UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built, we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, a bright future

The Programme Group (PG) – formerly the Programme Division (PD) – provides global thought and technical programme leadership to achieve results for the most disadvantaged and excluded children everywhere within the overall framework of the UNICEF Strategic Plan 2022–2025 and in response to the universal scope of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). PG, working with other divisions and regional offices, leads UNICEF’s global programmatic vision to provide countries with technical assistance to boost programme excellence, as well as with support to leverage evidence, partnerships, and innovations that can be adapted and taken to scale in different country contexts – including humanitarian settings and low-, middle-, and high-income countries. ​

The PG Human Resources Team provides advice, guidance, and HR solutions to all Programme Group teams, located in 13 locations.  It has a matrix line to all PG Directors. The HR function in PG uses a people-centric approach which aims to promote a diverse and highly inclusive workplace culture to effectively implement the Programme strategies. It also ensures that PG attracts, develops, and retains high quality talent, both in terms of gender and geographical diversity, to facilitate the effective and efficient implementation of the Programme. It promotes the creation of a safe, healthy, and respectful workplace that cultivates excellence, innovation, and commitment to delivery of results for children whilst nurturing talents and providing avenues for growth and development to its staff.

How can you make a difference?

Under the guidance and overall direction of the Human Resources Specialist, the Senior Human Resources Associate provides administrative, procedural, and strategic support to the efficient implementation of a broad range of Human Resources functions for all categories of staff, ensuring accurate and timely delivery and in compliance with UNICEF HR rules and regulations.

Specifically, the Senior HR Associate supports the roll out of HR strategic activities, such as Talent Management, Organizational Culture and Business Partnering, as well as skills/functional reviews, organizational design, structural reviews, and support global talent mobility for UNICEF Programme functions.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Support to business partnering 

• developing initiatives to encourage employee well-being and employee recognition schemes.
• Supporting the management of change processes; Acting as subject matter expert & providing quality assurance
• Enforce compliance with UNICEF HR policies and procedures
• Decide on appropriate application and interpretation of HR rules

2. Support in staff recruitment and placement

• Coordination of the recruitment plan in line with new staff selection policy & monitors life cycle of recruitment process
• Be the focal point for staff queries related to onboarding and liaison with Programme Operations Hub (POH) and the Central Service Center in HQ.
• Provide strategic, proactive & accurate guidance to hiring managers and staff in relation to staff selection
• Provide technical advice related to entitlements in collaboration with the GSSC

3. Support in organization design and job classification

• Review and edits job descriptions to be submitted for classification
• Monitors life cycle of all job classification requests to facilitate recruitment and organization planning.
• Compiles and analyses information and statistics related to posts and staff for reports on staffing trends
• Analyze, research, verify, and compile data which facilitates preparation of workforce planning reports
• Monitor & analyze PG post Authorization table as the focal point for post changes processes in close collaboration with POH and DFAM

4. HR Data Analytics

• Collect, interpret, and analyze HR data to help inform decision making on HR processes and strategies.
• Support the development and implementation of data collection systems to optimize data quality.
• Coordinate with other divisions (DHR, DFAM, GSSC) and partners to provide assistance in their HR information management

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  126356_JD Senior HR Associate (GS-7) PG-HR.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Education: Completion of secondary education preferably supplemented by technical, or university courses related to business administration, human resources management, or related field is a minimum requirement. *

        *For this position, a bachelor’s degree from a recognized academic institution in a relevant field may replace three years of related work experience. A master’s degree may replace additional two years.

• Work Experience: At least 7 years of relevant work experience in human resources, or administration in an international organization with progressively responsible HR related assignments is an asset is required.
• Skills: Excellent client-service skills and initiative taking. Advanced knowledge in the Microsoft Suite of Products and Intranet/Internet is required.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required

Desirables:

• Relevant experience in data analytics and reporting
• Training in Competency Based Interviewing, use of VISION/SAP & HR information/management systems
• Good knowledge of UNICEF’s rules, regulations and procedures including processing procurements and knowledge of the UN system
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per 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.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

In this role, you will collaborate with colleagues across multiple locations. For effective collaboration, we encourage flexible working hours that accommodate different time zones while prioritizing staff wellbeing.

UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the general service category. Proof of permanent residency or citizenship required.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.