Consultant – Multilingualism in the Staff Selection

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Result of Service

The ultimate result of this service will be that language requirements in the recruitment process are determined based on job functions and in alignment with the UN Language Framework (UNLF), language skills of applicants are verified appropriately against the UNLF and that applicants are able to indicate their language skill level accurately using the UNLF.

Work Location

Remotely

Expected duration

4 months

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Background of the assignment:

Within the scope of the Staff Selection 2.0 Programme and taking into account the findings from the evaluation of the recruitment process, input from the UN Coordinator for Multilingualism, the outcome of the Language Requirements and Skills pilot project as well as opportunities provided through the implementation of the United Nations (UN) Language Framework, the Global Strategy and Policy Division (GSPD) is addressing the need for providing standardized, ready-to-use and industry-standard means to determine language requirements stated in job openings and assess applicants’ proficiency during the staff selection process in alignment with the UN Language Framework.

The launch of the UNLF in 2020 has provided the Organization with an opportunity to build consistency in the way languages are learnt, assessed and certified across the Secretariat. The adoption of this Language Framework intended to support a more efficient management of staff language skills in all aspects of talent management by providing a common language learning model for personnel, and by allowing a more reliable and valid assessment and certification process that enhances equal treatment of languages and stronger recognition of staff language skills in the Secretariat. While work on language learning has been progressing, changes to the recruitment process to fully leverage the benefits from the UNLF are the purpose of this project.

The Global Strategy and Policy Division in the Office of Human Resources, within the scope of the Staff Selection 2.0 programme, aims to align language assessment in recruitment with the UN Language Framework (UNLF) and to contribute to a more effective, fair, and efficient staff selection system.

The objectives of this assignment, therefore, are to ensure language requirements are determined based on job functions and in alignment with the UNLF, language skills of applicants are verified appropriately against the UNLF and that applicants are able to indicate their language skill level accurately using the UNLF.

Based on the main recommendations of the report provided in May 2023, the consultant will lead a working group to implement the recommendations on language assessment and guidance and therefore contribute to a more diverse, inclusive and multilinguistic staff selection process.

2. Specific tasks to be performed by the consultant:

Under the supervision of the Staffing Diversity and Outreach Section (SDOS) of the Strategic Talent Management Service of the Global Strategy and Policy Division of the Office of Human Resources, the consultant will undertake the following tasks:

• Facilitate a working group with critical stakeholders to take forward the recommendations from the UN Language Requirements and Assessment Report
• Replace the current concepts and approach to describing language ability in the recruitment process with UN Language Framework (UNLF) levels by skills.
• Develop hiring manager and applicant guidance and embed those in the existing manuals and forums.
• Assess the necessary changes needed in the recruitment system Inspira and the applicant profiles and submit the Change Requests (CR) to the Inspira technical team.
• Design an online tool using UNLF descriptors to help hiring managers determine minimum language requirements where applicable.
• Create a communication plan for sharing the changes with critical stakeholders.
• Provide regular project updates and reports to the supervisor.
• Produce a final report that outlines the key project deliverables and how this will contribute to a more diverse, inclusive and multilinguistic organization.
• Provides expert advice on multilingualism, language requirements and assessment and inclusive recruitment.

Qualifications/special skills

An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in the fields of human resources, psychology, social sciences, or related field is required. A first-level university degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) in combination with additional two years of relevant work experience maybe accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in Human Resources in an international organization is required. Experience in multilingualism and language assessment in the staff selection/ recruitment systems is required. Experience in project and change management is required. Experience in talent acquisition and recruitment is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this consultancy, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.

Additional Information

Not available.

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.