Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Human Resources Unit of the Executive Office serving the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and Peace Operations (DPO). The Executive Office is part of the Office of the Director for Coordination and Shared Services enables, directs and coordinates departmental efforts to ensure the effective integration and management of both Departments. The Human Resources Assistant reports to the Senior Human Resources Assistant and the Human Resources Officer.

The Department of Peace Operations (DPO) serves as a center of excellence for peace operations, responsible for preventing, responding to and managing conflict and sustaining peace in countries where peace operations under its purview are deployed, and provides support to other entities on peace and security issues.

The Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) focuses primarily on five action areas in international peace and security, ensuring sound analysis and early warning, preventing conflict and engaging in peacemaking, managing political crises and violent conflicts, sustaining peace, and enhancing partnerships. The Department’s mandate is to prevent and resolve conflict through inclusive political solutions.

Responsibilities

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

RECRUITMENT AND PLACEMENT:
• Processes applications for vacancies, including preparing and maintaining case files for candidates, ensuring and monitoring the transfer of files of candidates between offices, arranging for interviews, and entering data on candidates into the automated roster.
• 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.
• Assists in the evaluation and screening of applications of candidates for secretarial, clerical and related categories positions.
• Maintains vacancy announcement files and tracks status of vacancy announcements.
• Coordinates with Offices and selected candidates on travel arrangements, visa matters and shipment of personal effects.
• Prepares agenda and provides relevant documentation required for recruitment related meetings.
• Prepares personnel actions.
• Advises staff and consultants on visa matters.

ADMINISTRATION OF CONSULTANTS AND INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTORS
• Provides daily guidance and assistance in the management of Consultants and Individual
• Contractors, which includes but is not limited to the following duties:
• Confirms/Establishes the fees of remunerations for requests received (Daily, Monthly, Lump-sum)
• Manages/approves of the contract and service entry sheet in Umoja
• Creates and maintains the mini-master for retirees, separated staff members, and existing and newly engaged consultants and individual contractors
• Trains and supports HR Partners and Requisitioners in the creation of mini-master records, shopping carts and Service Entry Sheets

GENERAL
• Maintains HR related automated systems and applications including automated databases containing HR related statistics and prepares periodic 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 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 and provides supervision to new and lower-level staff in the unit.
• Provides general office support services; drafts and/or processes a variety of correspondence and other communications.
• Sets up and maintains reference files/records (electronic and paper).
• Schedules appointments/meetings, monitors deadlines, etc.
• Undertakes research on a range of HR related issues and assists in the preparation of notes/reports.
• Maintains automated database containing HR related statistics and prepares periodic reports.
• Assists in the preparation of necessary documentation for distribution to various offices, departments and overseas offices.
• Performs a variety of administrative duties (e.g. leave recording, request for office supplies and equipment, etc.).
• Performs other duties as required.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM
• Knowledge of the human resources policies, procedures and practices and ability to 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.
• Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects 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.

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. Must have passed the Global General Service Test (GGST) at Headquarters or an equivalent locally-administered test at Offices Away from Headquarters.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of experience in human resources management, administrative services or related area is required.
Experience with web-based recruitment tool (such as PeopleSoft, Inspira) is required.
Experience administering staff rules for international organizations is desirable.
Experience with enterprise resource planning (ERP) software is desirable.
Experience with the administration of Consultants and Individual Contractors is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

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.

This job opening is only open to the staff members of the United Nations Secretariat who (1) serve in the duty station specified in the job opening; (2) hold a permanent, continuing or fixed-term appointment; and (3) have been appointed following the review of the Central Review Panel, or upon meeting other regular requirements for the duty station, job level and category and functional area. Staff members holding an appointment limited to service to a specific entity are not eligible to be considered if this position is outside that entity. Staff members holding a temporary appointment are not eligible for consideration.

Passing the Global General Service Test (GGST) is a prerequisite for recruitment consideration in the General Services and related categories in the United Nations Secretariat. Applicants who have not passed the GGST at the time of application may be invited for the test after submitting an application. Staff members who were granted a fixed-term, continuing or permanent appointment as a result of having passed a predecessor test recognized by the Office of Human Resources, and who have continuously held such appointments, are not required to take the new test.

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.

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.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side 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.