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, commitment.

II. Organizational Context and Purpose for the job

UNICEF is a leading humanitarian and development agency working globally for the rights of every child. Child rights begin with safe shelter, nutrition, 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 policy makers to help all children realize their rights—especially the most disadvantaged.

Job organizational context:

The Generic Job Profile for a Human Resources Associate, at the G-6 level, can be used either in the Division of Human Resources, a UNICEF country office, or regional office. They generally report to a professional staff member in either the national or international category, at all levels, depending on the office context.  This GJP covers a broad range of HR functions, however, depending on the context, the incumbent may focus on all, some, or only one or two areas with great depth. In addition, there may be additional functions not mentioned in the GJP. If this is the case, this can be made clear in work plans and/or individual performance plans.

 

The focus of HR positions at this level is on the provision of specialized transactional HR activities pertaining to recruitment and placement, administration of entitlements, staff development and career development, job classification and/or performance management. Specialized activities pertain to the application of HR regulations, rules and procedures in the context of, on a day-to-day basis, there typically being more complications that arise with a broader variety of solutions that are not always clearly covered in general guidelines, thus requiring a greater capacity to adapt and interpret. These positions consequently, require in-depth knowledge of the subject matter and the capacity to carry out tasks with strong independence.  Thus, managerial oversight for these positions is limited to ensuring results are fulfilled according to work-plans and facilitating any issues that arise outside of established patterns

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose for the job: Under the close supervision and guidance of the Human Resources Officer/Specialist/Manager/Chief, the Human Resources Associate provides administrative, procedural and operational support and assistance to the efficient implementation of a broad range of Human Resources functions for all categories of staff in his/her office, ensuring accurate and timely delivery that is in compliance with UNICEF HR rules and regulations.  

III. Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

• Support to business partnering
• Support in processing of entitlements and benefits of local staff
• Support in recruitment and placement
• Support in organization design and job classification
• Support in learning and capacity development
• General office support

 

• Support to business partnering
• Support the business partners in developing initiatives to encourage employee well-being and employee recognition schemes
• Support the management of change processes by advising clientele on changes to HR processes under the guidance of HR Business Partner
• Support the business partners in assisting clientele in using HR systems such as talent management, agora and achieve.
• Support in processing of entitlement and benefits
• In consultation with supervisor, analyze, research, verify, and compile data and information on cases that do not conform to UN or UNICEF’s HR Rules & Regulations, to support consistent and equitable application of decisions and implementation of agreed upon action.
• In consultation with supervisor, analyze, research and verify information for the purpose of responding to staff queries on areas related to benefits and entitlements
• Initiates the processing of a wide range of personnel actions in accordance with UNICEF rules and regulations, by ensuring all relevant forms and actions are completed by staff and forwarded to the GSSC.
• Maintains and prepares all personnel-related records and files, ensuring all information on each staff member is up-to-date and accurate.
• Support in recruitment and placement

• Prepares and circulates internal and external advertisements.
•  Liaises with candidates in the various stages of the recruitment process.
•  Prepares formal acknowledgement, offer and regret letters.
•  Initiates and follows up on reference checks and academic verifications, and ensuring the completion of other background checks.
• Monitors life-cycle of recruitment process to update supervisor as necessary
•  Support in organization design and job classification

  • Participates in the review of GS positions specific JDs, ensuring effective application of ICSC methodology.

  • Drafts and edits job descriptions to be submitted for classification for review by supervisor.

  • Follows up and liaises with HQ and RO over status of requests to ensure timely completion.

  • Prepares documents to be submitted for classification to RO and NYHQ, ensuring completeness of documentation

  • Monitors life-cycle of all job classification requests to facilitate recruitment and organization planning.

  • Compiles and analyses information and statistics related to posts and staff for
  reports on staffing trends.

  • Analyze, research, verify, and compile data which facilitates preparation of workforce planning reports for supervisor to review against benchmarks i.e. Gender and geographical balance and other recruitment related key performance indicators.

  
  • Support in learning & capacity development

  • In consultation with supervisor, researches and analyses data and information to help identify training needs within his/her office for the development of learning plans and other targeted training interventions.

  • In consultation with supervisor, researches, analyzes, verifies, and compiles information on external training courses available and educational institutions to help supervisor decide on learning programmes that address learning gaps in his/her country office.

  • Assists team in organizing and conducting courses, workshops and events by participating in exercises which aim to build capacity of stakeholders.

  • Develops and processes contracts for institutions providing training and courses, ensuring compliance with UNICEF rules and regulations.

•  Assists team in organizing and conducting courses, workshops and events by preparing and organizing distribution of materials for participants, ensuring availability of training venues and required equipment and supplies, while providing logistical and secretarial support at workshops and events as necessary.

• Tracks the performance management cycle processes, ensuring the timely distribution and enhancing the timely completion and return of appraisals.

IV. Impact of Results

HR Associates provide input into the design and development of improved transactional services and delivery processes. Working with a high degree of operational independence they are accountable for the achievement of overall service delivery results in one or more HR activities. The scope of HR work typically covers two or more transactional HR activities (i.e. recruitment, entitlements management and servicing, classification, staff development, performance management etc.) as generalist yet requiring the handling of complex and intricate HR matters on which quality and authoritative procedural advice is provided to the supervisor.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  HR Associate G-6_new241 - SUD24071.doc

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

Minimum requirements:

VII. Recruitment Qualifications

Education: Completion of secondary education, preferably supplemented by technical or university courses related to the work of the organization.

Experience: A minimum of 6 years of progressively responsible administrative or clerical work experience required

Language Requirements:

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

VI. Skills

Technical

Extensive knowledge of HR principles, rules, regulations and procedures within the UN

Computer literacy and the ability to effectively use standard office software tools as well as good knowledge and skill in using HR systems.

Ability to extract and format data and to solve operational problems

Ability to organize own work, set priorities and meet deadlines.

Interpersonal and communication

Takes responsibility to respond to internal and external service needs promptly and proactively; takes initiative to ensure that deadlines, rules and regulations are met. Uses own discretion to address unforeseen situations.

Demonstrates a high degree of confidentiality, initiative and good judgment.

Demonstrates courtesy, tact, patience and ability to work effectively with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.

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…

V. UNICEF values and competency Required

i) Core Values

 

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability
• Sustainability

ii) Core Competencies (For Staff without Supervisory Responsibilities) *

 

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

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:

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

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.