Senior Officer Human Resources (HRBP) Ukraine & Impacted Countries

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies (NSs). The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member NSs and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.

In late February 2022 a new phase in the armed conflict in Ukraine started with the intensification and spread of hostilities affecting many parts of the country and causing major concern for the protection of civilians and essential civilian infrastructure. This intensification started after months of rising political and military tensions – and eight years of conflict in and around Eastern Ukraine where an estimated 2,9 million people were already in need of humanitarian assistance and 1,4 million were internally displaced. Within two weeks of the intensification, more than 2,5 million people from Ukraine had fled and been evacuated to seven neighboring countries and beyond and several million are estimated to be displaced inside the country.

The evolution of the war inside Ukraine and massive population movement forces the humanitarian community to adapt operational approaches and implementation in accordance with the developing situation, both inside and outside Ukraine. However, the needs are massive and have been described as the largest European humanitarian operations since World War II.

IFRC has launched an Emergency Appeal for Ukraine and impacted countries in March 2022 that is coordinated on a European regional level and was supported in the initial months by a large number of Surge delegates in the impacted countries and in the European Regional Office.

Job Purpose

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT (continued)

ICRC, IFRC and numerous Partner National Societies (PNSs) are integrating their capacities to provide coordinated crisis response in Ukraine and the neighboring countries. Operations are led and coordinated on country-level whenever possible, integrated under existing Country and Cluster delegations, through Operations Managers reporting to Heads of Country or Cluster Delegation. Where no Country or Cluster delegation exists, Operations Managers report directly to the Regional Office. Resources to support all or several impacted countries from a regional level will be fully integrated into existing structures at the Regional Office.

This position is based in Budapest, Hungary and providing support to the Regional Office for Europe and Ukraine & Impacted Countries.

Job Purpose

Under the supervision of the Regional HR Manager and the technical guidance of the Regional Operations Manager, Ukraine & Impacted Countries, the Senior Human Resources Officer (HRBP) Ukraine & Impacted Countries will be responsible for the end-to-end employee life cycle, coordination of workforce planning, recruitment, contract management, HR administration, staff onboarding & offboarding, for international and national staff under the Ukraine Emergency Appeal as well as compliance, and adherence with IFRC Regulations and policies. The role will work closely with the Global Mobility, Emergencies & NS Engagement and Surge Optimization teams in Geneva. Furthermore, the role will deliver key trainings, including inductions, and support PSS initiatives to ensure the wellbeing of staff is prioritized. Where relevant the post-holder will be expected to manage employee relations and complex cases and mentor and/or build the capacity of regional HR staff.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

1. Workforce Planning and Recruitment

• Focal point for the Fit for Purpose workforce plan, including defining roles and appropriate organisational structure for staff in Region Europe.
• Ensure all units are resourced with appropriate personnel, prioritising critical roles.
• Work on the overall longer-term response or recovery structure for the IFRC in Ukraine & Impacted countries and the Regional Office for Europe.
• Liaise with the HR in-country and/or Regional office on recruitment and other matters related to staff.
• Manage end-to-end recruitment processes by providing support in drafting job descriptions, identifying job requirements, grading positions with close collaboration with GVA HR, shortlisting candidates for interviews, participating in recruitment panels, calculating remuneration offers, performing background checks and conducting relevant negotiations with selected candidates.
• Advise hiring managers on the engagement of different categories of IFRC personnel, including interns, volunteers, consultants, Staff on Loan (SoL) and IFRC staff (national and International).
• Prepare and update the databases used in the process such as recruitment tracker and vacancies databases.
• Archive the process files as required.
• Participate in the implementation of strategies aimed at maintaining the highest standards of integrity, candidate diversity as well as fairness and transparency in the Recruitment and Selection process.
• Contribute to the development of strategies to enhance candidate and new hire experience.
• Direct a process of organizational development that addresses issues such as succession planning, workforce development, key staff retention, organization design, workflow efficiency and change management.

2. HR Business Partner

• Provide guidance as a trusted advisor to management within the Regional Office and Ukraine & Impacted Countries, offering insights and solutions to enhance employee engagement and productivity.
• Contribute to and manage the implementation of change management initiatives, helping staff and leaders navigate organizational transitions effectively.
• Co-create by contributing to performance management programs and manage the full implementation process, ensuring a continuous and effective process of developing goals and sharing feedback and coaching.
• Provide guidance as a trusted advisor on complex employee relations issues and concerns, resolving conflicts, promoting a positive work environment and culture of open communication.
• Advise management and staff on complex contractual matters and on the application of HR policies and Staff Regulations.
• Inform, guide, and advise managers and staff on HR policies, processes and procedures and ensure compliance with these by pointing out the legal and financial risks and other possible consequences of non-compliance.
• Promote a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Collaborate with managers to understand HR priorities and goals and develop an implementation plan aligned with organizational priorities.
• Identify talent needs and develop strategies for attracting, retaining, and developing high-performing teams.
• Build compliance by providing advice and recommendations to managers on rules and regulations, as well as other legal requirements based on IFRC Regulations.
• Advise leadership on HR compliance matters and participate in audits as needed.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

3. Induction, Onboarding & Onboarding

• Implement and organize, in collaboration with other units, the induction and on-boarding of incoming international and national staff.
• Implement exit formalities in collaboration with all relevant parties including conducting exit interviews. Gather data, identify trends, and formulate recommendations based on findings, highlight trends, and share analyses for Senior Management and take follow-up action as needed.

4. HR Management and Administration

• Advise management on people management issues in accordance with IFRC policy and procedure.
• Develop and manage practical and secure HR information systems.
• Undertake benchmarking review on compensation and benefits to determine appropriate salary scales regarding to national staff.
• Effectively manage investigations, disciplinaries and breaches of the IFRC Code of Conduct.
• Support and develop HR staff assigned to the Regional Office Europe, Country Delegations and Country Clusters under the Ukraine Emergency Appeal.
• Oversee compliance to Fundamental Principles, IFRC Code of Conduct and IFRC operational procedures.
• Advise management and, where necessary, deliver training on matters of Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, workforce gender and diversity and whistle-blower policies and systems.
• Analyse and maintain HR trends and data to influence decision making.
  

5. Staff Wellbeing

• Promote staff wellbeing and respond to needs as they arise.
• Collaborate with staff health, security, and psychosocial support (PSS) colleagues to agree on best ways to address staff wellbeing.

6. HR in Emergencies

• Focal point for HR in Emergencies and responsible for HR mobilization, planning, and coordination.

7. Contribution to the Building of an Effective, High-Quality HR Team

• Be Officer in Charge in the absence of the Regional HR Manager.
• Contribute to the continued improvement of regional HR metrics and their tracking to generate valuable information and facilitate decision making.
• Be actively involved in broader projects and policy development activities and contribute to wider process improvement initiatives.
• Ensure support in registering and updating master data in the organization’s HR systems.
• Provide back-up support in the absence of other team members.

Duties applicable to all staff

1. Actively work towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat’s goals
2. Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles
3. Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager

Education

Required:

• Relevant university degree (HR/ Business Administration or equivalent).
• Qualification in Human Resource management or equivalent knowledge gained through relevant experience.

Experience

Required:

• Minimum 5 years’ experience of providing HR services to managers or relevant stakeholders.
• Experience working internationally and/or in resource-poor environments
• Experience in recruitment and selection.
• Experience in writing and adapting policies and procedures across different country/legal contexts.
  

Preferred:

• Experience in capacity building with partners, staff and/or volunteers.
• Experience working in an emergency response operation.
• Experience in managing investigations, disciplinaries and issues of misconduct.
• Experience working within a volunteer-based organisation.
  

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required:

• Extensive knowledge of HR practices (recruitment, workforce planning, contract management, HR administration, staff onboarding & offboarding).
• Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret and communicate data.
• Demonstrated mentoring, consulting, and coaching skills.
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication and organizational and planning skills.
• Ability to work in a cross-cultural and cross functional environment.
• Well-developed networking and relationship management abilities.
• Excellent diplomatic, influencing skills.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Fluently spoken and written English.

Preferred:

• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of talent management practices.
• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic). Knowledge of Hungarian will be considered an asset.

Competencies, Values and Comments

Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability.
Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust.
Functional competencies: Strategic orientation; Building alliances; Leadership; Empowering others.

Comments: This is a national staff position open to candidates who are legally eligible to work in Hungary. Candidates must be able to provide proof of their eligibility to work in Hungary.