HR Specialist – Performance Management and Career Development

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale.

Background PCG

The mission of the People and Change Group (PCG) is to empower effective leadership and high-performing talent and to enable business transformation through change management,pursuit of organizational excellence and a culture of innovation. We have a solid team of experienced professionals with strategic HR management, organizational design, change management expertise – all of us having a passion for achieving results and building innovation into our way of doing business. To get the job done, we are structured into 2 work streams: People and Change.

The Human Resources Specialist will contribute to, and shape the work of the People Stream, comprised of talent management, learning, outreach and policy. 

Function / Expected Results –  contribution to HR practice and strategy implementation   

• Career Development and Career Development support
• Talent management and succession planning
• International HR Management

Under the overall supervision of the Head of Talent Management, the main functional responsibilities will include:

Individual performance management

• Taking ownership of the performance management process design and management in UNOPS
• Pro-actively lead activities around performance planning and evaluation advice, incl. performance management mediation
• Design and lead progressive initiatives around capacity building of global workforce, incl. design, planning and facilitation of thematic training/ workshops.
• Provide communication material and design campaigns around Performance management
• Acting as a pro-active subject matter expert for senior management and other relevant stakeholders

• Pro-actively shape the organizations approach to career development. 
• Closely works with relevant stakeholders to ensure career development tools/practices are aligned with organisational needs. 
• Lead the development of relevant training opportunities and programmes in close collaboration with the learning team.
• Design, implements and oversees programmes aimed to support the career development of specific groups of personnel, e.g. national personnel.
• Lead the development of progressive and state of the art career development tools and practices.
• Actively drive the implementation of best practices in these areas, at a global scale.
• Provides individual career development support.

Impact of results: 

The results of the HR Specialist contribute to the effective implementation of the organizational goals, specifically the people objectives.

The HR Specialist will contribute to enhanced and improved HR management practice globally, assessing the impact of changes and ensuring their development and implementation in the field offices. The HR Specialist will drive Performance Management as well as its approach to Career Development to the next level.

• An advanced degree in human resources, management, learning and development, communications, business studies or international affairs or a related field, with additional minimum five (5) years of relevant working experience.

• Candidates with seven (7)  years of professional experience, and a bachelors degree, in lieu of an advanced degree, may be considered.

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in Human Resources related areas such as Performance Management, Career Development, Talent Management, HR Policy, Recruitment, or a combination of the above is required.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience working in an international environment or international organization is desirable.
• Demonstrated expertise in Individual performance management is required.
• Practical experience in capacity development in the area of Performance Management is highly desirable.
• Experience in the area of Career Development is a distinct advantage.
• Practical experience in conceptualizing new approaches and innovation in the area of Human Resources,  ideally on a global scale, is desirable.
• Practical experience in designing programmes and training material is an asset.
• Experience with state of the art Performance Management approaches is an asset.
• Performance-based rewards and recognition system experience is an asset.

 Language requirements: 

• Fluency in English is required.

• Fluency in another UNOPS official language (French and / or Spanish) is a distinct advantage.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.