Human Resources Specialist (Re-advertised)

Based in Geneva, the Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECR) supports UNOPS offices throughout the region through: management, financial and programmatic oversight of global and country-specific portfolios, clusters and operations centres, including hosting services; fund and management advisory services; project implementation; procuring goods and services; and managing human resources.

ECR ensures that projects are executed to the highest standards, providing a shared knowledge base and ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are disseminated between business units and projects across the entire region.

 ECR strategy is to:

• Strengthen UNOPS role in operationalizing the Sustainable Development Goals with particular emphasis on health, environment and economic development.
• Position UNOPS in the Balkan sub-region, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
• Strengthen the implementation of ECR global and regional programmes, with revitalized partnerships in infrastructure, procurement and project management.

ECR operates global portfolios from offices in Geneva, Brussels and New York, and country-specific programmes from its operations and project centres located in Eastern Europe and Central Asian countries.

The UNOPS Portfolio Management Team (PMT) is looking for a Human Resources Specialist to effectively provide human resources (HR) administration and management for the SUN Movement Secretariat (SMS) and the SUN Movement Pooled Fund team. The Human Resources Specialist will work closely with the SUN Senior Operations Manager and SUN Chief of Staff, as well as team leads, to provide Human Resources support and strategic advice to SUN management, as well as support the functional review process and lead on the implementation of the final recommendations.  

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Head of Support Services, the Human Resources Specialist will closely work with the Portfolio Manager and and Senior Operations Officer. He/she will be a key member of the team that provides a range of implementation support services to ensure rapid and compliant delivery of all aspects of the programme. In particular, the HR Specialist will focus on HR support to the SUN Movement Secretariat and Pooled Fund personnel (ICA and TA/FTA), including recruitments, support and guidance on HR policies, entitlements and benefits, performance management systems, leave requests and monitoring, etc. 

Functional Responsibilities

• Actively work with the Senior Operations Officer and the PMT to ensure full compliance of HR activities with UN rules and regulations, UNOPS policies, procedures and strategies; help establish effective implementation of the internal control and functioning of the SUN Movement Secretariat’s (SMS) and Pooled Fund HR workstream 

• Provide HR advice to senior management on issues related to staff and organizational set up;

• Review and coordinate incoming requests relating to SMS and Pooled Fund recruitments, contract extensions, transfers, exchange or loan, and onboarding and separation of staff, consultants, or contractors, ensuring documentation is complete and in conformity with HR policies and procedures. 

• Within delegated responsibility, manage the daily SMS and Pooled Fund’s human resource activities, e.g.: recruitment, drafting job descriptions, obtaining job classification, posting vacancy announcements, assisting hiring managers with screening of candidates, organization of interview panels, placement, training. 

• Coordinates the entire onboarding and separation cycle of personnel (onboarding/exit agenda, welcome message, farewell message, badge, office equipment, office set up, etc); briefs staff and consultants regarding entry/exit details, office management and procedures, conditions of service, duties and responsibilities, benefits  and entitlements, and quick action to facilitate their taking up the assignment or separating on a timely basis; 

• Support the planning and running of the functional review process of SMS and Pooled Fund and lead on the implementation of the HR recommendations. 

• Initiate recruitment outreach activities, to improve the quality of applications, gender parity  and geographical  diversity.

• Manage and coordinate the preparation of SMS and Pooled Fund HR work plans, budgeting, and progress monitoring and reporting.

• Develops and implements HR plans and tracking tools to monitor recruitment status and other indicators for management and recruitment purposes.

• Monitors and tracks status of requests, initiating follow-up action to ensure selection review submission is timely, accurate, and contains complete documentation.

• Reviews and prepares Requests for Personnel Action (RPA) forms to ensure correct budget allocation, and for separating staff, verification that no financial obligations are due to UNOPS.

• Reviews consultants’ qualifications and experience and drafting of Terms of Reference; conducting desk reviews minutes; determining daily remuneration to be paid in accordance with the established fee schedule.

• Performance management: coordinates the performance appraisal process ensuring that mid-term review and annual performance reports are duly completed. Support supervisors and supervisees in performance and under-performance management;

• Prepares offer of appointment as well as the salary/fee computation for review.

• Administration of contracts in online systems, including monitoring and tracking of all transactions related to positions, recruitment, HR data, etc. within delegated responsibility.

• Acts as focal point for SMS and Pooled Fund for the transition and implementation of the HR modules of the new OneUNOPS ERP platform, and perform related training needs.

• Liaison with UNOPS HQ HR and BSSC as required for contract administration.

• Coordinate the leave and absences management system for the SMS and Pooled Fund personnel, ensuring that leave records are always correctly maintained and up-to-date (an Audit requirement).

• Support for effective learning management and individual learning plans in collaboration with the senior management.

• Development and secure maintenance of the HR recording and archiving systems in accordance with UNOPS record retention policies.

• Synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices in human resources.

• Performs other related duties as instructed.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

• A work plan including a timeline will be formulated and agreed with the supervisor with clearly defined outputs, milestones and reporting requirements.

• Successfully meeting deadlines based on work plan

Education 

• An advanced degree in Human Resources, Psychology, Marketing, Business Administration or other related field is required.

• Alternatively, a combination of Bachelor’s degree with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience, may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree. 

Work Experience 

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience with master’s degree or 7 years’ relevant experience with bachelor’s degree at the national or international level in providing Human Resources support services is required.

• A proven track record of successful Human Resources and project/programme support is required.  

• Previous work experience with the United Nations is strongly desirable. 

Language

• Fluency in English is required. 

• Fluency in another UN language is desirable. 

Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement

• 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.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• 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
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• 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.