Assistant Human Resources Officer at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

• Assistant Human Resources Officer will function under direct supervision of the (Senior) Administrative or Human Resources Officer. Incumbent will handle HR related activities within the country/ operation, and he/she may directly supervise, coach and guide locally recruited staff responsible for the personnel administration and other HR related matters. He/she will assist the (Senior) Officer responsible for Administration/ Human Resources in the process of staffing and budget reviews, recruitment and appointment of staff, and in the performance management and staff welfare issues. Incumbent will have close working relationship with the staff-related services in UNHCR, such as the Personnel Administration Section (PAS), Affiliate Partnerships and Recruitment Section (APRS). Assignments Management Section (AMS), Talent Development and Performance Section (TDPS), Staff Health & Wellbeing Service (SHWS) and Global Learning and Development Centre (GLDC).

Duties

• Provide input in the preparation of the annual operations programme review submissions, and in the review of the training needs of the staff, making appropriate proposals to meet identified needs.
• Advise and counsel staff members on their rights, obligations, benefits and entitlements in line with UN/UNHCR staff rules and regulations.
• Assist in timely advertising and filling of General Service and National Officer vacancies. Prepare submissions for the review by the local Assignments Committee (AC). Process recruitment, assignment and reassignment of local staff for the country operation, in accordance with UN/UNHCR rules and procedures.
• Conduct regular audit and verification of personnel records in the office, including audit of MSRP entries into HR module, as well as of the attendance, overtime and leave records. Monitor maintenance of the daily tracking system to ensure accurate information is provided on staff and families in case of emergency. Provide support, guidance and training to all staff performing personnel administration and other HR related functions.
• Brief newly-arrived international staff on related administrative formalities; process and follow up on their accreditations and other related documents, and arrange for their onward travel to the field office, if applicable.
• Supervise administration of UNHCR medical insurance plan for locally recruited staff. Assist staff and dependants in case of medical evacuation.
• Assist in HR related activities of the security evacuation plan, ensuring relocations/evacuations are managed and administered in line with the provisions of the UN Security Management System Policy.
• Maintain liaison with the support sections and divisions at headquarters, specifically with DHRM, on matters related to the recruitment and personnel administration support, medical and other issues of staff welfare and safety.
• Enforce local compliance with the UN/UNHCR staff rules and regulations, as well as with the performance management system.
• Clear issuance and extension of contracts for locally recruited staff.
• Clear payments related to personnel issues such as settlement of travel claims, overtime claims, hazard pay, MIP reimbursements, medical and security evacuations, shipment costs.
• Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).

Minimum Qualifications

• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level

• For P1/NOA - 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

• Human Resources Management; Law; Administration; or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

• Not specified.

Relevant Job Experience
Essential

• Good knowledge of UNHCR administrative procedures and processes and exposure to provision of support services in an international organization.

Desirable

• Knowledge of UN/UNHCR field operational realities, especially in hardship duty stations. Field experience with UNHCR and/or with other humanitarian organizations is an asset. High IT affinity and working experience of PeopleSoft/MSRP HR module, as well as with MSRP Financials and Focus.

Functional Skills

• UN-UN/UNHCR Administrative Rules, Regulations and Procedures
• HR-PeopleSoft Human Capital Management
• FI-ERP Financial Management (SAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft, Workday and other)
• PG-Resource planning
• FO-Operational activities in hardship duty stations
• (Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements

• For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
• For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
• For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.
• All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination, and abuse of power.
• As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.
• This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Desired Candidate Profile

• The incumbent should have extensive human resources experience preferably with UN/UNHCR with demonstrated understanding of the fundamentals of human resources management. She/he is expected to be highly flexible and able to cope with multiple requests. He/she should have the ability to work under pressure and to produce quality output within strict deadlines. The position requires the incumbent to facilitate processes and the ability to multi-task is required/necessary, while ensuring careful attention to detail, with a high degree of patience; flexibility; tact and diplomacy; work under minimum supervision meaning he/she should be good at organizational skills, have initiative and anticipate HR actions required in advance without prompting. He/she may be required to supervise some HR colleagues and act as a back-up for the Assc. HR Officer in their absence.
• Due to the nature of work, s/he must have proven cultural flexibility, professionalism, integrity, confidentiality, and respect for diversity. S/he must have analytical thinking, excellent planning and organizational skills, excellent communication skills both written and verbal, interpersonal skills, provide high quality work within deadlines as well as excellent drafting skills.