Korean Junior Professional Officer Programme – Human Resources Analyst (Donor relations, outreach, and recruitment)

This post is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) scheme sponsored by the Government of the Republic of Korea, it is addressed exclusively to candidates of the Republic of Korea and includes Specific Requirements for the JPO Programme of the Republic of Korea. This is a one-year fixed-term appointment, with the possibility of renewal for a maximum of two years.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency dedicated to eradicating rural poverty and hunger. It does so by investing in rural people. IFAD finances programmes and projects that increase agricultural productivity and raise rural incomes, and advocates at the local, national, and international level for policies that contribute to rural transformation.

The Corporate Services Department (CSD) provides IFAD with the human resources, administrative services, safety and security and information technology resources required to allow IFAD to meet its objectives of enabling rural people to overcome poverty.

Within CSD, the Human Resources Division (HRD) is a strategic, integrated and fully trusted professional partner with IFAD managers and staff, providing best practice HR policies, advice, and service, all of which are designed to recruit and retain the best and most appropriate talent to carry out IFAD’s mission. HRD has a team of experts responsible for various HR occupations, such as recruitment, administration of entitlements, classification, staff development, performance management, social security, to meet its above-stated mandate.

The Business Partner Unit, representing the largest unit within the division is staffed by business partners, each assigned a client portfolio of offices and divisions, and responsible for HR service delivery including: strategy advice and guidance, support to change management initiatives, advisory services on staff and career development, social security including pension and medical services, leading recruitment, selection and on-boarding, staff servicing, consultants management, performance management, and ad hoc HR projects – linked to corporate priorities.

Position Title of Overall Supervisor:  Chief, HR Business Partner Unit

The JPO will be assigned in support of various initiatives within the BPU and will work in close collaboration with all the units in HRD. Within his/her areas of responsibility, the JPO will contribute to providing reliable HR programme delivery. S/He will also support ongoing outreach and recruitment activities and contribute to ad hoc as well as long-term HR projects and initiatives.

The JPO will work under the overall strategic, policy and management advice, and supervision of the Director of the Human Resources Division (HRD) and the direct supervision of Chief, HR Business Partner Unit. S/He will also report AVP/CSD on specific corporate level initiatives.

DONOR RELATIONS

• Support the Chief, BPU, in managing special staffing programs with donors, such as the Internship programmes, Junior Professional Programme (JPO), the Senior Programme Officer programme, Fellowship programmes, and Partnership programmes.
• Support the Chief, BPU, in establishing and managing staff exchanges, temporary assignments, secondments to/from other International Financial Institutions, Governments and Public Institutions.
• Liaise with donor representatives from Member States on matters related staff exchange programmes.
• Support running of JPO programme, including the definition of Memoranda of Understanding (MoU), identification and update of JPO positions, timely and accurate processing of HR-related steps regarding to JPOs, preparation of reporting for donors.

OUTREACH

• Assist in developing new approaches and mechanisms to attract candidates of high quality and from diverse backgrounds.
• Source potential candidates through specific channels, with particular respect to online channels, social platforms, professional networks, hosting or participating in career events and job fairs.
• Continuously remain abreast of the latest trends in the field of talent acquisition to further and promote the Organization’s brand and reputation as an employer.
• Manage a variety of outlets, such as job postings and social media, and effectively target the right kinds of candidates for the job.
• Seek out and recommend creative new ways of sourcing talent.
• Continuously monitor and evaluate the outcome of outreach activities through the analysis of staffing trends across the Fund.
• Contribute to IFAD’s outreach and employer branding exercises, providing support and undertaking outreach activities such as job fairs and presentations at various forums.
• Identify reporting mechanisms to report on effectiveness and best use of different channels with respect to strategic recruitment priorities (e.g. gender and geographical diversity)

RECRUITMENT

• Support HR Business Partners in reaching out to managers, supervisors and staff of client division portfolios and provide advice and guidance on a range of HR regulations, rules, and procedures.
• Contribute to a successful and timely recruitment cycle by partnering with client divisions to set target timelines and staff profiles, and providing advice on outreach strategy, appropriate assessment tools, shortlisting, and evaluating candidates.
• Research, propose and implement state-of-the-art initiatives on the use and modernization of recruitment tools.
• Contribute to monitoring trends and patterns in recruitment.
• Run recruitment processes aligned with level of experience.

VARIOUS

• Provide support to critical initiatives led by the AVP/CSD.
• Participate in ad hoc or long-term human resources projects and initiatives, manage projects, and prepare reports.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) from an accredited institution in Human Resources Management, Public Administration, Business Management or other job-related field.
• Degree must be an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php

Experiences

• At least two years of experience in human resources management with exposure to donor relations, preferably in a multi-cultural organization or national organization providing support on a global scope.

Languages

• Fluency in Korean and English languages.
• Certificate of English proficiency test: Applicants should score a minimum of (i) TOEFL iBT 100 or (ii) TEPS 430 or (iii) IELTS 7 or (iv) TOEIC 900
  • TOEFL ‘Home Edition’ score is accepted while ‘MyBest Scores’ are not accepted
  • IELTS General Training and Academic test are both accepted.
  • Test scores are valid for 2 years after the test date.
• Working knowledge of another official language (Arabic, French, or Spanish) is desirable.

Organizational/technical competencies
Organizational

• Strategic thinking and organizational development: Personal influence 
• Demonstrating Leadership: Personal leadership and attitude to change
• Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating: Continuously seeks to learn, shares knowledge and innovates
• Focusing on clients: Focuses on clients
• Problem solving and decision making: Demonstrates sound problem solving and decision-making ability
• Managing time, resources, and information: Manages own time, information, and resources effectively
• Teamwork: Contributes effectively to the team
• Communicating and negotiating: Communicates effectively: creates understanding between self and others
• Building relationships and partnerships: Builds and maintains effective working relationships

Technical

• Knowledge of the principles and concepts of human resources management
• Demonstrated ability to synthetize information, formulate opinions and make recommendations
• Project management skills 
• Analytical and organizational skills
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in a diverse organization, tailoring language, tone, style, and format to match audience
• Demonstrated ability to empathize with external stakeholders, client managers, supervisors and staff while advocating for the implementation of HR regulations and rules.

TRAINING COMPONENTS AND LEARNING ELEMENTS
Training components

• On the job training in human resources management in the United Nations system on a wide range of HR regulations, rules, procedures, and standards. 
• Participation in HR trainings organised by the Talent Management Unit and external training providers 
• Participation in in-house training offered by other IFAD Divisions.
• Direct coaching by Chief of the HR Business Partner Unit.

Learning elements
The JPO will gain exposure and experience in: 

• Staff negotiations with donors and public institutions
• Strategic recruitment outreach activities
• Coordination of special staffing programmes with donors
• Recruitment activities
• Administration of HR regulations, rules, procedures, and standards.
• HR -related project management.
• Communicating effectively and with empathy in a highly diverse setting.
• Learning how to reach out to donors, supervisors and staff, listening and responding effectively and efficiently to common issues and problems and building relationships.
• Learning how to be an agent of change.

Specific requirements for the JPO Programme of the Republic of Korea (ROK):

• Korean citizenship
• Fluency in Korean and English languages
• Completed advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent)
• Not older than 32 years of age as of 31st December, 2024 (born after 1st January, 1992). (The maximum age limit for those who served in the military will be extended accordingly*) 
• Male applicants shall have completed the Korean military service or be exempted from it. Those who will be discharged from military service in the year of the application may also apply.

* Age limit for male candidates who have completed military service:

• Less than one year will be extended for one year;
• One year above and two years under will be extended for two years;
• Two years or more will be extended for three years;

 * To be discharged from military service in the year of the application may apply.

How to apply

• Applicants should submit their application electronically directly to IFAD.
• All documents should be in English.
• Candidates for this position apply online via the Online Application System portal link provided on https://www.ifad.org/en/careers.
• Applications must be received no later than Friday, 9th August 2024 (23:59 KST). Applications received after this date will not be considered. Applicants will receive a confirmation of receipt. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted thereafter.

Documents to be submitted for the application (only complete applications will be considered):

• The completed IFAD Personal History Form with motivation letter in English (to be completed in the IFAD recruitment interface).
• A scanned copy of applicant’s Resident Register in English.
• A copy of university degree (Master’s degree) certificate in English.
• A certificate of English language proficiency. Please note that test scores are valid for 2 years after the test date. Applicants should score a minimum of 
  • TOEFL iBT 100 or
  • TEPS 430 or
  • IELTS 7 or
  • TOEIC 900 

       – TOEFL “Home Edition” score is accepted while “MyBest Scores” are not accepted.

       – IELTS General Training and Academic test are both accepted.

• Only for male applicants who have completed the national military service: A certificate of Korean Military Service in English. The maximum age limit for those who served in the military will be extended in accordance with the Support for Discharged Soldiers Act and the military service law.
• Only for low-income applicants: A scanned copy of a certificate of National Basic Livelihood Security Recipients issued in Korean and its unofficial English translation.
• Only for applicants with disability: A scanned copy of a certificate of person with disability issued in Korean and English.

Please note that applicants can apply for a maximum of two JPO positions sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea during the year of application.

For general information on the JPO Programme of the Republic of Korea, please visit the website of the International Organizations Recruitment Center, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea at https://unrecruit.mofa.go.kr.