Org. Setting and Reporting
These positions are located in the Client Support and Special Situations Section (CSSSS) in the Division for Special Activities (DSA) in the Department of Operational Support (DOS) at United Nations Headquarters in New York. DOS was established to provide operational advisory services to operating entities across the Secretariat, including other departments, offices-away-from headquarters, field missions, and regional commissions. DSA oversees a range of specialized or cross-cutting operational capacities. A large part of its responsibilities is to support start-up, surge, transition and liquidation requirements and to exercise authority on behalf of entities to which authority has not been granted owing to a lack of capacity or from which authority has been temporarily withdrawn. The Division also has the mandate to provide crisis preparedness and support at all duty stations. CSSSS works with counterparts across DOS and other United Nations entities to effectively and rapidly support the deployment, establishment, transition and liquidation of client entities. The Section also provides and coordinates essential operational and administrative support to staff and families affected by a critical incident or any other crisis. The Human Resources Assistant reports to Human Resources Officer.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Human Resources Assistant will be responsible for the following duties: RECRUITMENT AND PLACEMENT: • Participates in the selection of candidates for secretarial, clerical and related categories positions; including evaluating and screening applications of such candidates, preparing profiles of candidates, and conducting preliminary interviews, and conducting roster searches for vacancies and identifying short-lists of candidates. • Assists in the filling of posts for all categories, including initiating and following-up on reference checks and academic verifications, ensuring the completion of the pre-recruitment formalities, calculating salaries and related benefits, and preparing and dispatching offers of appointment and Statement of Emoluments. • Assists in organizing and coordinating competitive recruitment examinations. • Oversees the maintenance of vacancy announcement files and tracking status of vacancy announcements. • Reviews and processes personnel actions through IMIS. • Advises staff on visa matters. ADMINISTRATION OF ENTITLEMENTS: • Reviews and processes requests for entitlements and claims. • Conducts research and prepares written responses to support queries related to HR matters. STAFF DEVELOPMENT AND CAREER SUPPORT TRAINING: • Assists in the organization and conducts of training courses and workshops. • Provides logistics and administrative support to trainers. CLASSIFICATION: • Assists in reviewing and processing requests for classification. • Provides advice and answers general queries on classification procedures and processes. GENERAL: • Maintains HR related automated systems and applications including automated databases containing HR related statistics and preparesperiodic reports. • Undertakes research on a range of HR related issues and assists in the preparation of notes/reports. • Provides general office support services; processes, drafts, edits, proofreads and finalizes for signature/approval a variety of correspondence and other communications; performs budget preparation, input monitoring and implementation in IMIS, etc.; sets up and maintains files/records (electronic and paper); schedules appointments/meetings, monitors deadlines, etc. • Assists with reviewing whether existing regulations, rules and policies are fit for purpose during surge/start-ups, transitions, downsizing and liquidations and liaises with the Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance (DMSPC) to address challenges and gaps identified. • Reviews and seeks support from DMSPC on exceptions to polices, regulations and rules. • Monitors issues and data pertaining to conditions of service. • Supports offices in the absence of Delegation of Authority (DOA); undertakes matching with service providers and handover of human resources activities once DOA is granted or a start-up entity’s human resources team is in place. • Performs other duties as required.
Competencies
• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of human resources policies, procedures and practices and ability to interpret and apply them in an organizational setting. Demonstrates use of initiative and makes appropriate linkages in work requirements and anticipates next steps. 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. • COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. • TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
Education
High school diploma or equivalent is required.
Job – Specific Qualification
Not available.
Work Experience
• A minimum of seven years of experience in human resources management, administrative services or a related area is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to five (5) years for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher. • Experience in the implementation of human resources policies, regulation and rules is required. • Experience using an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system such as UMOJA, SAP or similar system is required. • Experience with an HR recruitment and onboarding system, such as Inspira or an equivalent system is desirable. • Experience in an international organization is desirable. • Experience advising clients in human resources administration is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the positions advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
• Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. • Appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year and any extension will be subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval, or extension of the mandate. • Applicants, who successfully go through a competitive recruitment process and are recommended for selection and/or inclusion in the roster of pre-approved candidates for subsequent job openings at the same level and with similar functions, may have their application information and roster status shared with other UN Organizations. Such applicants may be contacted by other UN Organizations for similar job openings, subject to the confirmation of their interest. Placement on the roster is no guarantee of a future selection. • This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. All staff in the General Service and related categories shall be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of each office, irrespective of their nationality and of the length of time they may have been in the country. A staff member subject to local recruitment shall not be eligible for the allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment. • At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.
United Nations Considerations
According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.