The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.

Austria Multi-Country Office (AUMCO)

The Austria Multi-Country Office (AUMCO) is part of the UNOPS Europe and Central Asia Region (ECR). Specifically, AUMCO aims to enable achievement of Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement through global programmes and tailored interventions in the Balkans, South Caucasus, and Central Asia, focused on:

• Infrastructure
• Procurement
• Project Management (full service, back on track)
• HR and Transactional Services
• Grants Management
• Technical and Advisory Services
• Project Information

UNOPS office in Uzbekistan office commenced its operations formally in the country in the latter half of 2023, and currently has a portfolio of projects supporting the Government of Uzbekistan’s efforts in strengthening the health care services delivery system. At present the office has signed and has been implementing three engagements in this regard, while the office is actively looking at diversifying its support in the country.

Overall, these engagements and projects focus on all aspects of healthcare systems strengthening, including feasibility assessments for infrastructure for healthcare delivery such as hospitals, laboratories and treatment facilities across the country, identification of requirements for various medical equipment and diagnostic needs, procurement and supply of laboratory, biomedical and diagnostic equipment and establishing an ICT system for monitoring the epidemiological situation to strengthen preparedness and resilience to the COVID-19 pandemic and other epidemics including related training and capacity building development in this regard.

The Support Services Team, led by the Senior Operations Manager, ensures the execution of transparent and efficient support services in the timely delivery of UNOPS programmes in the country, including; Finance, HR, Administration and logistical support, and Travel.

Under the direct supervision and overall direction of the Senior Operations Manager as well as the technical guidance of IPAS HR and AUMCO HR, the HR Senior Associate is responsible for administering and implementing services, plans, and processes covering the array of Human Resources Management service lines for optimal employee and talent management, i.e. recruitment, learning, performance management, transition, organizational development, and contract management, S/he serves as the first contact for internal and external clients in resolving questions on processes and procedures and provision of guidance and information related to HR initiatives and services to a wide range of UNOPS clients.

*** Only nationals or persons already holding a valid residence/work permit in Uzbekistan are eligible for this position***

1. Support to policy development and implementation
2. Advisory Services
3. Talent Acquisition and Administration
4. Team Management
5. Knowledge Building and Knowledge Sharing

1. Support to policy development and implementation

• Contribute to HR policy development and corporate HR initiatives by assisting to maintain data on trends, risks and opportunities and sharing local HR best practices.
• Provide substantive HR expertise to assist in projects in support of HR initiatives for attainment of business objectives in line with the corporate HR strategy.
• Assist to generate strategic and operational workforce data for planning, including related statistical summaries and movements of UNOPS Office/Projects Centre personnel.
• Support the communication on HR policy changes and new HR initiatives to management and personnel, providing guidance as needed.

2. Advisory Services

• Provide guidance on HR related systems and processes including but not limited to Recruitment, Contracts, Position Management, Performance Management, Learning and Development, Benefits and Entitlements consistent with UNOPS rules and procedures.
• Provide advice and guidance to personnel on administrative procedures, processes and practices.
• Act as liaison between unit and internal and external clients and provide proactive customer service to expedite completion of projects, and provide information
• As the first face of HR, ensure that new hires’ first impressions are positive and that they have all in-processing information completed.
• Advise hiring management on: recruitment processes, UNOPS performance management cycle, development initiatives, and learning plans.
• Advise hiring management and guide personnel on UNOPS recruitment and performance management processes, and learning and development initiatives, resources, and plans.
• Provide advice to supervisors on good practices, policies and procedures in performance management, including managing of underperformance.
• Support the implementation of institutional gender and diversity initiatives, providing education and advice on issues related to equity, compliance, inclusion, and diversity.

3. Talent Acquisition and Administration

• Provide client advice and submit transactional HR service data (normally within the ERP system) including but not limited to:

• Recruitment and Selection: such as requisition initiation, longlisting, statutory body approvals, selection reports, offers and rejections.
• Transactions:
• Position actions (coordinate position classification and reclassification actions);
• Contracts (initial, extensions, separations, status change actions);
• Calculation of fees for ICA personnel

• Inform and advise UNOPS personnel, consultants, partners and project personnel on their conditions of service and entitlements according to their contract modality, expediting actions to facilitate their efficient, timely, and client-focused onboarding.
• Manage recruitment processes ensuring best practices are used for effective and efficient talent acquisition in line with UNOPS policy. Utilize and maintain recruitment plans, tools and policy guidance to efficiently and effectively recruit and retain a diverse workforce to meet the needs of the business objectives. Maintain personnel rosters.
• Liaise with UNOPS’ HR related groups such as SSC on personnel administration matters.
• Research precedents and present recommendations to supervisor, taking into account institutionalized exceptions.
• Establish and maintain monitoring systems, advising the supervisor on the status of pending requests and approaching deadlines. Follow up on team work processes to ensure clearance, approvals and timely workflows

• Monitor status of HR actions to facilitate timely action by supervisor/ line management and personnel.

4. Team Management

• Facilitate the engagement and provision of high quality results and services of the team supervised through effective work planning, performance management, coaching, and promotion of learning and development.
• Provide oversight, ensuring compliance by team members with existing policies and best practices.

5. Knowledge building and knowledge sharing

• Organize, facilitate and/or deliver training and learning initiatives for personnel on HR-related topics.
• Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice by synthesizing of lessons learnt and dissemination of best practices in human resources.
• Collect feedback, ideas, and internal knowledge about processes and best practices and utilize productively.
• Undertake research on a range of HR related issues and contribute data as well as draft notes/reports.
• Liaise with relevant HQ and UN system units to exchange information and follow up on pending issues.

Education:

• Completion of Secondary education required.
• First University Degree in Human Resources Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, or equivalent disciplines is desirable.
• Knowledge of UN policies, procedures and practices highly desirable

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 (seven) years of relevant experience in an international and/or national organization in providing HR advisory, recruitment, and/or HR-generalist, support services.
• Some experience in UN system organizations is desirable
• Experience using Google Suite is highly desired.
• Experience in the use of HR information and/or Enterprise systems is desirable

Language:

• Proficiency in written and spoken English is required
• Proficiency in Russian or Uzbek is required
• Knowledge of another official UNOPS language is an asset

*** Only nationals or persons already holding a valid residence/work permit in Uzbekistan are eligible for this position***

Contract type: ICA
Contract level: L-ICA-7
Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

*** Only nationals or persons already holding a valid residence/work permit in Uzbekistan are eligible for this position***

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and it is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, or disability.
  
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization – UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.