Human Resources Associate

Contract

This is a LICA-6 contract. This kind of contract is known as Local Individual Contractor Agreements. It is normally only for nationals. It's an external contract. It usually requires 6 years of experience, depending on education. More about LICA-6 contracts.

Background Information - Job-specific

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects around the world. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement, and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors, and United Nations organizations. With more than 6,000 personnel spread across 80 countries,

Our mission is to help people improve their lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development. UNOPS's three priority areas correspond to:

(i) Sustainable Infrastructure: UNOPS designs, builds, repairs, and maintains infrastructure in some of the world's most challenging environments. Its activities focus on transport, education, and health infrastructure development, among other areas.

ii) Public Procurement: UNOPS is a central procurement resource for the United Nations system and governments. It emphasizes efficient, transparent, and sustainable delivery of goods and services.

(iii) Project management: UNOPS manages more than one thousand humanitarian, development and peacebuilding projects per year for different partners, ensuring quality, efficiency, and results that meet the highest standards.

UNOPS in Costa Rica, Panama, and the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean (Multi-Country Office, PAMCO) develops initiatives in strategic sectors such as road infrastructure, water, and sanitation infrastructure projects, vertical infrastructure, procurement projects, among others, providing its capabilities in the management of complex projects, technical advice, and procurement, with a focus on sustainability and resilience. In all cases, applying the human rights approach and gender perspective, where UNOPS has been expanding its planning, implementation, and monitoring of Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

Functional Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Human Resources Senior Associate, and the overall direction of the Head of Support Services, as well as the technical guidance of IPAS HR, the HR Associate, is responsible for administering and implementing services, plans, and processes covering the array of Human Resources Management service lines for optimal employee and talent management, i.e. recruitment, learning, performance management, transition, organizational development, and contract management. S/he serves as the first contact for internal and external clients in resolving questions on processes and procedures and provision of guidance and information related to HR initiatives and services to a wide range of UNOPS clients

Functions / Key Results Expected

1. Support to policy development and implementation
2. Advisory Services
3. Talent Acquisition and Administration
4. Team Management
5. Knowledge Building and Knowledge Sharing

1. Support to policy development and implementation - Contribute to HR policy development and corporate HR initiatives by assisting to collect data on trends, risks, and opportunities and sharing local HR best practices. - Assist with projects in support of HR initiatives for attainment of business objectives in line with the corporate HR strategy.

2. Advisory Services - Provide guidance on HR related systems and processes including but not limited to Recruitment, Contracts, Position Management, Performance Management, Benefits, and Entitlements consistent with UNOPS rules and procedures.

• Provide advice and guidance to personnel on administrative procedures, processes, and practices.

• Act as liaison between unit and internal and external clients and provides proactive customer service to expedite completion of projects, and provide information.

3. Talent Acquisition and Administration - Assist in recruitment processes ensuring best practices are used for effective and efficient talent acquisition in line with UNOPS policy. - Actively participate in work force planning at the office and project level and guide clients through recruitment and selection processes. Take lead on requisition initiation, longlisting, testing and interviews, formal approvals, selection minutes, reference checking, fee calculation, offers and rejections, and updating recruitment on-line information system. - Inform and advise UNOPS personnel, consultants, partners and project personnel on their conditions of service and entitlements according to their contract modality, expediting actions to facilitate their efficient, timely, and client-focused onboarding.

4. Team Management - Facilitate the engagement and provision of high quality results and services of the team supervised through effective work planning, performance management, coaching, and promotion of learning and development. - Provide oversight, ensuring compliance by team members with existing policies and best practices.

5. Knowledge building and knowledge sharing - Provide support to the organization, facilitation and/or delivery of training and learning initiatives for personnel on HR-related topics. - Provides sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice by synthesizing of lessons learnt and dissemination of best practices in human resources. - Collect feedback, ideas, and internal knowledge about processes and best practices and utilize

To access the full list of roles and responsibilities, please download the terms of references attached to the announcement.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education:- Completion of Secondary education is required. - First University Degree, preferably in Human Resources Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, Social Sciences or equivalent disciplines is desirable and may substitute some years of required experience. - Knowledge of UN policies, procedures and practices highly desirable

***Please upload your academic diplomas or academic certifications to your application*** Experience

• Minimum of 6 years of relevant experience (or less according to educational degree level) in providing HR advisory or recruitment, and/or HR-generalist services.
• Some experience in UN system organizations is desirable
• Proficiency in computers and office software packages (Gsuite) and experience in handling web-based management systems is required.

• Experience in use of HR information systems, Enterprise systems including OneUNOPS is desirable.

  Language

• Full knowledge of Spanish is required

• Full knowledge of English is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.

UNOPS is an inclusive employer, so we invite women and men to apply regardless of their ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. We are committed to promoting equitable representation. We appreciate that people who self-determine themselves as Afro-descendants, indigenous as well as people with disabilities, members of the LGTBIQ+ communities and/or other underrepresented groups in national contexts, voluntarily indicate so in the motivation letter when applying for this vacancy.

Competencies

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.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement

Contract level: LICA 6 (ICS 06)

Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance. This contract is established in the Regular Monthly Contract modality; continuous service provision is required during the contract period; the payments associated with the contract will be processed at the end of each calendar month.

Work life harmonization: UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options.

UNOPS is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. We encourage female candidates to apply.

UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate with special needs upon request

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

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• 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.

Additional information