Human Resources Assistant (SC5)

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The World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience.

In Sri Lanka, WFP works every day to help improve the nutrition status and food security amongst vulnerable communities, particularly women and children. We take pride in knowing that our day-to-day work makes a difference in the lives of the people we serve.

WFP is on the lookout for multifaceted individuals to join our dynamic team in pursuing our mission in changing lives and saving lives.

Applications are invited from Sri Lankan candidates to fill the following position

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

In emergencies, WFP gets food to where it is needed, saving the lives of victims of war, civil conflict and natural disasters. After an emergency, WFP uses food to help communities rebuild their shattered lives. Present in nearly 80 countries, the organization has the global footprint, deep field presence and local knowledge and relationships necessary to provide access to nutritious food and contribute to the lasting solutions, especially in many of the world’s most remote and fragile areas. In Sri Lanka. a lower-middle-income country, WFP is committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in tandem with sister UN Agencies and the government, and in particular, SDG 2, Zero Hunger.

Despite sound health indicators in Sri Lanka, in comparison to its South Asian neighbours, maternal, new born and child malnutrition continue to pose major challenges for the country, which is characterized by a high level of acute malnutrition, mild to moderate level of chronic malnutrition and widespread micronutrient deficiencies. Further compounding the issue is the increased prevalence of overweight and obesity, as the country undergoes a dramatic nutritional transition influenced by economic growth, urbanization and shifts in the quality and quantity of diets.

A WFP five-year Country Strategic Plan (CSP 2018-2022) was developed in consultation with the Government and other stakeholders and informed by contextual, gender and gap analyses, and recommendations from the 2017 National Strategic Review of Food Security and Nutrition towards Zero Hunger. It supports Sri Lanka’s national development vision with four major Strategic Outcomes:.

➢ Strategic outcome 1: Crisis-affected people have access to food all year round; ➢ Strategic outcome 2: School-age children in food-insecure areas have access to food all year round; ➢ Strategic outcome 3: Children under 5, adolescent girls and women of reproductive age have improved nutrition by 2025; and ➢ Strategic outcome 4: Vulnerable communities and smallholder farmers have strengthened livelihoods and resilience to shocks and stresses all year round.

WFP is on the lookout for multifaceted individuals to join our dynamic team as a Human Resources Assistant to support in pursuing our mission.

JOB PURPOSE

To perform a range of HR operational tasks to support accurate implementation of WFP policies and procedures and facilitate the effective functioning of a client-focused and strategy-oriented HR services.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

• Provide assistance on general HR queries and follow up actions, to ensure consistent and high quality HR services are delivered to clients.
• Liaise with other internal units/offices on HR related matters, i.e. payroll, contracts, etc. and provide necessary information in order to enable timely HR services.
• Engage with the recruitment and selection process of WFP and provide timely service to hire the qualifed candidates
• Provide administrative support in various HR activities in the areas of work allocated by the professional officer including on boarding of new staff members in compliance with relevant processes and procedures.
• Maintain confidential personnel records, HR databases and archives, to ensure data and files are accurately stored and updated in compliance with the established standards.
• Draft various HR documentation required for the specific area of work (e.g. employment contracts, transfer letters, training-related documents, etc.) ensuring accuracy and meeting established deadlines.
• Use HR management systems for entering and updating a variety of HR data including assistance in monitoring various deadlines (e.g. contract expiration, GAD, etc), ensuring compliance with the established deadlines and accuracy of HR data.
• Support staff deployment and related administrative actions including preparation of basic reports, to facilitate efficient HR service enabling WFP to respond quickly to a crisis.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• An advanced Diploma or University degree in HR, Public Relations, Business Management or other relevant field
• Proficiency in MS Office application (Word, Excel, Powerpoint)

Language

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in the English language

  Experience

• Minimum 3 years of HR related experience in national or international level

Knowledge & Skills

• Knowledge of general HR administrative work practices and methods, gained through relevant technical training and experience.
• Good communication skills and basic understanding of HR principles and their application in order to respond to and resolve general HR queries.
• Ability to develop and maintain relationships with a wide range of individuals in order to provide a high quality support service.
• Ability to collate and compile relevant data from a variety of sources in order to produce periodic reports for supervisor(s).
• Ability to monitor and record personnel files and documentation in an organized manner and in line with compliance standards.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

Employee orientation

Demonstrates a developed understanding of the various employee contexts and needs when applying and adapting HR policy and practices, to best meet employee needs. Takes initiative and identifies suitable solutions when partnering with employees and local Country Office management.

HR Expertise & Policy Knowledge

Ability to interpret and apply detailed knowledge of HR policies, operational processes, Knowledge leading HR practices and internal regulations, within a complex organizational context, to provide guidance to employees and implement solutions within the area of responsibility.

Business Knowledge & Partnership

Applies advanced knowledge of WFP’s organizational and HR strategic objectives, as Partnership well and operational complexities, in order to ensure alignment of HR support within own area of responsibility. Establishes and maintains internal network on an ongoing basis, to develop an understanding of organizational challenges and local teams context and therefore, ensure focus on local priorities and people.

Enabling Talent Management solutions

Demonstrates advanced knowledge of WFP HR solutions within the area of responsibility. Solutions applies this, along with an in-depth understanding of the end-user context, to plan, coordinate and manage effectively the implementation and execution of HR solutions.

HR Operations Management

Demonstrates understanding of HR operations impact on the broader organizational context. Proactively identifies opportunities for HR operational improvement and creates work plans to implement changes.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• Experience of managing/ implementing HR policy and procedures in line with respective organizational standards
• Experience in conducting/managing specific HR services/activities such as Payroll management, recruitment process, HR Report writing, Onboarding process, etc.,
• Experience of working with Human Resources Information Systems
• Experience of working with different stakeholders and taking initiatives where required
• Experience of providing ad-hoc guidance to new staff members as and when needed
• Minimum 3 years of HR related experience in national or international level

4Ps CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES

Purpose

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Helps teammates articulate WFP’s Strategic Objectives
• Be a force for positive change: Suggests potential improvements to team’s work processes to supervisor
• Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Articulates how own unit’s responsibilities will serve WFP’s mission

People

• Look for ways to strengthen people's skills: Trains junior teammates on new skills and capabilities
• Create an inclusive culture: Seeks opportunities to work with people from different backgrounds
• Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Tracks progress toward goals and shares this information on a regular basis with supervisor

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Explores ways to consistently be more efficient and accurate in own areas of work and shares new methods of work with colleagues
• Focus on getting results: Focuses on getting results and tracks trends in completion rates for own tasks to identify opportunities for efficiency
• Be Decisive: Independently decides what action to take when faced with critical choices in the workplace or in dangerous situations in the field

Partnership

• Connect and share across WFP units: Suggests opportunities for partnering with other units to supervisor
• Build strong external partnerships: Identifies opportunities to work with colleagues and partners in the field towards common goals
• Be politically agile & adaptable: Develops an understanding of the value of WFP’s teams and external partners in fulfilling team’s goals and objectives
• Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Aligns own activities with supervisor’s priorities to fulfil internal and external partner needs

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

*Initial contract will be for a period of six months

REMUNERATION

An attractive remuneration package is on offer with comprehensive medical insurance coverage.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Wednesday 13 July 2022

WFP encourages female candidates and people with disabilities to apply.

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles. Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis. We are committed to promoting diversity and the principle of equal employment opportunity for all our employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of religion or belief, ethnic or social background, gender, gender identity and disability.

WFP is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce. WFP has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, abuse of authority or discrimination. All selected candidates will, undergo rigorous reference and background checks. No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.