Human Resources Associate

Background

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. 

UN Women’s triple mandate, along with its global network and deep policy and programming expertise, continues to endow the Entity with a unique capacity to: (i) support Member States to strengthen global norms and standards for gender equality and women’s empowerment, and mainstream gender perspectives in other thematic areas; (ii) promote coordination and coherence across the UN system to enhance accountability and results for gender equality and women’s empowerment; and (iii) undertake operational activities to support Member States, upon their request, in translating global norms and standards into legislation, policies and strategies at country level.

UN Women has played an innovative and catalytic role in the State of Palestine since its inception in 1997 (as UNIFEM). In line with the national priorities, the work of UN Women for the period 2023-2025 is aligned with three of the Palestine United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework’s (UNSDCF) outcomes:

• Palestinians have greater access to economic opportunities that are inclusive, resilient, and sustainable, including decent employment and livelihood opportunities in an empowered private sector.
• Palestinians, including the most vulnerable, have equal access to sustainable, inclusive, gender-responsive, and quality social services, social protection, and affordable utilities.
• Palestinian governance institutions, processes, and mechanisms at all levels are more democratic, rights-based, inclusive, and accountable.

Its three-year Strategic Note supports the efforts to achieve measurable results in the country in terms of four UN Women global Strategic Plan impacts (2022-2025): (SP Impact 1). Governance and participation in public life; (SP Impact 2). Women’s Economic Empowerment; (SP Impact 3). Ending Violence Against Women and Girls and; SP Impact 4. Women peace and security, Humanitarian & Disaster Risk Reduction.

Under the technical guidance of the Regional HR Business Partner and the direct supervision of the Operations Manager, the Human Resource (HR) Associate is responsible for administratively and logistically supporting the recruitment and placement, administration of benefits and entitlements of staff and local external contractors, other HR administration issues and separation of personnel.

Duties and Responsibilities

Administer and implement HR strategies and policies in CO/MCO/RO in full compliance with UN Women rules, regulations, and HR policies and guidelines: 

• Provide general, standard information to the management and staff on HR strategies, rules and regulations; 
• Identify ways in which the administrative needs can be met within existing policies; interpret processes and procedures, anticipate and manage operational requirements; 
• Prepare written responses to queries concerning HR-related matters. 

Provide HR administrative and logistical services to the Country Office (CO) and region in full compliance with UN Women rules, regulations, and HR policies and guidelines:

• Process, draft, edit, proofread, and finalize for approval a variety of correspondence and other communications; maintain files/records, monitor deadlines; 
• Provide administrative coordination in the extension of contracts, processing of national benefits and allowances, and entitlements, and renewal of UNLPs and visas; 
• Input and track all transactions related to positions, recruitment, benefits, earnings/deductions, retroactivities, recoveries, adjustments, and separations through the Quantum system;
• Facilitate responses to audit findings and recommendations;  
• Assume overall responsibility for leave management; record management;  
• Process payment, and administer entitlements for international staff as delegated; validate and coordinate local payroll and related issues; 
• Facilitate staff separation process; 
• Create/update entries of vendors, POs (consultancy contracts), and Receipts in the Quantum system.  

Facilitate and coordinate recruitment processes in full compliance with UN Women rules, regulations, and HR policies and guidelines:

• Draft job descriptions and vacancy announcements; assist in reviewing and processing requests for classification; 
• Screen candidates and facilitate and participate in interview panels as necessary;  
• Prepare recruitment recommendations/supporting documentation for the Central Review Board (CRB); 
• Prepare position establishment, liaise with headquarters, and assure that action is completed;  
• Provide regular recruitment status reports; 
• Provide advice to local recruitment in programmes/projects when necessary. 

Provide administrative support to staff performance management and learning and development in full compliance with UN Women rules, regulations, and HR policies and guidelines:

• Monitor compliance with the performance appraisal review in the office and staff learning and development; 
• Facilitate the preparation of Office learning plans and individual learning plans in consultation with the Operations Manager and HR Business Partner  

Maintain data in relation to HR in full compliance with UN Women rules, regulations, and HR policies and guidelines:

• Maintain and update internal database and files on administrative HR matters in a confidential and secure manner; 
• Generate a variety of standard and non-standard statistical and other reports from various databases; 
• Update position data in the Quantum system, an association of positions to labor distribution), update labor distribution information and set up vendors;
• Perform buyer role on Quantum for consultancy contracts;
• Review and verify personnel payroll distribution report details and exceptions.

 Facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing globally:

• Organize training courses, workshops, information sessions, orientations, and consultations for staff; 
• Provide a synthesis of lessons learned and best practices in HR administration; 
• Liaise with HR headquarters in HR administration and staffing to disseminate information on a variety of HR matters.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Competencies

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Core Competencies:

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

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies:

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES:

• Strong knowledge of HR administration, processes and policies; 
• Ability to administer and execute administrative processes and transactions;  
• Ability to handle information of a confidential nature; 
• Ability to provide inputs to business processes re-engineering, and implementation of new systems; 
• Good quantitative skills; ability to produce reports; 
• Strong IT skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education and Certification:

• Completion of secondary education is required;
• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, or Public Administration is an asset. 

Experience:

• At least 6 years of relevant experience in office administration and/or human resource management;  
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) is required; 
• Experience in the use of a modern web-based ERP System, preferably Oracle Cloud, is desirable. 

Languages:

• Fluency in English and Arabic is required. 
• Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish). 

Application:

Interested individuals must submit the following document to demonstrate their qualifications. Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment.

• UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from ;
• Any application without submitting the above-mentioned document will be a ground for disqualification.

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity, and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)