Regional Chief of Human Resources (P-5), Panama City - Panama LAC Regional Office

Contract

This is a P-5 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 10 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 160,760 USD and 201,469 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70

years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Protecting children's rights throughout their lives requires a universal presence, aiming to produce results and evaluate their impact. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world.

For every child, a better future

The UNICEF Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office (LACRO) is looking for an experienced Chief of Human Resources to provide HR leadership and implement HR services for the LAC region. This post is based in Panama and will have an oversight function for twenty-four (24) other offices in the region. The Regional Chief of HR is accountable for leading specialized and highly complex HR functions, requiring the capacity to create a platform from which the work of different specialists can be integrated, leading to synergy and coordination. Beyond supervising the work of the other professionals through specialized advice, the Regional Chief of HR is expected to create and foster a culture in which people are inspired and motivated. In addition, the Regional Chief serves as chief advisor to senior management across the organization on people management, and in doing so, ensures HR’s reputation as a value-added, technically competent and reliable service provider.

For more information on UNICEF LACRO Regional Office visit the website: https://www.unicef.org/lac/

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of our Regional Director, the Regional Chief of HR is accountable for leading and managing a team of HR professionals that implement HR services which enhance the capacity of their clients to deliver on their business goals and objectives. In doing so, the incumbent demonstrates the ability to create an environment in which his/her staff anticipate HR-related needs and develop subsequent plans and solutions that align HR management with organizational policies, strategies and objectives. In addition, this position serves as a key strategic advisor to the leadership of the LAC Region (Regional Office and Country Offices) in helping spearhead UNICEF’s global HR transformation.

The key responsibilities include:

Management of Section

• Promote management excellence in the office by ensuring accountability in all areas of HR and by demonstrating a high level of skills in the management of staff resources including staff selection based on merit and the needs of the organization, staff aspiration and counselling, systematic, respectful and equitable performance management, and staff development and learning activities.
• Effectively manage the human and financial resources (budget planning, management and monitoring) of the office and ensure both are optimally utilized in a transparent manner.
• Monitor compliance with all systems and procedures and ensure management integrity and accountability with high quality standards in all activities in HR; ensure the implementation of agreed audit recommendations; advise on preventive and corrective measures to be taken and establish relevant internal controls.

Strategic Human Resources

• Serve as a role model for transformation and capacity for leading change and innovation.
• Use a solid knowledge of information technology to analyze and promote the co-creation of new methods of work and effective communication skills to persuade and influence managers, supervisors and staff to be part of change.
• Manage change in an inclusive and participative manner, through consultations with UNICEF senior management, HR management and colleagues and outreach to client management, supervisors and staff to establish and maintain collaborative, open and regular communications pertaining to current and planned changes in HR strategy, policies, regulations and rules.
• Guide and explain the scope and ramifications of proposed HR initiatives, promoting understanding of their purpose and functional advantages.

• Liaise with the senior management of HQ Divisions, regional and country offices to develop corporate HR strategy formulation and global implementation.

• Responsible for strategic human resources forecasting for his/her clients including identifying future human resource requirements in terms of numbers, types and levels of staff, and identifying emerging trends in profile requirements.

• Leads the design of optimal organizational, staffing structures and levels, and, in consultation with senior management develops standards and benchmarks staffing norms and procedures

Networking and Partnerships

• Internally, provide expert advice to senior management on a range of HRM questions and have the authority to negotiate solutions on sensitive or complex HR problems with client managers and staff representatives.
• Establish contacts with heads of HR units in other organizations of the common system for the purpose of obtaining information on HR policy approaches within the framework of the UN Reform.
• Build and strengthen relationships with inter-agency bodies such as ICSC, CEB, etc. on matters of importance for UNICEF and present UNICEF’s policy position on HR issues.

Business Partnering

• Create a culture within their team where HR professionals work with clients to help fulfill their goals through advising on how to attract, retain and motivate staff of the highest caliber.

• Provide strategic advice to clients, including senior management, on HR processes and policies, ensuring the highest level of client-orientation.

• Establish a culture of proactively advising clients on the resolution of human resources issues ensuring equitable and transparent solutions that protects both the staff and organizations interests in accordance with values, policies, regulations and procedures.
• Promote the organizational goals and targets for gender equality and cultural diversity.

Leadership and Design of assigned Human Resources Services

• Manage professionals in their execution of HR functions (recruitment, job classification, career development, performance management, data analytics, learning & development etc.) to help create efficient client services that help either attract, retain and/or motivate staff of the highest caliber.
• Create a culture, where HR professionals analyze and synthesize issues and problems, and interpret established, formal guidelines to address and recommend solutions or further actions required.

• Collaborate effectively with other DHR section heads and centers of expertise to provide coherent HR solutions for clients.

  Learning and Capacity Development

• In collaboration with business owners, lead the design and delivery of learning solutions for staff to enhance their knowledge and build skills in new areas.

• Map competencies for all staff in assigned client portfolio, developing a comprehensive framework in support of the development of the talent pipeline.

• Create efficient and cost-effective learning products which strengthen staff capacity to contribute effectively to business goals.

• Participate as a resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders.
• Provide orientation briefings to new staff.

• Provide day-to-day performance and talent management guidance to line management (e.g., coaching, counseling, career development, career conversations, mediation, and disciplinary actions).

  HR Data Analytics

• Spearhead the development of data collection systems to optimize data quality and consistency.

• Interpret and analyze HR data to help inform strategic decision making on HR processes, policies and strategies.
• Coordinate with country offices and partners to provide assistance in their HR information management.

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…

• An Advanced University Degree in human resource management, business management, international relations, psychology or another related field is required.
• A minimum of ten years of increasingly responsible professional experience in human resource management in an international organization and/or large corporation is required.
• Developing country work experience, experience in Latin America and Caribbean and/or familiarity with middle-income and upper-income countries (MICs and UMICs), with complex economic and political culture contexts, and with critical humanitarian/emergency situations, is an asset.
• Fluency in both English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of French and/or Portuguese is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Qualified female applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.