Chief, HR Administration and Payroll (P4)

Background:

The OSCE has a co-operative and comprehensive approach to security that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human dimension aspects. It therefore addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence- and security-building measures, human rights, freedom of media, protection of national minorities, democratization, rule of law, policing strategies, border management, counter-terrorism and economic and environmental activities. All 57 participating States enjoy equal status and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically, but not legally binding basis. 

The OSCE Secretariat in Vienna assists the Chairmanship in its activities, and provides operational and administrative support to the field operations, and, as appropriate, to other institutions. 

The Department of Human Resources (DHR) ensures that the OSCE benefits from a capable and committed workforce that delivers on the security priorities of participating States. DHR provides a range of human resources services throughout the OSCE and is responsible for the development and review of human resources policies. 

HR Administration & Payroll is one of four business units within the Department of Human Resources. The Unit is responsible for the accurate and timely administration of employee benefits and entitlements through the employee life cycle. The unit develops and delivers timely, client focused and innovative approaches on all aspects of HR administration and ensures the smooth and accurate centralized runs of all payrolls for the OSCE in accordance with the established regulatory framework. 

The OSCE is committed to gender equality. Women are currently under-represented in this grade and female candidates are therefore particularly encouraged to apply. 
 

Tasks and Responsibilities:

The Chief HR Administration & Payroll manages the work of the Unit. Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Director of DHR, the incumbent, as a senior expert in the area of human resources management, provides strategic direction, operative advice and innovative approaches on all aspects of HR administration and payroll management, taking into account OSCE’s values, competencies and principles of duty of care, gender equality, diversity and inclusion. S/he ensures client focused, cohesive and consistent HR services to the Secretariat and RFoM and supports HR professionals across OSCE executive structures. As part of the DHR Senior Management team, and as manager of a team of a large unit, the incumbent strives for team excellence and commitment. More specifically, if selected for this role, you will be performing the following tasks:

1. Providing effective team management by setting clear work plans and priorities, designing and distributing functions, taking into account team members’ strengths and expertise, promoting an inclusive and enabling work environment where team members are positioned to contribute to the maximum; providing for team members’ professional development;
2. Providing high-quality, client focused and accurate HR administration and payroll services in full compliance with the relevant regulations, rules and administrative instructions; striving for business process excellence, leveraging technology and promoting digitalization and automation in the modernization of business processes; developing best practices for service delivery and support of internal and external clients;
3. Ensuring effective communication and proactive advice and support for clients and other stakeholders in the Secretariat, DHR Chiefs of Units, HR counterparts in other executive structures, Heads of Institutions and Missions and relevant HR focal points  of participating States;
4. Closely collaborating with the Talent Acquisition Unit in the administrative on-boarding, ensuring a smooth and timely transition from selected candidate to staff member, and identifying possible synergies and redundancies in the process;
5. Contributing to development/review of HR-related policies, procedures and SOPs, taking into account the principles of duty-of-care, gender equality, diversity and inclusion;
6. Facilitating the work of OSCE social security governance bodies, namely those overseeing the operation of the OSCE Provident Fund and Group Insurance scheme (health and life/accident disability), and Medical Evacuation; providing substantive input for their design taking into account current trends and practices; contributing to tenders and act as contract management focal point;
7. Ensuring the effective financial functioning of the Unit, including budget preparation, implementation and monitoring and that all expenditures are conducted in line with relevant procedures;
8. Reviewing proposals and related material, and offering advice as needed, in connection with HR components of documents pertaining to the OSCE Performance Based Programme Budget cycle;
9. Facilitating implementation of internal and external Auditor’s recommendations
10. Representing DHR in relevant working groups, meetings and conferences;
11. Performing other duties as assigned.

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Secretariat, please see https://www.osce.org/secretariat

Necessary Qualifications:

• Second-level university degree in human resources management, public or business administration, social sciences or other related field; A relevant first level degree with additional years of qualifying experience will also be accepted; 
• A minimum of eight years of progressively responsible professional experience in HR management, including managerial experience in compensation, administration of benefits and entitlements, social security administration, and payroll, preferably in an international organization;  experience in other areas of Human Resources Management is an asset; 
• Proven leadership ability, excellent communication, collaboration, planning and organizational skills and with a strong customer service orientation; 
• Proven experience in business process improvement, automation and digitalization desirable; 
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Professional fluency in English, both in written and oral communication; knowledge of other OSCE official language;
• Ability and willingness to work as a member of a team, with people of different cultural, and religious backgrounds, different gender, and diverse political views, while maintaining impartiality and objectivity;
• Computer literate with practical experience using Microsoft applications and excellent knowledge of HR IT systems required. 

Remuneration Package:

Monthly remuneration is EUR 8,180 depending on post adjustment and family status. OSCE salaries are exempt from taxation in Austria. Social benefits will include possibility of participation in the Cigna medical insurance scheme and the OSCE Provident Fund. Other allowances and benefits are similar to those offered under the United Nations Common System. 

Appointments are made at step 1 of the applicable OSCE salary scale. 

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/. 

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, to offer an appointment at a lower grade or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration. 

Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.

Please note that vacancies in the OSCE are open for competition only amongst nationals of participating States, please see https://www.osce.org/participating-states.

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization.

Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.

The OSCE is a non-career organization committed to the principle of staff rotation, therefore the maximum period of service in this post is 7 years.

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.