This position is located in the Division of Administration, Human Resources Management Service (HRMS) , United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG). The Human Resources Officer works under the direct supervision of the Deputy Chief of HRMS and overall guidance of the Chief, HRMS.
Within delegated authority, the Human Resources Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
•Develops and implements human resources policies, practices and procedures; participates in and/or leads special projects and human resources management reform initiatives to meet the evolving needs of the Organization.
•Reviews and provides advice on interpretation, application of and exceptions to policies, regulations and rules.
• Keeps abreast of developments in various areas of human resources.
•Participates in task forces and working groups identifying cross-cutting issues/problems, formulating guidelines, and establishing new working procedures with the aim to creating streamlined enhanced HR processes.
•Plans, organizes, manages and supervises the work of the Unit/Section assigned.
•Provides advice on mobility and career development to staff at all levels in all categories.
•Provides performance management advice to staff and management. Assists supervisors and staff with understanding and using the performance appraisal system (PAS).
•Assesses training needs, identifies, designs and delivers training programmes to staff at all levels throughout the Organization related to new HR policies and their technical implementation in Umoja. Prepares lessons learnt and knowledge management documentation.
•Delivers ad-hoc presentations on HR–related issues to external audiences as required.
•Projects and monitors vacant posts and ensures adherence to policies and procedures in filling these posts.
•Oversees preparation of job openings, review of applications and submission of short-lists to substantive offices.
•Arranges and conducts substantive assessments and interviews for selection of candidates.
•Reviews recommendation on the selection of candidate by client offices.
•Serves as ex-officio in or secretary to central review bodies, prepares and presents cases to these bodies.
•Supervises, coaches and monitors the work of the junior Human Resources Partners in undertaking the full range of human resource management activities.
•Prepares responses to internal and external audit observations; assists in the review of reports by audit/inspection bodies and contributes to implementation of audit observations.
•Prepares, monitors and analyses various reports and statistics.
•Reviews costing of HR services, establishes HR benchmarks and indicators in order to assist in the development of Memoranda of Understanding and Service Level Agreements with UNOG clients.
PROFESSIONALISM:
Thorough knowledge of United Nations common system human resources policies, practices and procedures and ability to apply them in an organizational setting. Ability to identify issues, formulate opinions, make conclusions and recommendations on HR policies. Ability to conduct research and analysis. Proven analytical skills and strategic thinking. Good understanding of entitlements and benefits for the full range of staff administered by UNOG, including language staff. 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.
ACCOUNTABILITY:
Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.
CLIENT ORIENTATION:
Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.
MANAGING PERFORMANCE:
Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly.
JUDGEMENT / DECISION-MAKING:
Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in human resources management, business or public administration, social sciences, education or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in human resources management, recruitment, administration of entitlements or related area is required. Experience in designing and delivering HR-related training and presentations is required. Experience in working with ERP systems is required. At least three years of experience in the implementation/interpretation of the UN Staff Regulations and Rules, human resources policies and procedures in the United Nation Common System is desirable.
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English and French is required. Knowledge of another UN official language would be an advantage.
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by competency-based interview.
Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds.
Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.
The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.
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, including but not limited to, respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to, whether they have committed or are alleged to have committed criminal offences or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
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 At-a-Glance on "The Application Process" and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.
The screening and 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, including but not limited to, their education, work experience, and language skills, according to the instructions provided on inspira. Applicants will be disqualified from consideration if they do not demonstrate in their application that they meet the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations. Applicants are solely responsible for providing complete and accurate information at the time of application: 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 a reference-checking process to verify the information provided in the application.
Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at midnight (New York time) on the deadline date.
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.