Junior Human Resources Officer
Support UNICEF’s Senior Leadership Support Team in project operations and data management.
Overview
Support UNICEF’s Senior Leadership Support Team in project operations and data management.
You have:
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant area, e.g. Human Resource Management, Administration, Business Management, International Relations, Social Sciences, Psychology, or another related field is required;
- Professional work experience at the national and/or international level, experience working in the UN or other international development organization is an asset;
- Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;
- Knowledge of social media, storytelling, and/or content creation;
- Strong computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet;
- Solid knowledge of Power BI, Canva, SharePoint, and other similar platforms;
- Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;
- Working knowledge of other UN languages is desirable.
Contract
This is a UNV contract. More about UNV contracts.
The UN Volunteer will serve with UNICEF’s Senior Leadership Support (SLS) Team within the Division of People and Culture (DPC). The Senior Leadership Support (SLS) Team plays a pivotal role in talent management for UNICEF’s senior leaders. The scope is anchored in three key pillars: talent acquisition, succession planning, and business partnering in fulfilling this mandate, the SLS Team partners closely with colleagues across the Division of People and Culture (DPC), Regional Chiefs, and the wider global Human Resources (HR) community to ensure a cohesive and strategic approach to supporting leadership excellence.
The Senior Leadership Support (SLS) team is seeking a dynamic UN Volunteer to join the team for 12 months. The selected candidate will play a key role in supporting the SLS team by ensuring smooth project operations and data management. The UN Volunteer will be responsible for creating and updating trackers to monitor ongoing projects, maintaining and refining Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and templates, and organizing documentation for easy accessibility. Additionally, the role involves preparing communication materials, managing and analyzing data to generate insights, and assisting with talent acquisition efforts during peak periods. Through these contributions, the UN Volunteer will help streamline workflows, enhance operational efficiency, and strengthen the team’s ability to deliver on strategic priorities.
This UNV assignment offers a unique opportunity to develop practical skills in project coordination, data management, and process optimization within a dynamic and multicultural environment. The UN Volunteer will gain hands-on experience in supporting strategic HR initiatives and deepen their understanding of talent management and leadership development in an international context. The UN Volunteer will also enhance communication and organizational skills while contributing to impactful projects that strengthen leadership capacity across the organization.
Under the overall supervision of the Human Resources Manager, and within the delegated authority and direct supervision of the Human Resources (HR) Officer or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer will:
• Create and update trackers to facilitate efficient monitoring of various SLS projects to enable streamlined workflows.
• Support the updating and alignment of various project trackers to enhance efficiency.
• Contribute to the development, refinement, and maintenance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and templates, organize, and maintain documentation.
• Support the design, and creation of engaging communication materials to support team initiatives using a variety of platforms (PowerPoint, Canva, SharePoint, etc.).
• Provide general support to the team by assisting with planning and coordination activities, including scheduling meetings, preparing agendas, tracking action items, and supporting follow-up activities.
• Revisit and organize data to enhance readability and facilitate the generation of quality statistics and support the development of dashboards and reports leveraging Power BI.
• Support data collection, management, and reporting.
• Support talent acquisition efforts of all SLS pillars during high-demand periods.
• Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the HR Manager.
• 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)
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant area, e.g. Human Resource Management, Administration, Business Management, International Relations, Social Sciences, Psychology, or another related field is required;
• Professional work experience at the national and/or international level, experience working in the UN or other international development organization is an asset;
• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;
• Knowledge of social media, storytelling, and/or content creation;
• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development;
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;
• Strong computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet;
• familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment;
• Solid knowledge of Power BI, Canva, SharePoint, and other similar platforms;
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;
• Working knowledge of other UN languages is desirable.
This is a volunteer assignment, not employment. By sharing your time, energy, and talents, you can support communities in need and become part of something greater than yourself — a global movement for peace, development, and humanitarian aid. Volunteering strengthens trust, solidarity, and reciprocity among citizens, and it can promote a sense of belonging and purpose.
The UN Volunteer will be based in Istanbul and will be responsible for arranging her/his own housing and other living essentials.
The Summary of UNV Entitlements (International Youth): • Monthly Living Allowance (MLA) is USD 2,268 monthly (including expertise differential) • Accommodation supplement: At the rate of 20% of MLA in each month when residing in Istanbul Please note that the amounts can vary according to fluctuations of the monthly post adjustment. • Private insurance: Health, dental, life, and dismemberment (100%) coverage by CIGNA (including for the eligible dependents when residing together in Istanbul) • Entry allowance (one-time payment): USD 4,000 • Exit allowance: USD 225 per month and solely paid upon the satisfactory completion of assignment • Family allowance based on eligibility and status (per month): USD 250 for 1 dependent, USD 450 for 2 or more dependents (Please read the conditions of service for eligibility criteria) • Annual leave: 2.5 days accrued per calendar month • Free access to different learning platforms and UN & UNV network
Notes: 1) The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward or salary in exchange for the volunteer work.
2) It's important to note that UNV assignments are volunteer assignments, not employment. The purpose of the allowances and entitlements paid to UN Volunteers is to enable UN Volunteers to sustain a secure standard of living at the duty stations in line with United Nations standards without incurring personal costs.
3) You can check full entitlements at the duty station: https://app.unv.org/calculator
4) Please read the complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos
Requirement: In addition to duty station-specific vaccine requirements, appointments are subject to confirmation of fully vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the appointment.
Türkiye is an upper middle-income country, with highly urbanized cities and well-developed infrastructure systems. Most of Türkiye is assessed to be at security level 1-Minimal. Security level 2 Low applies to Istanbul and Ankara. Seismic activity remains one of the primary hazards in Türkiye. Türkiye’s population of nearly 81 million. Turkish is the official language.
Istanbul has a population of around 15 million people, and straddles the European and Asian continents. Istanbul is a UN Hub for the Europe and Central Asia Regional Offices of several UN agencies, including UNDP, UNFPA, UN Women among others. There is a lively and large group of international community.
Istanbul International Airport and Sabiha Gokcen Airport have direct connections with all European, Central Asian, and global cities. Istanbul provides modern services and entertainment opportunities, and an elaborate medical services system. Healthcare is exceptionally good with various public and private hospitals with experienced doctors and medical staff, some of whom speak English. No specific vaccination is required to enter Turkey.
Potential interview questions
| Describe a time when you had to manage multiple projects simultaneously. How did you prioritize your tasks? | This question assesses your project management skills and your ability to prioritize effectively. | Provide a specific example and explain how you determined priorities and the outcome. |
| Can you give an example of how you've used data to improve a process in your previous work? | The interviewer wants to understand your experience with data analysis and process optimization. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Describe a time when you had to work with a diverse team. What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you ensure accuracy and professionalism in your document production? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Tell me about a time when you supported a talent acquisition effort. What role did you play? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you stay organized when managing multiple stakeholders and deadlines? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What techniques do you use for effective communication, especially in a multicultural environment? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Why do you want to volunteer with UNICEF, and how do you see yourself contributing to the team's efforts? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |