JOB DESCRIPTION

Org. Setting and Reporting The post is located in the Executive Office (EO) of the Programme Management and Support Services Division (PMSSD), United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), Geneva. This position is for a period of 364 days with possibility of extension. The EO was established to provide entity-specific policy advisory services that backstop the day-to-day operations of the UNECE Secretariat. The Human Resources Officer reports directly to the Executive Officer of the UNECE.

Responsibilities Within limits of delegated authority, the Human Resources Officer will be responsible for the following duties: GENERAL:

• Develops and implements new human resources policies, practices and procedures to meet the evolving needs of the Organization.
• Monitors and ensures the implementation of human resources policies, practices and procedures.
• Keeps abreast of developments in various areas of human resources.
• Prepares reports and participates and/or leads special human resources project.
• Manages Organizational Management (OM) duties and transactions in Umoja.
• Plans, organizes, manages and supervises the work of the Human Resources Unit of the Executive Office. RECRUITMENT AND PLACEMENT:
• Projects and monitors all vacant posts in UNECE and ensures adherence to policies and procedures in filling these posts.
• Recommends guidelines on promotion and placement of staff.
• Oversees preparation of vacancy announcements, reviews applications and provides short-lists to substantive divisions within UNECE.
• Arranges and conducts interviews for selection of high-level candidates.
• Participates in task forces and working groups identifying issues/problems, formulating policies and guidelines, and establishing new procedures.
• Represents the Organization with full delegation of authority in discussions with senior government officials on recruitment and other human resources matters. ADMINISTRATION OF ENTITLEMENTS:
• Advises the Executive Officer on the development, modification and implementation of United Nations policies and practices on entitlements.
• Reviews and recommends level of remuneration for consultants and Individual Contractors.
• Provides advice on interpretation and application of policies, regulations and rules. Reviews and provides advice on exceptions to policies, regulations and rules. 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.
• Analyzes staff development and career support plans to ensure that they are consistent with the overall organizations goals, policies on staff development and career support, and the respective mandates.
• Evaluates effectiveness and impact of staff development and career support programmes and recommends ways to enhance effectiveness and impact.
• Provides advice on mobility and career development to staff at all levels in all categories.
• Provides performance management advice to staff and management. Assists supervisors and staff with understanding and using the performance appraisal system (PAS).
• Assesses training needs, identifies, designs and delivers training programmes to staff at all levels throughout the Organization.
• Formulates examination policies, and develops and prepares examination questions and papers. OTHER DUTIES:
• Advises and counsels staff in respect of rights, responsibilities, code of conduct and difficulties associated with work and entitlements. Serves as Conduct and Discipline and Anti-racism focal point(s).
• Monitors staff welfare and identifies/proposes appropriate programmes and remedial action.
• Monitors, advises and acts on disciplinary matters in accordance with established policies and procedures. Supports mediation of conflict, grievance and harassment cases.
• Supervises and monitors the work of human resources staff in undertaking the full range of human resource management activities.
• Provides substantive and expert advice on policies and procedures with respect to downsizing.
• Prepares classification analysis of jobs in Professional and General Service and related categories.
• Provides guidance to programme managers on the application of classification policies and procedures and by undertaking whole office review.
• Conducts research in preparing policy papers, position papers and briefing notes.
• 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.
• Manages organizational data analysis and reporting to senior management, including KPI data in compliance with Compact requirements.

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. Able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management.
• COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• PLANNING AND 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.
• ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.
• 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.

Education Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in human resources, management, business or public administration, social sciences, education or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is an advantage.

Job – Specific Qualification Not available.

Work Experience A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in human resources management, administration or a related area is required. At least three years of experience as the senior HR Officer leading an entity HR team is required. Direct experience in conducting whole-office review classification exercises is required. Experience in providing advice and drafting policy briefings directly to senior management officials is required. Two years or more of experience in KPI and dashboard management, including data analytics or a related area, is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. French is desirable. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).

Required Languages
LanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeakingEnglishUN Level IIIUN Level IIIUN Level IIIUN Level III

Desirable Languages
LanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeakingFrenchUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level II

Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice 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. This Position is temporarily available for an initial period of 364 days, with the possibility of extension. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. The appointment or assignment and renewal thereof are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate. Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as “retirement.” Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service. 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. For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 31st August 2025, are strongly encouraged to apply: Andorra, Angola, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People”s Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People”s Democratic Republic, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Germany, San Marino.

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.