Human Resources Officer, P-2, Programme Group, New York, NYHQ, #117179

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, a champion

The PG HR Team provides advice, guidance and HR solutions to all Programme Group teams, located in 13 locations.  It has a matrix line to all PG Directors. The HR function in PG uses a people-centric approach which aims to promote a diverse and highly inclusive workplace culture to effectively implement the Programme strategies. It also ensures that PG attracts, develops, and retains high quality talent, both in terms of gender and geographical diversity, to facilitate the effective and efficient implementation of the Programme. It promotes the creation of a safe, healthy and respectful workplace that cultivates excellence, innovation and commitment to delivery of results for children whilst nurturing talents and providing avenues for growth and development to its staff.

How can you make a difference? 

The HR Officer reports to the HR Specialist, with the overall guidance from the Senior HR Manager for close guidance, training and supervision. The HR Officer executes HR services through applying knowledge of theoretical HR models, as well as understanding of organizational HR policies and procedures.

The HR Officer will be responsible for providing strategic and process improvement support to HR Business Partnering including recruitment and talent management. He/She will support PG in various facets of the Human Resources function and will have a primary focus on understanding and driving efficiencies in human resources management. This role will directly support employees and managers at PG to provide solutions to their queries as well as directing employees to query specific experts within the partnership.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

• Business Partnering : Provide support, accurate and timely advice to clients on HR processes, policies and resolutions of HR issues
• Strategic Human Resources: liaising with other HR stakeholders, support and contribute to corporate HR strategy implementation and make recommendations on establishment and improvement of HR systems and processes in Programme Group, whilst keeping abreast and implement best and cutting edge practices in HR management.
• Support to Implementation of assigned Human Resources Services: Help supervisor and the PG-HR team in implementing efficient client services by providing support to various specific HR occupation (recruitment, career development, performance management etc.) as well as providing strategic advice on implementation of the HQ Efficiency Initiative.
• Learning and Development: Support the design and delivery of learning plan for staff and provide individual career advice and and feedback on their career aspirations. Assist to the skills mapping exercise and support in the development of a comprehensive framework for the management of a talent pipeline, through identification of cost effective learning product enabling skills and competencies enhancement.
• HR data analytics: collect, interpret and analyze HR data to help informed decision making on HR processes, strategies, support the development and implementation of data collection systems to optimize data quality.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Human Resources Officer, P-2, PG NYHQ, New York.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

[Include the vacancy requirements aligned to the category and level of the position. You can see examples in the branded VA example.]

• Education: A University Degree in human resource management, business management, international relations, psychology or another related field is required.

• Work Experience: At least two years of relevant professional experience in human resources, including generic experience in talent management functions is required.

• Relevant experience in human resources system management with a broad view of the information system environment in an international setting or large corporation is required.

• Excellent knowledge of information technology systems and tools is required
• Relevant experience in data analytics and reporting is required
• Prior experience working in the UN System or other international development organizations is desirable.

• Skills (optional):

  Technical 

•  

  Advanced knowledge of the principles and concepts of human resources management.

•  

  Ability to identify issues, conduct rigorous research, and make conclusions and recommendations.

• Strong research, planning and organizational skills.

• Excellent knowledge of information technology systems and tools.

  Interpersonal and Communication

• Ability to communicate effectively in a diverse organization tailoring language, tone, style and format to match audience.

• Ability to empathize with client managers, supervisors and staff while advocating for consistent and equitable applications of promulgated HR regulations and rules.

• Language Requirements:

  Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.
• Relevant experience in the development and delivery of learning, capacity building, and transfer of knowledge strategies, plans, and training programs (including training materials) is desirable.
• Prior experience working in the UN System or other international development organizations is desirable.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per 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.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates with disability are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

In this role, you will collaborate with colleagues across multiple locations. For effective collaboration, we encourage flexible working hours that accommodate different time zones while prioritizing staff well-being.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.