HR Senior Associate

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.

In Ukraine, UNOPS support to the partners in their reform agenda since 2017 spans the rule of law, social protection, demining, emergency response and security. The projects are funded by the EU, the Governments of Japan and Canada.

All projects have gender equality as a transversal theme, and have been contextualised within the broader Sustainable Development Goals frameworks and objectives.

Following the increased militarisation around Ukraine’s borders as well as the recognition of the so-called Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics by the Russian Federation, the security situation in Ukraine deteriorated rapidly, with the launch of a military offensive by the Russian Federation on 24 February 2022. Armed violence escalated in at least eight oblasts (regions), including Kyivska oblast and the capital city of Kyiv, as well as in the eastern oblasts of Donetsk and Luhanska which were already affected by conflict. The towns of Mariupol, Kharkiv, Irpin were strongly affected, so resident civilians fled their homes en masse.

Martial law and a state of war were introduced in Ukraine on 24 February 2022, and the general mobilisation of all Ukrainian males between 18 and 60 years old was ordered, while the Ukrainian airspace was closed to civilian users.

The UNOPS immediately launched its Emergency Procurement Procedure (EPP) to enable a faster response to requirements related to the crisis. The EPP provided flexibility in procurement procedures while still ensuring adherence to essential public procurement principles.

Under the direct supervision of HR Officer and the overall direction of the Head of Support Services as well as the technical guidance of IPAS HR, the HR Senior Associate is responsible for administering and implementing services, plans, and processes covering the array of Human Resources Management service lines for optimal employee and talent management, i.e. recruitment, learning, performance management, transition, organizational development, and contract management, S/he serves as the first contact for internal and external clients in resolving questions on processes and procedures and provision of guidance and information related to HR initiatives and services to a wide range of UNOPS clients.

Functional Responsibilities

1. Support to policy development and implementation
2. Advisory Services
3. Talent Acquisition and Administration
4. Team Management
5. Knowledge Building and Knowledge Sharing

1. Support to policy development and implementation

• Contribute to HR policy development and corporate HR initiatives by assisting to maintain data on trends, risks and opportunities and sharing local HR best practices.
• Provide substantive HR expertise to assist in projects in support of HR initiatives for attainment of business objectives in line with the corporate HR strategy.
• Assist to generate strategic and operational workforce data for planning, including related statistical summaries and movements of UNOPS Office/Projects Centre personnel.
• Support the communication on HR policy changes and new HR initiatives to management and personnel, providing guidance as needed.

2. Advisory Services

• Provide guidance on HR related systems and processes including but not limited to Recruitment, Contracts, Position Management, Performance Management, Benefits and Entitlements consistent with UNOPS rules and procedures.
• Provide advice and guidance to personnel on administrative procedures, processes and practices.
• Act as liaison between unit and internal and external clients and provide proactive customer service to expedite completion of projects, and provide information
• As the first face of HR, ensure that new hires’ first impression is positive and that they have all in-processing information completed.
• Advise hiring management on: recruitment processes, UNOPS performance management cycle, development initiatives, and learning plans.
• Advise hiring management and guide personnel on UNOPS recruitment and performance management processes, and learning and development initiatives, resources, and plans.
• Provide advice to supervisors on good practices, policies and procedures in performance management, including managing of underperformance.
• Support the implementation of institutional gender and diversity initiatives, providing education and advice on issues related to equity, compliance, inclusion, and diversity.

3. Talent Acquisition and Administration

• Provide client advice and submit transactional HR service data (normally within the ERP system) including but not limited to:
• Recruitment and Selection: such as requisition initiation, longlisting, statutory body approvals, selection reports, offers and rejections.
• Transactions:
• Position actions (coordinate position classification and reclassification actions);
• Contracts (initial, extensions, separations, status change actions);
• Calculation of fees for ICA personnel
• Inform and advise UNOPS personnel, consultants, partners and project personnel on their conditions of service and entitlements according to their contract modality, expediting actions to facilitate their efficient, timely, and client-focused onboarding.
• Manage recruitment processes ensuring best practices are used for effective and efficient talent acquisition in line with UNOPS policy. Utilize and maintain recruitment plans, tools and policy guidance to efficiently and effectively recruit and retain a diverse workforce to meet the needs of the business objectives. Maintain personnel rosters.
• Liaise with UNOPS’ HR related groups such as SSC on personnel administration matters.
• Research precedents and present recommendations to supervisor, taking into account institutionalized exceptions.
• Establish and maintain monitoring systems, advising the supervisor on the status of pending requests and approaching deadlines. Follow up on team work processes to ensure clearance, approvals and timely workflows
• Monitor status of HR actions to facilitate timely action by supervisor/ line management and personnel

4. Team Management

• Facilitate the engagement and provision of high quality results and services of the team supervised through effective work planning, performance management, coaching, and promotion of learning and development.
• Provide oversight, ensuring compliance by team members with existing policies and best practices

5. Knowledge building and knowledge sharing

• Organize, facilitate and/or deliver training and learning initiatives for personnel on HR-related topics.
• Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice by synthesizing of lessons learnt and dissemination of best practices in human resources.
• Collect feedback, ideas, and internal knowledge about processes and best practices and utilize productively.
• Undertake research on a range of HR related issues and contribute data as well as draft notes/reports.
• Liaise with relevant HQ and UN system units to exchange information and follow up on pending issues.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

<pEducation

• Completion of Secondary education required. First University Degree in Human Resources Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, or equivalent disciplines is desirable.
• Knowledge of UN policies, procedures and practices highly desirable

Experience

• • Minimum of seven years of relevant experience in an international and/or national organization in providing HR advisory, recruitment, and/or HR-generalist, support services or Bachelor’s degree + 3 years of experience in an international and/or national organization in providing HR advisory, recruitment, and/or HR-generalist, support services
    – Some experience in UN system organizations is desirable
    – Proficiency in computers and office software packages (MS Office) and experience in handling of web-based management systems is required.
    – Experience in use of HR information and/or Enterprise systems is desirable

Language Requirements

• Full knowledge of the working language is essential (English, Ukraine)
• Knowledge of another official UNOPS language is an asset

Contract type, level and duration

This is a local position, it is therefore open to Nationals of Ukraine and to individuals who have a valid residence/work permit.

Contract type: Ongoing ICA
Contract level: Local ICA Support- LICA 7 (ICS7)
Contract duration: Open-ended subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and/or to satisfactory performance

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

Additional Considerations

• 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.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and it is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, or disability.
• 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 staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• 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.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• 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.