Human Resources Associate, GS6, Fixed Term, Sarajevo, BiH (Post No. 71576)

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a champion

UNICEF’s mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina is to make sure every child in the country is healthy, educated and safe from harm, therefore having the best start in life and a fair chance to reach her or his full potential. We believe children have a right to live in a more equitable society, where their voices are heard, and needs met as a matter of priority in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. Working with and for children through adolescence and into adulthood requires a Country Office whose goal is to produce results and monitor their effects. UNICEF also lobbies and partners with leaders, thinkers and policy makers to help all children realize their rights—especially the most disadvantaged.

How can you make a difference?

Under the close supervision and guidance of the Country Office Operations Manager, the Human Resources Associate will provide administrative, procedural and operational support and assistance to the efficient implementation of a broad range of Human Resources functions for all categories of staff in the office, ensuring accurate and timely delivery that is in compliance with UNICEF HR rules and regulations. 

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

• Support to business partnering
• Support in processing of entitlements and benefits of local staff
• Support in recruitment and placement
• Support in organization design and job classification
• Support in learning and capacity development
• General office support

Support to business partnering

• Support the development of initiatives to encourage employee well-being
• Support the management of change processes by advising clientele on changes to HR processes under the guidance of Regional HR Business Partner
• Support and assist clientele in using HR systems such as talent management, agora and achieve.

Support in processing of entitlement and benefits

• In consultation with the supervisor of this position and/or the Regional HR Business Partner, analyze, research, verify, and compile data and information on cases that do not conform to UN or UNICEF’s HR Rules & Regulations, to support consistent and equitable application of decisions and implementation of agreed upon action.
• In consultation with supervisor, analyze, research and verify information for the purpose of responding to staff queries on areas related to benefits and entitlements
• Initiates the processing of a wide range of personnel actions in accordance with UNICEF rules and regulations, by ensuring all relevant forms and actions are completed by staff and forwarded to the GSSC.
• Maintains and prepares all personnel-related records and files, ensuring all information on each staff member is up-to-date and accurate.

Support in recruitment and placement

• Supports in maintaining the Workforce Planning and recruitment monitoring matrix.
• Undertakes Recruitment cases as assigned ensuring end- to -end recruitment support including sourcing, outreach, supporting selection process as HR Representative on the panel, ensuring compliance to policies and procedures.
• Supports non-staff personnel management including recruitment, contract administration, & protocol support (UNVs, Interns, Individual Consultants)
• Liaises with candidates in the various stages of the recruitment process.
• Prepares formal acknowledgement, offer and regret letters.
• Initiates and follows up on reference checks and academic verifications, and ensuring the completion of other background checks.
• Monitors life-cycle of recruitment process to update supervisor as necessary.

Support in organization design and job classification

• Participates in the review of GS positions specific JDs, ensuring effective application of ICSC methodology.
• Drafts and edits job descriptions to be submitted for classification for review by supervisor.
• Follows up and liaises with HQ and RO over status of requests to ensure timely completion.
• Prepares documents to be submitted for classification to RO and NYHQ, ensuring completeness of documentation
• Monitors life-cycle of all job classification requests to facilitate recruitment and organization planning.
• Compiles and analyses information and statistics related to posts and staff for reports on staffing trends.
• Analyze, research, verify, and compile data which facilitates preparation of workforce planning reports for supervisor to review against benchmarks i.e. Gender and geographical balance and other recruitment related key performance indicators.

Support in organizational culture, learning & capacity development

• In consultation with supervisor, researches and analyses data and information to help identify training needs within his/her office for the development of learning plans and other targeted training interventions. Reports to RO on learning needs and on completed learning as requested.
• In consultation with supervisor, researches, analyzes, verifies, and compiles information on external training courses available and educational institutions to help supervisor decide on learning programmes that address learning gaps in his/her country office.
• Assists team in organizing and conducting courses, workshops and events by participating in exercises which aim to build capacity of stakeholders.
• Develops and processes contracts for institutions providing training and courses, ensuring compliance with UNICEF rules and regulations. 
• Assists team in organizing and conducting courses, workshops and events by preparing and organizing distribution of materials for participants, ensuring availability of training venues and required equipment and supplies, while providing logistical and secretarial support at workshops and events as necessary.
• Tracks the performance management cycle processes, ensuring the timely distribution and enhancing the timely completion and return of appraisals.
• Supports in analysis, monitoring and tracking of Organisation Culture Surveys and related action Plans.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Completion of secondary education is required, preferably supplemented by technical or university courses related to the work of the organization.
  *For this positions, a bachelor’s degree from a recognized academic institution in a relevant field may replace three years of related work experience.
• A minimum of 6 years of progressively responsible HR or administrative work experience required. 
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Fluency in the local language and working knowledge of English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

Technical

• Extensive knowledge of HR principles, rules, regulations and procedures within the UN
• Computer literacy and the ability to effectively use standard office software tools as well as good knowledge and skill in using HR systems. (including SAP & other HR management tools)
• Ability to extract and format data and to solve operational problems. Ability to use advanced data tools such as PowerBI, advanced Excel
• Ability to organize own work, set priorities and meet deadlines.

Interpersonal and communication

• Takes responsibility to respond to internal and external service needs promptly and proactively; takes initiative to ensure that deadlines, rules and regulations are met. Uses own discretion to address unforeseen situations.
• Demonstrates a high degree of confidentiality, initiative and good judgment.
• Demonstrates courtesy, tact, patience and ability to work effectively with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. 

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be cancelled.

All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

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