Org. Setting and Reporting

The position is located in the Human Resources Section, Executive Office in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). OCHA is part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response efforts. OCHA’s mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies; advocate the rights of people in need; promote preparedness and prevention and facilitate sustainable solutions.

This position is based in the Regional Office for Middle East and North Africa, in Amman, Jordan. The Senior Human Resources Assistant reports to the Regional Human Resources Business Partner.

Responsibilities

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

Workforce Planning, Recruitment and Placement

• Supports and facilitates workforce planning by regularly reporting on vacancies, appointments and assignment and sharing monitoring reports to management for their consideration and to facilitate planning and decisions.
• Participates in the selection of candidates, 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-list of candidates.
• Assists in the filling of posts, 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.
• Provides input into policy development for the HR policies of staff in the General Service and related categories.
• Schedules and coordinates entry tests.
• 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 UMOJA.
• Advises staff on visa matters.

Classification
• Assists in reviewing and processing requests for classification.
• Provides advice and answers general queries on classification procedures and processes.
• Assists in providing documentation and background materials relating to classification appeals.

Administration of entitlements
• Reviews and processes data pertaining to conditions of service.
• Reviews and processes requests for entitlements and exceptions to the Staff Rules and Regulations concerning travel entitlements, currency of payment of emoluments and rental subsidy.
• Monitors issues on conditions of service of staff and advises the supervisor of any developments.

Staff development and career support training
• Assists in the delivery of career development programmes and support
• Assists in the organization and conduct of training courses and workshops.
• Participation in preparation of the Whole Office Learning plan and individual learning plans in consultation with the Senior Management, HR Analyst and Learning Manager.

General
• Supervises the maintenance of automated databases and the centralized reference and filing systems.
• Undertakes research on a range of HR related issues and prepares notes/reports.
• Conducts research on precedents, policy rulings and procedures.
• Supervises compilation and preparation of statistical reports on HR related issues.
• Assists in the preparation of information circulars for HR related issues.
• Conducts exit interviews for separating staff and assists him/her in final arrangements.
• 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 UMOJA, etc.; sets up and maintains files/records (electronic and paper); schedules appointments/meetings, monitors deadlines, etc.
• Prepares written response to queries concerning HR related matters.
• Trains new and lower-level staff in the unit.
• Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing
• 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.

• Planning& 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.

• 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.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent is required. University Degree in Human Resources, Business or Public Administration is desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in human resources management, administrative services or related area is required.

Working experience in the staff recruitment and talent management tool such as Inspira is required.

Working Experience in the Human Resources context within the UN Common System or other comparable international organizations is required.

Working Experience in the operational application of human resources management policies and practices is desirable.

Working experience in using Human Resources Management Enterprise Resources Planning System (ERP) such as UMOJA (SAP) is desirable.

Languages

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

Assessment

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

Special Notice

– This position is available for a period of one year. Extension of an appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/or availability of funds.

– The contract will be administered by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on behalf of OCHA.

– This position is a General Service position and will be based in Amman. Candidates of the General Service category shall be of the nationality of the country where this position is located (limited to Jordanian nationals).

– Appointment against this post is on a local basis.

– 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.

– The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

– An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.

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.