Only candidates who are not nationals of the country of assignment are eligible to apply to this position
Hardship LevelA (least hardship)
Family TypeFamily
Residential location (if applicable)
GradePR2
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeProfessional
* Staff members will not normally serve in International Professional positions in the country of their nationality. In addition, in case of a first appointment upon recruitment, the assignment must be outside the staff memberโs country of nationality.
In practical terms this means that you are not eligible to apply for International Professional vacancies advertised in the country where you are national of.
ReasonRegular > Regular Assignment
Remote work acceptedNo
Target Start Date2023-09-01
Job Posting End DateAugust 14, 2023
Standard Job Description
Associate Human Resources Officer
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Associate Human Resources Officer supports the UNHCR's People Strategy and contributes to the implementation of the 2018 independent Human Resources review, which resulted in the establishment of HR strategic priorities and the reconfiguration and transformation of the Division of Human Resources (DHR) from a largely transactional model into a strategic business partner for field operations and senior management. Having the right people in the right place at the right time is at the core of enabling UNHCR to protect and respond to persons of concern. By attracting, retaining and developing a talented, diverse and agile workforce while nurturing a culture of excellence, respect and wellbeing for all, UNHCRยฟs Human Resources acts as a strategic partner to the organization, enabling a people-centric culture.
The Associate Human Resources Officer provides support and assistance in the areas of operational support, workforce planning, assignments and talent acquisition, organizational cultural changes, HR policy implementation and duty of care. The incumbent maintains employee confidence and protects the organization and its workforce by keeping human resources information confidential.
The Associate Human Resources Officer is usually supervised by the HR Officer or Senior HR Officer or Head of Office in a Country Operation, or the most senior HR staff in a Regional Bureau. She/he usually supervises HR General Service staff.
The incumbent maintains a direct working relationship with a number of units within the Division of Human Resources (DHR). The incumbent also works closely with the Senior HR Partner, the Senior Medical Officer and the Senior Staff counsellor for his/her region.
ยฟ
All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCRยฟs core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.
Duties
Workforce Operational Support:
- Assist in implementation of HR initiatives that support organizational culture change such as good people management practices, and promoting gender, inclusion and diversity.
- Implement HR operational activities to ensure timely provision of HR solutions, prioritizing according to the needs and risks.
- Contribute to the development of a HR customer service-oriented culture that values proactivity, continuous improvement, innovation and high performance.
- Provide support, guidance and trainings to HR staff.
Assignments and Talent Acquisition:
- Coordinate the process of recruitment, assignment and reassignment of locally-recruited staff and affiliate workforce, also assisting with set up and running of (Regional) Assignments Committee where relevant.
- Assist in organizing outreach campaigns to attract diverse applicants. Ensure proper consideration is given to all applicants without distinction on the grounds of race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.
- Analyse, track and report on recruitment and assignments trends for management, including efforts to reach gender parity.
- Take a proactive approach to risk management in the areas of recruitment, ensuring the issues are identified, addressed and reported and, where appropriate, escalated.
Advice to managers and staff, and contribution to an inclusive work environment:
- Build dialog and outreach with staff; answer questions, and provide information to staff as to where to go for help or ask questions.
- Be proactive in identifying issues, themes and patterns affecting the workforceยฟs health and welfare, including sexual harassment and abuse of authority.
- Ensure that on-boarding, induction, re-integration into the workplace and off-boarding support, is provided to colleagues. Induction programmes should include information on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and Sexual Harassment, Code of Conduct as well as workforceยฟs rights and obligations.
HR policies and inter-agency:
- Enforce compliance with UNHCRยฟs Human Resources policies and procedures and the UN staff rules, regulations and UNHCR administrative instructions.
- Participate in the ICSC survey on living conditions and classification of duty stations as well as in the UN Country Team local staff salary survey and other local inter-agency HR-related fora and initiatives.
Duty of Care:
- Contribute to establishing and maintaining a medical evacuation plan with senior management, Field safety and the Senior Medical Officer.
- Assist in the security and medical evacuations of UNHCR personnel.
- Support the implementation of a Duty of Care strategy. Identify and assess issues related to duty of care including physical, mental health and safety of UNHCRยฟs workforce, promoting workforce balance.
For positions in Regional Bureaux only:
In the absence of a Senior Talent Development Officer in the Bureau:
- Contribute to the implementation of a talent development strategy for UNHCR workforce in the region, in line with UNHCRยฟs needs and staff membersยฟ career planning.
- Contribute to the implementation of a talent sourcing and acquisition plan to identify talent mainly among but not limited to national staff and affiliate workforce in the region.
- Perform other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P2/NOB - 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree
Field(s) of Education
Human Resources Management; Human Resources Development; Personnel Administration;
Business Administration; or other relevant field.
(Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified.
Relevant Job Experience
Essential:
Experience working in Human Resources. Knowledge of general HR policies, processes and systems.
Desirable:
Experience in one or more of the following areas: HR Administration, workforce planning, recruitment, HR policy or talent development. Experience in HR information technology systems and tools. Experience in field humanitarian operations and/or emergency settings. Experience working with the United Nations. Experience working in a multi-cultural setting.
Functional Skills
HR-Local mass recruitment
HR-Talent Development and Nurturing
HR-HR data and people analytics
HR-Employee Relationship Management
SO-Learning Agility
HR-HR Business Partnering
MG-Client Relationship Management
HR-Inclusion, Diversity and Gender strategy design and implementation
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.
All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.
As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.
This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.
Desired Candidate Profile Desired Candidate Profile
โข The incumbent must be knowledgeable of UNHCR Human Resources Policies & Guidelines and have excellent communication, problem solving and analytical skills.
โข People management, empathy and duty of care are key attributes to lead a productive team
โข Field experience/exposure is an advantage.
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level): Spanish
,
,
Desired languages
,
,
Operational context
Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel
Nature of Position:
The socio-political crisis and rise in persecution factors in Nicaragua since April 2018 had produced a particularly sharp increase in the number of Nicaraguan asylum-seekers in Costa Rica. Only 78 Nicaraguans were registered as asylum-seekers in 2017. From April 2018 to mid-2020, the number had grown to over 86,000. Throughout 2022, asylum seekers continued arriving in Costa Rica at a high pace; in 2023, Costa Rica features as the third country in the world with the highest number of new asylum claims. Currently (June 2023), the number of refugees, asylum seekers, and other persons of concern (mainly from Nicaragua, but also from Venezuela, Colombia, El Salvador, Honduras, and Cuba) stands at more than 220,000.
At the same time, 2022 saw a significant increase in mixed movements transiting through Costa Rica, as compared to 2021. The trend has consolidated in 2023; so far this year (June 2023), almost 100,000 people in mixed movements left the Migratory Reception Station (ERM) in Los Planes, Gualaca (Panama), and entered Costa Rica. A number of those are unable to continue their journey toward Mexico and the United States and require humanitarian and medical assistance; some of them also decide to seek asylum in Costa Rica. Last May 2023, an L1 Emergency was declared in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, Honduras, and Mexico due to increasing mixed and onward movements.
The response capacities of Costa Rica, and those of UNHCR and other partners, have been severely stretched, resulting in inadequate reception facilities and significant delays in registering and processing asylum claims. The large backlog can inhibit asylum-seekers from timely access to documentation, work authorization, health insurance, and other rights, as well as a final refugee recognition decision, increasing their vulnerability and exposure to protection risks, and increasing their dependency on humanitarian aid.
The growth of the operation since 2018 has implied a significant increase in human resources tasks, and the need for the management to count on the support of an internationally recruited human resources officer, with sufficient experience with UNHCR and an understanding of the agencyยดs mandate, to act as a strategic support for personnel-related decisions. The total number of positions in the operation is 129, including 31 vacancies; this number is expected to grow to 189 in the coming months, due to the recruitment of colleagues required for the Safe Mobility Programme.
Aside from the office in San Jose, UNHCR Costa Rica has a Field Office in Upala, in the North of the country, close to the border with Nicaragua. As of July 2023, it will also open a Field Unit in Paso Canoas, in the South of the country and border with Panama, in order to monitor and address mixed movements. Additionally, UNHCR Costa Rica is recruiting a considerable number of staff within the framework of the US-funded Safe Mobility Programme, which involves a rapid scale-up of Resettlement activities and a need for HR staff to carry out swift recruitment processes.
UNHCR also seconds a varying number (between 30 and 45) of staff to the Refugee Unit within the Migration Authority in Costa Rica. Currently under UNOPS contracts, there is a need to find a more sustainable and effective contractual arrangement to ensure an adequate implementation of UNHCRยดs mandate, accountability by the government partner, and compliance with national legislation.
This position is based at UNHCR Office in San Jose, Costa Rica, and reports directly to the Representative.
The Associate HR Officer plays a critical role to ensure a timely response to operational needs in compliance with UNHCR rules and procedures and to promote capacity building for the HR team, which is composed of one (1) G6 and three (3) G5, mainly new staff who require training and close supervision and coaching. The Associate HR Officer provides support and assistance in the areas of operational support, workforce planning, and duty of care in line with Costa Rica's strategic objectives and Business Operations Strategy as well as performing transactional personnel management tasks.
Living and Working Conditions:
Costa Rica is a Central American country with a population of around 5 million people (est. 2022). The capital city, San Jose, is set in the Central Valley and is home to 350,400 people.
Tropical climates along the coasts to highland climates occur in all altitudes throughout the mountainous country offering the greatest variety of temperature zones; one of them surely will fit your definition of \"perfect climate\". Costa Rica has an average temperature of 70 F (21Celsius) to 81 F (21Celsius). Due to its proximity to the equator, it has no real summer or winter. It does however have a rainy season from May to November.
The country has not had an army since 1948. It has a uniformed Police Force (Fuerza Pรบblica) and a Judicial Police force (Organismo de Investigaciรณn Judicial - OIJ) under the Ministry of Justice.
There have been instances of non-violent crimes against tourists and citizens. While petty theft is the main problem, robberies have been known to occur at any time during the day.
The cost of living is high in Costa Rica compared to other countries in the region, especially for housing, but it is readily available. Public transportation is available, but most people use private cars. Like other fast-growing cities, traffic is heavy at peak hours and is considered an issue for people living in San Jose and its surrounding areas.
An entry visa is required for travelers and must be obtained from a Consulate before arrival. However, some nationalities are exempted from this requirement.
Telephone services in 3G and 4G networks are available throughout most of the country. A national emergency calling system is also available (911 number).
Additional Qualifications
SkillsHR-Active Listening, HR-Administration of Staff Contracts and Benefits, HR-Affiliate workforce/contingent workforce management, HR-Competency based interviewing, HR-Employee Relationship Management, HR-Operational Workforce Planning, HR-Vacancy Management, SO-Critical Thinking and problem solving, SO-Interpersonal skills
EducationBachelor of Arts (BA): Business Administration (Required), Bachelor of Arts (BA): Human Resource Development (Required), Bachelor of Arts (BA): Human Resources Management (Required), Bachelor of Arts (BA): Personnel Administration (Required)
CertificationsCP-HRM Certification Programme for HR Management - UNHCR
Work Experience
CompetenciesAccountability, Analytical thinking, Change capability & adaptability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Teamwork & collaboration
UNHCR Salary Calculator
https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales
Compendium Add. 4 to March 2023 Compendium - Part B
Additional Information
Functional clearanceThis position doesn't require a functional clearance