Human Resources Officer at United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS)

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), Operations and Resource Management Pillar (ORM), Human Resources Section and is based in Nairobi.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Human Resources Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

1. Recruitment and Staff Selection:
   1. Monitors vacant posts of assigned level/group and ensures adherence to policies and procedures in filling these posts.
   2. Contributes to the recruitment process and support the development of recruitment strategies and plans, coordinating with client offices in forecasting and identifying vacancies, preparing job openings, reviewing and
   3. screening of candidates.
   4. Review job openings in consultation with hiring managers, ensuring that the evaluation criteria and responsibilities are in line with the approved or classified documents.
   5. Conducts preliminary review, prepares and submits recruitment cases to approving officials/entities.
   6. Arranges and conducts interviews for selection of candidates.
   7. Reviews recommendation on the selection of candidate by client offices.
   8. Participates in task forces and working groups identifying issues/problems, formulating policies and guidelines, and establishing new procedures on recruitment and staff selection.
   9. Coordinates and administers language professional examination and other programmes and tests related to the recruitment of professional, general service and other categories of staff.
   10. Manages the recruitment and selection of national staff ensuring the development of job descriptions for approved posts, liaising with the DOS on the classification of such posts, advertising and guiding managers on the selection process in line with UN rules and regulations.
2. Administration of entitlements and Benefits:
   1. Advises the Head of the Unit or Senior Human Resources Officers on the development, modification and implementation of United Nations policies and practices on entitlements.
   2. Provides advice and guidance to managers and staff on human resources related matters.
   3. Recommends level of remuneration for consultants.
   4. Provides advice on interpretation and application of policies, regulations and rules. Reviews and provides advice on exceptions to policies, regulations and rules.
   5. As requested by the supervisor, might be required to represents the office in joint bodies and working groups relating to salaries and other conditions of service.
   6. Assist in the process of knowledge/awareness building amongst programme managers, senior management and staff members with regard to the staff rules and regulations, and related guidelines in the administration of entitlements and their strict application by the HR Section, including consistent implementation of delegated authority;
   7. Monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of related guidelines, HR rules, regulations practices and procedures, and recommends revisions, where necessary.
   8. Receives and reviews grievances and complaints related to entitlements and benefits, assessing and evaluating merit of each case and makes recommendation for resolution.
3. Planning and Budget:
   1. Participate in the mission planning process throughout the mission lifecycle for determining the staffing requirements and organizational structure; also conducts analysis and provides inputs on emerging capacity gaps in
   2. accordance with the mission’s mandate.
   3. Contributes to the budget development process by reviewing the drafts and providing input on the human resources requirements and organizational structure of all sections based on the guidelines on budget review.
   4. Reflects recommendations of the staffing reviews into the staffing requirements for purpose of budget preparation.
   5. Reviews staffing related costs and expenditures in UMOJA in line with funds allotment, ensuring that funds for staffing costs are available, and where necessary alerts Human Resources Officer to follow up with Finance and Budget Office to deploy funds to meet any shortfall.
   6. Monitors expenditures related to staffing to ensure they are within the budgeted staffing costs, coordinating with the Finance and Budget Units at both the mission and Headquarter levels to ensure availability of funds.
   7. Advises hiring managers on loaning of posts between sections and movement of posts and staff between locations based on the SOP on Staffing table and Post Management, ensuring the integrity of the staffing table as approved in the budget without discrepancy in sections and locations.
   8. Reviews the documentation for submission of classification requests and contributes to the implementation of classification results.
4. Performance Management:
   1. Supports the supervisor in the implementation of the performance appraisal system and monitors its compliance with the proper implementation of the performance management system, providing guidance and substantive
   2. support to mission components on standards for the development of service, section, unit and individual work plans.
   3. Liaise with the Integrated Mission Training Center to organize training/orientation programmes in performance management and supervisory skills as well as work plans.
   4. Monitors the full-compliance of e-Performance and provides input to the establishment of Management Review Committee and Joint Monitoring Committee and Rebuttal Panel and acts as their facilitator and ex-officio member.
   5. Counsels staff and managers in cases of underperformance and facilitates the implementation of a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) or other remedial measures, when required.
5. Staff Development :
   1. Provides regular information on vacancies and opportunities for the generic rostering system and works with DOS as a conduit for headquarters initiatives and as the initiator of individual career advice and counseling.
   2. Advises staff on training opportunities for HR staff as well as staff in general giving particular attention to developing and implementing career development paths for national staff members.
   3. Assesses the skill, expertise and knowledge of the HROs and HRAs, ensuring participation of human resources staff in relevant training programmes and designing individual on-the-job and group training programmes on
   4. specific subject matters in the area of human resources management, including in the use of HR IT systems.
   5. Identifies and analyzes staff development and career support needs and designs programmes to meet identified needs.
6. Administration of Justice :
   1. Researches and compiles the mission’s responses to formal and informal requests coming from different entities under the Administration of Justice (AoJ) system.
   2. Contributes to efforts and measures aimed at addressing and mitigating staff grievances with the purpose of resolving them at the lowest practical level.
   3. Contributes to the development of preventive activities such as training and sharing best practices and recent jurisprudence related to human resources management.
7. Staff and Management Relations :
   1. Assists the supervisors in supporting the dialogue between the management and international and national staff unions (Field Staff Union and National Staff Committee respectively to discuss HR matters and related staff issues.
   2. Participates in meetings with staff representatives to address issues affecting the staff and coordinate the quarterly meetings with the Head of the Mission and Director.
   3. Organizes, as necessary, general or specific meetings for the staff on issues such as mandate implementation, status of HR reforms and other organizational change initiatives etc.
   4. Other:
   5. Under the supervision of the CHRO, the HRO contributes to the monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of delegated authorities, through inter- alia, the Human Resources Management Scorecard (HRM-S), Service
8. Level Agreements, HRM-S indicators, and the Senior Managers' Compact.
   1. Contributes to the development of a set of actionable and targeted change management plans, including coaching and training in order to implement these responsibilities and reports on possible gaps and risks and recommends corrective action.
   2. Assist with the development of a communication strategy with a dedicated intranet page on HR issues and regular formal and informal meetings.
   3. Conducts research on precedents, policy rulings and procedures.
   4. Maintain human resources information systems, including constant update and generation of information and reports for use by management.
9. Performs other duties as required.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge of all facets of human resources management, administration, finance, budget. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges. Remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Client orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients ” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view. Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect. Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions. Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems. Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects. Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.
• Planning and organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required. Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. Uses time efficiently.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in human resources management, business or public administration, social sciences, education or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in human resources management, administration or a related area, is required.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.