UNOPS policy. 
• Undertakes reference checking, elements of  longlisting, and organization of testing and interviews; fee calculation, minutes of general-service recruitments,
• Finalizes selection and other process approvals.
• Inform and advise UNOPS personnel, consultants, partners and project personnel on routine aspects and elements of their conditions of service and entitlements according to their contract modality, expediting actions to facilitate their efficient, timely, and client-focused onboarding.
• Research precedents and present recommendations to supervisor, taking into account institutionalized exceptions. Undertake research on a range of HR related issues and assist in the preparation of notes/reports.
• Maintain monitoring systems, advising the supervisor on the status of pending requests and approaching deadlines.
• Answer questions and follow-up with personnel and management to ensure completion of absences requests, performance management cycle, and other HR processes etc. in electronic information systems.
• Liaise with relevant HQ and UN system units to exchange information and follow up on pending issues.
• Set up and maintain reference files/records.
• Follow up or process payroll verification.
• Monitor status of HR actions to facilitate timely action by supervisor and line management, including on transactions initiated, expiring appointments/contracts, and pending separation actions.
• Manage record maintenance; including personnel file systems as well as provision of related statistical summaries and tracking movements of UNOPS personnel within the relevant business unit/s.

Knowledge building and knowledge sharing

• Provide support to the organization, facilitation and/or delivery of training and learning initiatives for personnel on HR-related topics.
• Provides sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice by synthesizing of lessons learnt and dissemination of best practices in human resources.
• Collect feedback, ideas, and internal knowledge about processes and best practices and utilize productively.

• Secondary school diploma is required
• First University Degree preferably in Human Resources Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, or equivalent disciplines will be considered as an asset

Work Experience

• Minimum of five years of relevant experience in an international and/or national organization in providing HR advisory, recruitment, HR-generalist services and/or support services is required. 
• BA degree may substitute for some years of experience.
• Proficiency in computers and office software packages (MS Office) and experience in handling of web-based management systems is required.
• Some experience in UN system organizations is desirable
• Experience in use of HR information systems or Enterprise systems is desirable.
• Knowledge of UN policies, procedures and practices highly desirable

Language Requirements

• Fluency in Serbian and English is required

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.