Org. Setting and Reporting
Created in December 1999, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is the designated focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of efforts to reduce disasters and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organizations and activities in both developed and less developed countries. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG), UNDRR has over 120 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional offices. Specifically, UNDRR guides, monitors, analyses and reports on progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, supports regional and national implementation of the Framework and catalyzes action and increases global awareness to reduce disaster risk working with UN Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians and the science and technology community. The project position is part of the Human Resources Unit, in the Resource Planning and Management Section of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) in Geneva, Switzerland. The incumbent reports to the Head of Human Resources Unit, under the overall supervision of the Chief of the Resource Planning and Management Section.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Human Resources Officer will be responsible for the following duties: General • Provides advice and support to managers and staff on human resources related matters. • Prepares special reports and participates and/or leads special human resources projects related to process improvement and other initiatives on diversity and inclusion (geographical representation, gender, inclusion of person with disability), outreach, staff engagement, and learning and development. Supports the Head of HR unit in the implementation of HR related action plans. Participates and represents UNDRR in UN Secretariat HR initiatives/pilot project as required. • Extracts, designs, analyses, and maintains complex human resources reports. Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. • Keeps abreast of developments in various areas of human resources. Recruitment and placement • Identifies upcoming vacancies in coordination with client offices. • Provides guidance to hiring managers on the application of classification policies and procedures and by undertaking whole office review. • Prepares classification analysis of jobs in Professional and General Service and related categories. Submits classification requests to UNOG, provides clarification to classification officers when required. • Supports and guides hiring managers throughout the recruitment process. Ensures the recruitment KPI is closely monitored by putting in place all the necessary actions to comply with this timeline. Coordinates and guides the HR Assistants in the preparation of vacancy announcements, review of applications, and screening. • Arranges and conducts interviews to select candidates, when required. • Reviews recommendation on the selection of candidate by client offices. • Serves as ex-officio in appointment and promotion bodies, examinations boards, and prepares and presents cases to these bodies. • Monitors and evaluates recruitment and placement related activities of client offices, and recommends changes or corrections related to procedures to these offices. • Guides the Human Resources Assistants in carrying out all human resources administrative transactions. Administration of entitlements • Provides advice on interpretation and application of policies, regulations and rules. Reviews and provides advice on exceptions to policies, regulation and rules. • Reviews policies and procedures and recommends changes as required. Consultant and individual contractors • Advises client offices in the policies related to the contracting of consultant and individual contractors • Reviews and recommends level of remuneration for consultants. • Reviews and raises consultant and individual contractors’ contracts in Umoja. Staff development and career support • Identifies and analyzes staff development and career support needs and designs programmes to meet identified needs. Prepares monitoring reports on staff development and career support programmes. • Provides advice on mobility and career development to staff, particularly young professionals and staff in the General Service and related categories. • Provides internal UNDRR HR briefing to new staff members. • Provides performance management advice to staff and management. Assists supervisors and staff with understanding and using the performance appraisal system. • Assesses training needs, identifies, designs and delivers training programmes to staff at all levels throughout the Organization. • Participate in the implementation and monitoring of the action plan of the Staff Engagement survey for UNDRR. Other duties • Advises and counsels staff in respect of rights, responsibilities, code of conduct and difficulties associated with work and entitlements. • Assists in preparing policy papers, position papers and briefing notes on issues related to human resources. • Acts as Officer in Charge of the HR unit in the absence of the Head of HR Unit.
Competencies
•Professionalism: Knowledge of 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. 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. •Planning& Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. •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. •Technological Awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in human resources management, business or public administration, social sciences, education or related area is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Job – Specific Qualification
Certification in Prince 2 Foundation is desirable.
Work Experience
A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in human resources management, administration or related area is required. Two (2) years of experience in data analytics and complex report extraction/design is desirable. Experience in recruitment processes as a recruiter at the United Nations or similar international organizations is desirable. Experience in advising client offices on HR rules and regulations in staff and non-staff recruitment is desirable. Experience working in Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP) System, such as Umoja or similar, is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
This is a project post. Appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. In line with the overall United Nations policy, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction encourages a positive workplace culture which embraces inclusivity and leverages diversity within its workforce. Measures are applied to enable all staff members to contribute equally and fully to the work and development of the organization, including flexible working arrangements, family-friendly policies and standards of conduct. Individual contractors and consultants who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months, irrespective of the administering entity, are ineligible to apply for professional and higher, temporary or fixed-term positions and their applications will not be considered. Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position.
United Nations Considerations
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. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. 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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The 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 according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. 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 reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.
No Fee
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.