Human Resources Specialist

Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, the UNOPS Integrated Practice Advice and Support (IPAS) serves all the regions and headquarters, primarily with advice and solutions to everyday implementation challenges. IPAS consists of a diverse team of subject matter experts in the six practice areas of HR, Administration, Legal, Finance, Procurement, Project Management and Infrastructure. IPAS has three main roles:

Support to operations in the field offices: IPAS provides timely advice and supports actively finding of solutions to everyday implementation challenges, based on policy and best practices. It also provides operational support in specific areas.

Business efficiency: IPASrecommends changes to policies, processes and operating standards based on the feedback and experience of the field offices. IPAS also ensures transparent and efficient project implementation, in line with policy and business needs.

Body of knowledge: IPAS contributes to research and coordination within the policy groups and project practitioners. It provides structured knowledge and subject matter expertise which is used across practice areas to provide coherent and tailored advice to the requesting offices.

The IPAS HR Specialist reports to the IPAS HR Team Lead and is responsible for delivering on the three areas of supporting operations, business efficiency and knowledge management. For IPAS HR this translates into daily interactions with country offices and regional offices to provide sound and accurate advice and support on HR matters.

Solution orientation and client focus is key in the interaction with our field offices. This requires establishing trusted relationships with the colleagues in the field, as well as good coordination and collaboration with other IPAS teams, partnering with policy groups in HQ and developing a good understanding of the UNOPS business model.

The incumbent will be expected to travel from time to time.

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

1. Support to policy development and implementation

• Actively contribute with practical knowledge and innovative suggestions to HR policy enhancements and development, corporate HR initiatives, product designs and implementation
• Recommend solutions and process efficiency initiatives
• Manage innovation projects in support of the HR initiatives for attainment of business objectives in line with the corporate HR strategy.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of corporate systems and tools
• Maintain client feedback/suggestions, as well as a log on recurrent challenges and make suggestions for long-term solutions through policy/process change
• Contribute with quality advice to the cross-functional initiatives and projects of IPAS towards more coherent and efficient policies, processes and systems
• Design and lead projects in support of HR initiatives for attainment of business objectives in line with the corporate HR strategy.
• Communicate HR policy changes and new HR initiatives to clients and HQ support team, providing guidance as needed.

2. Advisory support on HR policies and processes

• Provide guidance to HQ and field offices on HR related systems and processes, including but not limited to, Recruitment, Contracts, Benefits and Entitlements to ensure consistency with UNOPS rules and procedures.
• Review requests for exceptions from HQ and field offices, provide sound and elaborate recommendations to policy owners, convey constructive feedback to field offices to ensure capacity development
• Develop a business partnering approach to ensure the highest possible level of service and client satisfaction, assessing and anticipating HR needs to provide value-added consultative service to management on human resource-related issues and maintaining an effective level of business literacy about business units’ objectives and plans
• Support institutional gender and diversity initiatives, providing education and advice on issues related to equity, compliance, inclusion, and diversity.

3. Talent Acquisition and Outreach

• Oversee the application and implementation of talent acquisition and outreach for HQ business units
• Identify key talent areas and provide coherent, well-developed plans for obtaining, developing, and managing critical talent. Develop, utilize recruitment plans, tools and contribute to policy guidance to efficiently and effectively recruit and retain a diverse workforce to meet the needs of the business objectives.

4. Team Management

• Manages the team of HR Associates supporting Headquarters (embedded into IPAS HR), facilitating the engagement and provision of high quality results through effective work planning, coaching, and promotion of learning and development.
• Provide oversight, ensuring compliance by team members with existing policies and best practices.
• Manages the Human Resources Intern, coordinating tasks distributed to him/her and ensuring s/he is offered opportunities to learn and develop his/her professional skills and assigned interesting innovation projects that are completed on time and with the highest possible quality

5. Knowledge building and knowledge sharing

• Oversee team’s contributions to HR knowledge networks and communities of practice including collaborative synthesis of lessons learnt and dissemination of best practices in human resources management.
• Guide team’s collection of feedback, ideas, and internal knowledge about processes and best practices and utilize productively.
• Guide the development and maintenance of HR analytic parameters, trends and data.
• Organize, facilitate and/or deliver training and learning initiatives for personnel on HR-related topics.
• Act as focal point within IPAS HR for contributions to the Human Resources Community of Practice