HR Specialist, Culture and Engagement
Contribute to designing and implementing engagement tools at UNOPS
Overview
Contribute to designing and implementing engagement tools at UNOPS
You have:
- Master’s degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Human Resources, Organizational Psychology, Behavioral Science, or related field.
- At least seven (7) years of relevant experience combined with a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any relevant discipline.
- Globally recognized professional accreditation, such as CIPD or SHRM, together with a Bachelor’s degree and seven (7) years of relevant experience will also be considered as a substitute for the requirement of a Master’s degree.
- Minimum of five (5) years experience in the design and delivery of employee engagement surveys.
- Sound knowledge of leading employee engagement and employee experience principles and practices is required.
- Full working knowledge of English is required.
- Knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.
Contract
This is a IICA-2 contract. This kind of contract is known as International Individual Contractor Agreements. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's an external contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education. More about IICA-2 contracts.
Background Information - Job-specific
People and Culture Group
The People and Culture Group (PCG) drives the right culture and working environment in UNOPS by enabling UNOPS to deliver on its strategic intention through:
- embedding of UN core values and standards;
- developing fit-for-purpose People & Culture standards, policies, systems and platforms; and,
- creating an optimal working environment in which personnel are able to flourish and perform at the highest level to achieve UNOPS’ mission.
The Role
The HR Specialist, Culture & Engagement contributes to the design and implementation of people engagement and other continuous listening tools which foster a high-engagement work environment at UNOPS.
Reporting to the Head of Organization Culture & Engagement, the HR Specialist plays a critical role in building capacity and competence among leaders, supervisors and personnel to interpret survey feedback, engage in meaningful conversations, and co-create insight-driven action plans that can be owned and delivered at individual and team levels.
In performing their duties, the HR Specialist, Culture & Engagement brings deep subject matter expertise in culture, employee engagement, employee experience, and (ideally) people analytics.
The role is full-time, may be home-based, Copenhagen/HQ-based, or based in any of UNOPS Regional Office locations - in Nairobi, Geneva, Bangkok, Amman, or Panama City. Where the role is home-based or based in one of UNOPS Regional Office locations, the incumbent may be required to travel as and when required.
Functional Responsibilities
Summary of functions:
- Culture & Engagement Survey Strategy
- Project Management
- Data Analysis and Action Planning
- Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Building
Culture & Engagement Survey Strategy - Co-design the UNOPS Culture & Engagement Survey and other continuous listening tools and practices to support UNOPS’ strategic goals and ongoing culture transformation. - Support the Head of Organization Culture & Engagement to deliver executive consulting sessions on people engagement results and action planning sessions. - Conduct assessments on emerging issues and opportunities related to people engagement and organization culture at UNOPS. - Support organizational leaders at global and regional/ country levels to develop and deliver key messages related to engagement and culture. - Collaborate with HR leads and focal points at global, regional and country levels to co-create and implement relevant Culture and Engagement approaches and methodologies. - Work with the People and Culture leadership team to ensure that all people engagement activities and initiatives are aligned to functional and organizational strategies. - Support change management and culture transformation efforts by guiding and leading culture ambassadors across different regions. Develop and facilitate training on people engagement and organization culture at global, regional and country levels. - Collaborate with the Communications Group (CG) on communication and other relevant campaigns aimed at fostering engagement and ownership around the organization’s core values.
Project Management - Manage the delivery cycle for the UNOPS Culture & Engagement Survey, from preparation of respondents’ data through delivery of the survey to presentation of results and facilitation of action planning across multiple stakeholders in the organization. - Define project timelines, milestones, and deliverables in collaboration with the various stakeholders. Monitor progress and ensure that activities are completed within established deadlines. - Identify opportunities to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the Pulse Survey program. Recommend and implement process improvements as needed. - Oversee the contractual agreements with the service provider responsible for conducting the pulse survey, ensuring adherence to contractual terms, monitoring service delivery for quality assurance, and promptly addressing any performance issues or concerns that may arise. - Monitor project budget, service hours, and administrative procedures to ensure compliance with the contractual agreement with the service provider. - Provide direction and oversight to external consultants and vendors as necessary.
Data Analysis and Action Planning - Analyze survey data to identify trends, insights, and areas for improvement. - Prepare required comprehensive reports and presentations to communicate findings to senior management and relevant stakeholders. - Review presentations prepared by the service provider, ensuring data accuracy and providing feedback and recommendations for improvement. - Create speaking notes to accompany presentations as necessary. - Lead the dissemination of survey results, working closely with the service provider to ensure excellence in delivery standards. Collaborate with internal stakeholders to interpret results and facilitate discussions to drive actionable insights. - Facilitate action planning sessions with local and regional teams to develop strategies and initiatives based on survey results. Provide guidance and support to ensure the successful implementation of action plans. - Develop and facilitate engagement activities and initiatives post-survey to enhance personnel experience and empower management, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.. - Develop, define and monitor robust KPIs for measuring the quantitative and qualitative impact of the organization’s people engagement strategy as implemented. - Establish close working relationships with leaders, supervisors and personnel across functions and geographies in order to proactively identify and prioritize engagement issues, develop solutions to address such issues and provide feedback to relevant stakeholders.
Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Building - Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of knowledge, best practices and lessons learned on people engagement and organization culture across the HR community in UNOPS, e.g. through webinars, written communications, and practical support. - Stay updated on industry trends and best practices in employee engagement, employee experience and organization culture, and propose innovative approaches to improve data analysis and reporting capabilities.
The incumbent’s outputs have a positive impact on the overall execution of UNOPS People Strategy, particularly enabling culture transformation through people engagement interventions and practices.
Competencies
Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization. Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.
Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles. Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role). Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries. Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements. Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving. Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.
Education/Experience/Language requirements
Education - Master’s degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Human Resources, Organizational Psychology, Behavioral Science, or related field. - As a substitute to the requirement of a Master’s degree, at least seven (7) years of relevant experience combined with a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any relevant discipline. - Globally recognized professional accreditation, such as CIPD or SHRM, together with a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any relevant discipline and seven (7) years of relevant experience will also be considered as a substitute for the requirement of a Master’s degree.
Experience Requirements - Minimum of five (5) years experience in the design and delivery of employee engagement surveys and other employee listening tools, preferably within management consulting, analytics and advisory firms specializing in employee opinion/ engagement surveys, and/or the HR/ People function of international organizations made up of a globally distributed workforce is required. - Sound knowledge of leading employee engagement and employee experience principles and practices is required.
Language Requirements
- Full working knowledge of English is required.
- Knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.
Contract type, level and duration
Contract type: International ICA Contract level: ICS10 Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance
For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link: https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx
Additional Information
- Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
- Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
- Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
- UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
- Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
- We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.
Terms and Conditions
- All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
- It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.
Potential interview questions
| Can you explain a time when you successfully conducted an employee engagement survey? | This question assesses your experience and methodology in managing engagement tools. | Discuss the process, challenges faced, and the outcomes of your survey. |
| How do you ensure that survey results lead to actionable insights? | The interviewer wants to understand your approach to analyzing feedback and taking action. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Describe a project where you had to collaborate with multiple stakeholders. | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What strategies do you use to foster a culture of engagement within a team? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you stay current with trends in employee engagement? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |