Human Resources Specialist – P3  

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a champion

UNICEF is a leading humanitarian and development agency working globally for the rights of every child. Child rights begin with safe shelter, nutrition, and protection from disaster and conflict, and traverse the life cycle: pre-natal care for healthy births, clean water and sanitation, health care, and education. UNICEF has spent nearly 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Working with and for children through adolescence and into adulthood requires a global presence whose goal is to produce results and monitor their effects. UNICEF also lobbies and partners with leaders, thinkers, and policymakers to help all children realize their rightsespecially the most disadvantaged.

How can you make a difference?

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Business Partnering

• Serve as the single point of contact for his/her client portfolio on advice pertaining to all aspects of the employment life cycle
• Provide accurate and timely advice to clients on HR processes and policies, ensuring the highest level of client orientation.
• Proactively advise clients on the resolution of human resources issues ensuring equitable and transparent solutions that protect both the staff and organization’s interests in accordance with policies, regulations, and procedures.
• Promote the organizational goals and targets for gender equity and cultural diversity.

Strategic Human Resources

• Liaise with the HQ Divisions, and regional and country offices to support and contribute to corporate HR strategy formulation and global implementation. Provide feedback and make recommendations on the establishment and improvement of HR systems, policies, and processes.
• Keep abreast, research, benchmark, and implement best and cutting-edge practices in HR management contribute to the development of global policies, and procedures, and introduce innovation through sharing of best practices and knowledge learned.

Implementation of assigned Human Resources Services

• Provide support to various or one specific HR occupation (recruitment, job classification, career development, performance management, data analytics, learning & development, etc.) to help their supervisors implement efficient client services that help either attract, retain, and/or motivate staff of the highest caliber.
• When assigned casework in the relevant area on either a routine or non-routine basis, analyze and synthesize issues and problems, and interpret established, formal guidelines to address and recommend solutions or further actions required.

Learning and Capacity Development

• In collaboration with business owners, design and deliver learning plans for staff to enhance their knowledge and build skills in new areas.
• Contributes to the mapping of competencies for all staff in assigned client portfolios, assisting in the development of a comprehensive framework in support of the development of the talent pipeline.
• Recommend efficient and cost-effective learning products that strengthen staff capacity to contribute effectively to business goals.
• Participate as a resource person in capacity-building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders.
• Provide orientation briefings to new staff.
• Provide day-to-day performance and talent management guidance to line management (e.g., coaching, counseling, career development, career conversations, and disciplinary actions). 

HR Data Analytics

• Interpret and analyze HR data to help inform strategic decision-making on HR processes and strategies.
• Develop data collection systems to optimize data quality.
• Coordinate with country offices and partners to provide assistance in their HR information management.

Skills Required:

Strategic

• Experience and ability to implement targeted and innovative human resources strategies to address clients’ people-related needs.
• Ability to implement innovative HR programs within a fast-paced, evolving, and wide organizational setting.

Technical 

• In-depth technical knowledge of the principles and concepts of human resources management.
• Ability to identify and analyze systemic issues, formulate opinions, and make conclusions and recommendations to resolve the same.
• Excellent knowledge of organizational and HR information technology systems and tools.

Interpersonal and Communication

• Demonstrated 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.

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

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

Experience:  Five years of increasingly responsible professional experience in human resource management in an international organization and/or large corporation is required.

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.

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

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

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 benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
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. 

Remarks:

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

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also 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.

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.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

This is how cinfo can support you in the application process for this specific position:

• Before you apply for this position: Improve your application documents by registering for a Job Application Support.
• When invited to the interview: Prepare for the interview by registering for a Job Application Support.
• For Swiss nationals who get invited to the first round in the selection process (written test, interview, assessment centre, etc.):
  • Please let us know so that we can inform our HR partners from the respective organisation and the Swiss Government to increase  your visibility: [email protected]
  • Benefit from free interview preparation by registering for a Job Application Support.