Human Resources Specialist

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

The Human Resource Section is responsible for the timely, accurate, equitable, effective and efficient delivery of all human resources management services, i.e. strategic staff planning, recruitment, staff administration, organizational and design and learning/career development, for the continuous development and improvement in human resource operations, policies, and methods to align with UN Women evolving business needs and for providing advisory support to the Executive Director in the formulation and implementation of UN Women's overall mission, strategy and plans of actions.

Under the supervision of the HR Director and in close collaboration with relevant functional leads, the HR Specialist will lead on HR policy development and coordinate the implementation of HR strategies, policies, procedures and Standard Operating Procedures, participates in inter-agency meetings and provides operational support, and other duties as necessary.   

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

The Human Resource Section is responsible for the timely, accurate, equitable, effective and efficient delivery of all human resources management services, i.e. strategic staff planning, recruitment, staff administration, organizational and design and learning/career development, for the continuous development and improvement in human resource operations, policies, and methods to align with UN Women evolving business needs and for providing advisory support to the Executive Director in the formulation and implementation of UN Women's overall mission, strategy and plans of actions.

Under the supervision of the HR Director and in close collaboration with relevant functional leads, the HR Specialist will lead on HR policy development and coordinate the implementation of HR strategies, policies, procedures and Standard Operating Procedures, participates in inter-agency meetings and provides operational support, and other duties as necessary.   

1. Lead on HR policy development and coordinate the implementation of HR strategies, policies, procedures and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure they are in line with UN Women’s goal and objectives and UN Rules and Regulations

• Review and develop new human resources policies, practices and procedures to meet the evolving needs of the Organization, in close collaboration with Legal, the HR Director and the HR Team
• Monitor human resources policies, practices and procedures, and ensure their validity in collaboration with HR Team
• Consult with UN Women management, staff representatives and relevant stakeholders through appropriate channels through the development of human resources policies based on established mechanisms;

• Develop communication strategies to promote awareness, understanding and support for the HR Regulatory framework across the organization;
• Provide interpretation and guidance on UN Women policies and practices, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, as well as exceptions and precedents to senior managers, HR Business Partners, Regional/ Country offices and global community of HR practitioners;
• Promote consistent application of HR policies throughout the organization
• Maintain HR documents in the Policy, Procedure and Guidance Framework

2. Participate in inter-agency fora and working groups on Human Resources

• Participate in various inter-agency working groups and task forces relating to HR policy development, coordination and harmonization as needed
• Participate in network of HR professionals to exchange ideas and best practices; keep abreast of innovations in HR policy formulation;
• Provide technical support to the Human Resources Director in matters relating to HR policy,
• Coordinate preparation of HR-related background documents, talking points, reports and other material for HR Director and senior management

3. Oversee the duty of care and diversity and inclusion portfolio

• Lead the implementation of the UN Mental Health Strategy at UN Women and participate in inter-agency Mental Health working group.
• Coordinate access to psychosocial support for UN Women personnel.
• Assist with developing of an action plan for underrepresented groups within UN Women including outreach, engagement and retention by leveraging analysis of UN Women Leadership Culture survey, Enabling Environment Guidelines, UN Disability Inclusion Strategy, UN Women Disability survey, UN Globe 50 recommendations, UN Women Workforce surveys and other available internal data.
• Promote and monitor initiatives around inclusion, including on personnel with disabilities.

4. Provide coordination and technical support in areas of HR operations, monitoring and compliance\:

• Gather information on, coordinate with colleagues on and provide input to responses for JIU and audit/oversight activities and other reports as required;
• Provide inputs to HR reports including general statistics for Member States, Executive Board, Executive Director, donors and other stakeholders based on global HR data as necessary
• Ensure reports provide accurate data and information before being disseminated to different stakeholders
• Compile, analyze and report on data in relation to workforce and other HR related reporting
• Coordinate preparation of HR-related background documents, talking points, reports and other material for HR Director and senior management

5. Perform any other duties as assigned by supervisor.

1. Lead on HR policy development and coordinate the implementation of HR strategies, policies, procedures and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure they are in line with UN Women’s goal and objectives and UN Rules and Regulations

• Review and develop new human resources policies, practices and procedures to meet the evolving needs of the Organization, in close collaboration with Legal, the HR Director and the HR Team
• Monitor human resources policies, practices and procedures, and ensure their validity in collaboration with HR Team
• Consult with UN Women management, staff representatives and relevant stakeholders through appropriate channels through the development of human resources policies based on established mechanisms;

• Develop communication strategies to promote awareness, understanding and support for the HR Regulatory framework across the organization;
• Provide interpretation and guidance on UN Women policies and practices, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, as well as exceptions and precedents to senior managers, HR Business Partners, Regional/ Country offices and global community of HR practitioners;
• Promote consistent application of HR policies throughout the organization
• Maintain HR documents in the Policy, Procedure and Guidance Framework

2. Participate in inter-agency fora and working groups on Human Resources

• Participate in various inter-agency working groups and task forces relating to HR policy development, coordination and harmonization as needed
• Participate in network of HR professionals to exchange ideas and best practices; keep abreast of innovations in HR policy formulation;
• Provide technical support to the Human Resources Director in matters relating to HR policy,
• Coordinate preparation of HR-related background documents, talking points, reports and other material for HR Director and senior management

3. Oversee the duty of care and diversity and inclusion portfolio

• Lead the implementation of the UN Mental Health Strategy at UN Women and participate in inter-agency Mental Health working group.
• Coordinate access to psychosocial support for UN Women personnel.
• Assist with developing of an action plan for underrepresented groups within UN Women including outreach, engagement and retention by leveraging analysis of UN Women Leadership Culture survey, Enabling Environment Guidelines, UN Disability Inclusion Strategy, UN Women Disability survey, UN Globe 50 recommendations, UN Women Workforce surveys and other available internal data.
• Promote and monitor initiatives around inclusion, including on personnel with disabilities.

4. Provide coordination and technical support in areas of HR operations, monitoring and compliance\:

• Gather information on, coordinate with colleagues on and provide input to responses for JIU and audit/oversight activities and other reports as required;
• Provide inputs to HR reports including general statistics for Member States, Executive Board, Executive Director, donors and other stakeholders based on global HR data as necessary
• Ensure reports provide accurate data and information before being disseminated to different stakeholders
• Compile, analyze and report on data in relation to workforce and other HR related reporting
• Coordinate preparation of HR-related background documents, talking points, reports and other material for HR Director and senior management

5. Perform any other duties as assigned by supervisor.

• Quality and number of HR policies, procedures and guidance revised;  
• Quality of information documents, adjusted to relevant audience;  
• Regular interaction and establishment of joint policy formulation with other UN entities;  
• Timely and quality provision of HR policy advise to HRBPs, Manager and Staff;  
• Timely and accurate coordination of special HR projects to ensure they are on time, on scope, on budget, in line with HR’s annual workplan; 
• Timely implementation of HR administrative and substantive technical support, in close coordination with other HR Business Partners and other HR teams.

• Quality and number of HR policies, procedures and guidance revised;  
• Quality of information documents, adjusted to relevant audience;  
• Regular interaction and establishment of joint policy formulation with other UN entities;  
• Timely and quality provision of HR policy advise to HRBPs, Manager and Staff;  
• Timely and accurate coordination of special HR projects to ensure they are on time, on scope, on budget, in line with HR’s annual workplan; 
• Timely implementation of HR administrative and substantive technical support, in close coordination with other HR Business Partners and other HR teams.

Core Values\:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

Core Competencies\:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Leading by Example.

Functional Competencies\:

• Strong general HR knowledge and expertise with a focus on policy development;
• Experience in recruitment and selection, knowledge of modern concepts and approaches in the field of HR Business Partnering;
• Strong interpersonal skills;
• Strong written and spoken communication skills;
• Ability to write and present ideas, concepts and policy positions;
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information;
• Ability to build and nurture relationships;
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills;
• Possesses a high degree of sensitivity and change management abilities to intercultural personnel and organizational dynamics
• Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize multiple and simultaneous Human Resources related projects and programs in a changing environment.
• Strong understanding of UN Staff Regulations and Rules and human resources policies and procedures is an asset.

Core Values\:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

Core Competencies\:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Leading by Example.

Functional Competencies\:

• Strong general HR knowledge and expertise with a focus on policy development;
• Experience in recruitment and selection, knowledge of modern concepts and approaches in the field of HR Business Partnering;
• Strong interpersonal skills;
• Strong written and spoken communication skills;
• Ability to write and present ideas, concepts and policy positions;
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information;
• Ability to build and nurture relationships;
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills;
• Possesses a high degree of sensitivity and change management abilities to intercultural personnel and organizational dynamics
• Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize multiple and simultaneous Human Resources related projects and programs in a changing environment.
• Strong understanding of UN Staff Regulations and Rules and human resources policies and procedures is an asset.

Education\:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology, Organizational Development, Public Administration or other relevant social sciences.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience\:

• Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in human resource management;
• Experience in policy development in the area of Human Resources is required;
• Previous UN experience is required.
• Minimum 2 years work experience internationally;
• Field experience is an asset;
• Experience in recruitment and selection are an advantage.
• Experience as a HR Business Partner is an advantage

Languages\:

• Fluency in English is required;
• Knowledge of another UN official working language is an asset (e.g. French).

Education\:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology, Organizational Development, Public Administration or other relevant social sciences.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience\:

• Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in human resource management;
• Experience in policy development in the area of Human Resources is required;
• Previous UN experience is required.
• Minimum 2 years work experience internationally;
• Field experience is an asset;
• Experience in recruitment and selection are an advantage.
• Experience as a HR Business Partner is an advantage

Languages\:

• Fluency in English is required;
• Knowledge of another UN official working language is an asset (e.g. French).