Human Resources Аssociate

Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, and build resilience so countries can sustain progress. As the development arm of the United Nations, UNDP supports strategic capacity development initiatives to promote inclusive growth and sustainable human development. 

In Ukraine, UNDP has been working since 1993 with the national and local authorities, public and private sector stakeholders, partners across the UN system, civil society, and local communities to promote inclusive growth and sustainable human development. Our work is guided and informed by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to develop targeted solutions to the country’s development challenges. We work in close collaboration with key ministries, departments, and agencies in a robust, integrated manner through Six Signature Solutions:

1. Poverty and Inequality
2. Governance
3. Resilience
4. Environment
5. Energy
6. Gender Equality

In Ukraine, these Solutions are integrated and targeted with a focus on three programmatic areas of support:

1. Inclusive Development, Recovery and Peacebuilding
2. Democratic Governance
3. Energy and Environment

All three of these programmes are aligned with the national priorities, which include accelerating sustainable economic growth and attracting green foreign investments, fighting corruption, resilient recovery and peacebuilding of the conflict-affected areas based on the principles of leaving no one behind and building back better, and streamlining digital governance to make all-state services accessible electronically.

The Human Resources (HR) unit provides support to Country Office (CO) management in ensuring that the office is appropriately staffed with high quality and engaged personnel who receive the guidance, feedback, and development they need to fully contribute to the CO’s agenda and Sustainable Development Goals.  The HR team applies strategic human resource management policies, procedures, programs and solutions – that leverage both technology and analytics – to promote a strong people management culture and high performing, diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace. 

Under the overall guidance of the Operations Manager and direct supervision of the Human Resources Analyst, the HR Associate ensures execution of transparent and efficient HR services in the CO. The HR Associate promotes a collaborative, client-oriented approach and supports the maintenance of high staff morale.

The HR Associate may supervise and lead clerical and support staff in the HR Unit. The HR Associate works in close collaboration with the Programme, Operations, and project teams in the CO, UNDP HQ OHR Business Partners, and staff in GSSC and other UN Agencies to exchange information and resolve complex HR-related issues.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities

Ensure effective administration and implementation of HR strategies and policies: 

• Ensure full compliance of records and reports with UN rules, regulations, and UNDP policies, procedures, and strategies; effective implementation of the internal controls; and proper functioning of the HR management system and practices;
• In consultation with the direct supervisor and office management, support CO HR business processes mapping, and provide input to content elaboration and update of internal HR Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) where needed in CO to supplement SOPs issued by GSSC/OHR. Adapt processes and procedures where necessary to meet the needs of CO; 
• Provide information to management and personnel on the implementation of HR policies, corporate strategies, rules and regulations, HR business processes, and proper use of contractual modalities;
• Collect information and support to UNDP’s participation in inter-agency exercises and surveys, such as comprehensive and interim local salary survey, hardship, and place-to-place surveys, in coordination with the direct supervisor; 
• Collect information on the risk management of Country Office HR activities to proactively manage and mitigate the risk. 

Provide HR services  to the UNDP CO and other UN agencies, including recruitment and staffing:

• Implement recruitment processes in coordination with GSSC and locally with Hiring Managers that includes drafting job descriptions, providing input to job classification process, drafting vacancy announcements, screening candidates, participating in interview panels, providing support for the submission of compliance reviews as per the actions delegated to the CO. In coordination with Hiring Managers, submit requests and appropriate documentation to GSSC for non-delegated actions;
• Facilitate creation and update of positions in ERP (or create positions if delegated) and association and update of positions to chart fields, in coordination with budget owners;
• Follow up with Finance staff and GSSC on Global Payroll issues;
• Monitor and track all transactions related to positions, recruitment, benefits, earnings/deductions, retroactivities, recoveries, adjustments, and separations through ERP and other relevant corporate platforms;
• Process timely contract management actions, in close coordination with supervisors and senior management;
• Provide support to process benefits and entitlements delegated to the CO, as applicable and in coordination with the direct supervisor and management, such as medical evacuations, R&R, safety and security interventions;
• Maintain CO staffing table and local rosters where relevant;
• Validate cost-recovery charges in ERP for HR services provided by UNDP to other Agencies; 
• Provide assistance to the contract management, payroll, and separations in coordination with GSSC in accordance with the delegation of authority given to the CO;
• Provide HR support and services to the UN system, including provision of information on personnel benefits and entitlements to UN agencies in line with UNDP policies and in coordination with GSSC as applicable;
• Provide administrative support to retirees as applicable.

Ensure proper staff performance management, talent management and career development in CO:

• Provide background information and maintain related data acting as Secretary to formal CO management groups responsible for collectively reviewing and discussing CO staff performance, talent, and development needs;
• Provide assistance to Performance Management reporting and monitoring;
• Provide input to the CO-wide Learning plan’s preparation in consultation with the Senior Management, HR Analyst, and Talent Development Manager;

Ensure facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the CO: 

• Organize training for the Operations and projects staff on HR issues;
• Assist in the creation and implementation of a local onboarding plan, leveraging corporate resources;
• Synthesize lessons learned and best practices in HR;
• Make sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.        

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: May supervise clerical and support staff in the HR unit.

Competencies

Core Competencies

• Achieve Results:
  • LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work.
• Think Innovatively:
  • LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking.
• Learn Continuously:
  • LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning.
• Adapt with Agility: 
  • LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process.
• Act with Determination:
  • LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously.
• Engage and Partner:
  • LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion:
  • LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making.
• People Management: 
• UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site. 

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies

• Knowledge Facilitation:             
  • Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally.
• Working with Evidence and Data:             
  • Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making.
• Operations Management:         
  • Ability to effectively plan, organize, and oversee the Organization’s business processes in order to convert its assets into the best results in the most efficient manner. 
  • Knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanisms.
• Assessment and Selection:
  • Knowledge and ability to apply various candidate assessment and selection methodologies, tools and platforms; ability to effectively align them with specific recruitment needs. 
• Payroll Management:
  • Knowledge of and ability to apply mechanisms and tools to collect payroll data, process payroll, and manage payroll reports.
• Managing Compensation and Benefits:
  • Ability to design compensation plans which are aligned to current and future organization needs and market conditions; knowledge of and ability to apply the ICSC compensation methodologies and principles. 
  • Knowledge of and ability to design benefits-related processes, programmes, and tools, including benefit enrolment and amendments. 
• L&D Planning:
  • Ability to identify organizational learning priorities aligned with the business strategy using key stakeholder involvement to ensure appropriate learning and optimal return-on-investment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Secondary education with specialized certification in HR is required. 
• A university degree in Human Resource, Business Administration, Public Administration, or an equivalent field will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.

Experience:

• Minimum of 6 years with high school diploma OR; 
• Minimum 3 years with bachelor’s degree of progressively responsible HR and/or administrative experience at the national or international level is required;          
• Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advanced knowledge of web-based management systems such as ERP;
• Experience of applying of the Human Resources management practice in an organization of the United Nations system is desirable;
• Hands-on experience with recruitment processes, including job postings, candidate screening, interviewing, and facilitating onboarding for new hires is a strong advantage;
• Experience in facilitation of performance management and talent development activities is desirable.

Required Languages:

• Fluency in English and Ukrainian is required.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Probation

For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

If you wish to apply for this or other positions, please visit UNDP in Ukraine website, section Jobs and apply:

https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/25158

UNDP will use a transparent and competitive screening process, though will only contact those applicants in whom there is further interest. Applications may only be submitted for specific vacancy.

Qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.