INTERN - HUMAN RESOURCES [Temporary]

Org. Setting and Reporting

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) coordinates the global emergency response to save lives and protect people in humanitarian crises. The Human Resources Section, within the Executive Office (EO) is responsible for human resources management in OCHA. It administers the recruitment and placement of staff, manages contracts, benefits and entitlements, reassignments and separations, and develops policy guidance.

This OCHA EO Human Resources internship advertisement is to fill multiple internship positions on a rolling basis, throughout 2019 and 2020. Selected interns will be expected to serve for a minimum period of two months, with an opportunity for extension, depending on the needs of OCHA and the availability of the selected candidate.

The internship may be available in either New York or Geneva, with either the HR Business Partnering and Management Team or the HR Policy and Strategy Team, depending on the needs of OCHA and the preference of the selected candidate.

The internship is UNPAID and full-time.

Interns work five days per week (35 hours) under the supervision of a staff member in the department or office to which they are assigned.

Responsibilities

HR Business Partnering and Management Team (Geneva and New York)

The HR Business Partnering and Management Teams provide a wide range of HR advisory and administrative services to their respective client entities, covering all of OCHA at Headquarters and in the field. Its HR Business Partners work closely with managers on people management matters such as workforce management and capacity gap identification, talent management and development, performance management, change management or recruitment strategies. Its HR Managers are the clients' direct interlocutors on HR administration matters such as questions related to contracts (e.g. duration and extension), re-assignments, leave and other time-management matters, engagement in outside activities, etc.

Daily responsibilities will depend on the individual's background as well as the internship period. Duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Providing assistance to the provision of effective HR administrative services
• Supporting with the maintenance and analysis of HR data
• Assisting with recruitment processes
• Facilitating HR-related projects
• Other relevant tasks as required by the supervisor

HR Policy and Strategy Team (New York only)

The HR Policy and Strategy team ensures that OCHA has a sound policy application environment and approach that enables OCHA to successfully meet its human resources needs. The HR Policy and Strategy Intern will have the opportunity to contribute to a wide range of human resource priorities. Specifically, the Policy and Strategy team: develops OCHA HR and people related policies in line with the OCHA organizational strategy, operational needs, control frameworks, applicable UN common system policy frameworks, and changes in relevant legislation; builds partnerships within the UN system to promote a flexible and innovative approach to addressing common and specific challenges and opportunities; develops OCHA position papers and advice on all matters related to common system HR priorities, including represent OCHA in common system discussions on HR policy matters; develops and enables implementation of organizational strategies and corporate initiatives, such as on gender parity, duty of care, diversity and inclusiveness, learning and development and staff mobility.

Daily responsibilities will depend on the individual's background as well as the internship period. Duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Assisting with drafting and preparation of emails and official documents
• Drafting, editing and reviewing HR policy and/or HR-related documents
• Providing administrative support for meetings, conference and events for the HR section
• Conducting online research on various HR policy and strategy-related issues
• Assisting with the implementation of HR policy and strategy-related activities
• Other relevant tasks as required by the supervisor

Applicants are not required to have professional work experience for participation in the programme.

Competencies

Professionalism:
• 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

Communication:
• Speaks and writes clearly and effectively
• Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately
• Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication
• Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience
• Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed

Teamwork:
• Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals
• Solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others
• Places team agenda before personal agenda
• Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position
• Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings

Education

To qualify for an internship with the United Nations Internship Programme, the following conditions must be met:

• Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
(a)be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
(b)be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent); or
(c)have graduated with a university degree (as defined above) and, if selected, must commence the internship within a one-year period of graduation;

• Be computer literate in standard software applications;

• Have an interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter; and

• Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an asset. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

A completed online application (Cover Letter and Personal History Profile) is required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Your Cover Letter must include:
• Your availability (dates) for the internship.
• Your preference for the Internship to be undertaken in the HR Business Partnering and
Management Team (either Geneva or New York) or the HR Policy and Strategy Team (New York only).
• Your Degree Programme (What are you currently studying or have recently graduated from?)
• Your Graduation Date (When will you graduate or when did you graduate from the programme and field of study?)
• The IT skills and programmes that you are proficient in.

In your online Personal History Profile, be sure to include all past work experiences and three references.

Due to the high volume of applications received, ONLY successful candidates will be contacted.

Visa Requirements for Interns in the U.S.
• The US Mission has advised the UN that starting 1 September 2019, all full-time UN interns who work 35 hours a week, other than those who are US citizens or US permanent residents, will be required to obtain and enter the United States for a UN internship on a G-4 visa; they will not be permitted to obtain and enter the United States for a UN internship on a B-1 visa.
• For any prospective interns who are dependents of a member of a Permanent Mission, they would not need to change their status of G-1 or G-3 but would be required to obtain work authorization. Similarly, dependents of staff members of the UN funds and programmes would also be required to obtain work authorization to engage in an internship with the UN.
• The US Mission has further confirmed that any dependent family members of the intern will also be required to be on the same G-4 visa status as the intern. Therefore, if an intern has a spouse who is on a different visa status, the spouse will also need to convert to a G-4 visa status for the duration of the internship. It would be the responsibility of the intern and his/her dependents to obtain any further required visa to remain in the US after the end of the internship.
• The G-4 visa requirement is only applicable to full-time interns and not to part-time interns.

United Nations Considerations

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. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

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 Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The 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 according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. 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 reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

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.