Org. Setting and Reporting

The position is located in the Human Resources Section (HRS) of the Executive Office (EO), United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Istanbul, Türkiye. OCHA is the 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 temporary position is located in the Human Resources Section of the Executive Office, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Istanbul, Türkiye. The Associate Human Resources Officer (Communications) reports to the Head of the Policy, Strategy and Analytics Unit (Human Resources Officer) who is based in New York.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Associate Human Resources Officer (Communications) will be responsible for the following duties: General • Provides advice and support to managers and staff on human resources related matters. primarily through written policy guidance notes. • Keeps abreast of developments in various areas of human resources. Support to HR Team Leads • Acts as a communications focal point for all HR Team Leads, ensuring that their needs are reflected in messaging and that relevant updates are shared in a timely and effective manner. • Provides support to HR teams in managing internal communications related to sensitive HR matters such as organizational restructuring, policy changes, and any new initiatives. • Assists in the design and delivery of communication plans for key HR initiatives, ensuring a smooth implementation and staff engagement. Advisory Services and Client Relations Management • Provides advice to HR teams on best practices for internal communications, including crafting effective messages, identifying appropriate communication channels, and managing feedback mechanisms. • Collaborates with all HR teams on the development and implementation of communication strategies that support the roll-out of HR-related updates, policies, and procedures. • Advises HR Team Leads on effective communication practices, ensuring clarity, discretion and consistency in messaging. • Supports change management and cultural initiatives by crafting and delivering clear, effective communication plans aligned with HR objectives. • Assists in creating FAQs, guidelines, and announcements to facilitate staff understanding of HR processes and policy changes. Operational Support • Coordinates the dissemination of HR-related communications to ensure alignment with broader organizational goals and the evolving needs of the supported entities. • Acts as the key focal point for queries and information regarding HR communications, ensuring timely and accurate responses are provided to internal stakeholders. Knowledge Management • Maintains and supports the development of communication materials, such as templates, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and toolkits, to support HR initiatives. • Ensures that the content of HR-related intranet pages is regularly updated, and that they are user-friendly and up-to-date with relevant information. • Disseminates best practices and lessons learned related to human resources management and policies, ensuring that key insights are shared across teams and departments. • Supports the creation and distribution of knowledge products such as newsletters, bulletins, or reports to keep staff informed of key HR developments. Monitoring and Reporting • Tracks the effectiveness of HR communications by collecting and analyzing feedback from staff, ensuring continuous improvement in communication strategies and practices. • Prepares reports on communication activities, outlining successes, challenges, and areas for enhancement, to inform HR leadership and decision-making processes. • Keeps tracks of any outstanding issues and ensures that these are addressed and resolved in a timely manner

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of human resources policies, practices and procedures and ability to apply them in an organizational setting. Ability to identify issues, formulate opinions, make conclusions and recommendations. 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 the audience ; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. • 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.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in human resources management, business or public administration, social sciences, education or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job – Specific Qualification

Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in graphic design is desirable.

Work Experience

– A minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in human resources management, administration or related area is required. – A minimum of one (1) year experience in graphic design or related area is desirable. – Experience in drafting communication for a Front Office and/or senior officials is desirable. – Experience in working in the UN Common System or comparable international organizations is desirable.

Languages

French and English are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

This position is temporarily available until 31 December 2024, with the possibility of extension. Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and the availability of the funds. The contract will be administered by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on behalf of OCHA. 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. Candidates for the National Professional Officer category shall be of the nationality of the country where this position is located (limited to Turkish nationals).

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.